Construction Project Manager

Construction Project Manager

The Construction Project Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle management of construction projects that brings our new locations to life. In a fast-growing restaurant group, this role is both strategic and hands-on, ensuring new store construction, remodels, and facility projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with all regulations and safety standards. The Construction PM serves as the central hub of communication between internal stakeholders, general contractors, architects, vendors, and local authorities.

This person thrives in a fast-paced environment, brings a hospitality-first mindset to every project, and takes pride in opening great restaurants.

• Own the end-to-end project lifecycle for new restaurant builds, remodels, and rollout projects from pre-construction through final closeout.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestone timelines, and critical path analyses to ensure on-time delivery.
• Coordinate all construction phases including permitting, site preparation, build-out, FF&E installation, health inspections, and Certificate of Occupancy.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects across different markets, balancing priorities and resources effectively.
• Anticipate and proactively mitigate project risks, delays, and scope changes before they impact timeline or budget.
• Support the VP of Development & Construction in strategic planning for pipeline projects and multi-year growth initiatives.

• Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between the internal corporate team, general contractors, architects, engineers, vendors, landlords, and local municipalities.
• Facilitate weekly project status meetings and provide clear, concise updates to all key stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the Design team to ensure design intent is accurately executed in the field.
• Partner with the Facilities Management to coordinate post-construction handoffs and permit requirements.
• Maintain transparent, proactive communication with Operational leadership to align construction timelines with staffing and opening readiness plans.
• Prepare and distribute project status reports, executive summaries, and opening readiness checklists.

• Manage the construction component of all new store opening (NSO) processes, ensuring coordination with pre-opening operations and training schedules.
• Maintain a master opening tracker that integrates construction milestones with operational readiness checkpoints.
• Coordinate with the Operations team on utility activations, equipment commissioning, and restaurant walk-throughs prior to opening.
• Support accelerated growth by developing and refining repeatable, scalable construction processes and playbooks for new markets.
• Identify and onboard qualified regional GC and subcontractor partners as the brand expands territories.
• Participate in site selection due diligence, providing construction feasibility input and preliminary budget estimates for prospective locations.

• Own project-level financial management including budget creation, cost tracking, variance reporting, and final cost reconciliation.
• Review and approve contractor pay applications, vendor invoices, and change orders; coordinate with the Finance Department on deposit releases and payment processing.
• Identify and flag budget overruns early; develop recovery plans to bring projects back within approved spend.
• Assist in developing pro forma construction budgets and cost benchmarks for pipeline projects.
• Ensure all financial documentation is organized, current, and audit-ready at all times.

• Manage the procurement process for all furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), including vendor sourcing, purchase order issuance, delivery coordination, and installation scheduling.
• Maintain an up-to-date FF&E tracker for every active project, ensuring no items fall through the cracks during openings.
• Evaluate vendors and negotiate contracts to achieve the best value while meeting quality and lead-time requirements.
• Coordinate with the culinary and operations teams to ensure equipment specifications meet operational needs and brand standards.
• Manage national vendor relationships for key equipment categories (ovens, refrigeration, POS, AV/digital menus, signage) as the portfolio grows.

• Maintain a complete and organized project documentation library including contracts, permits, drawings, RFIs, submittals, change orders, warranties, and closeout documents.
• Ensure all projects are built in full compliance with local building codes, health department regulations, ADA requirements, and fire/life safety standards.
• Manage the permit application and approval process with local authorities, coordinating with architects, engineers, and the Licensing Manager as needed.
• Administer construction contracts,…