Engineering Project Manager (Restaurant Group)

Position Overview

The New Store Development & Project Manager is the master orchestrator of our brand expansion. You will take restaurant concepts from lease-signing (or concept approval) through design coordination, permitting, landlord relations, GC management, commissioning, and a seamless handoff to operations on opening day.

You bridge the gap between creative design, legal/real estate, finance budgets, external contractors, and internal restaurant operators. Success means on-time, on-budget, code-compliant, and operationally ready store openings that match our brand standards down to the last tile and POS terminal.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain, and publish master critical-path schedules (using MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) for every store opening pipeline.

• Identify bottlenecks, lead times for long-lead equipment (kitchen line, custom millwork, HVAC units), and interdependencies early.

• Run weekly progress alignment meetings with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Marketing, IT/POS, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal).

2. Budget & Financial Management

• Own individual store buildout budgets.

• Track soft and hard costs, manage change orders, review contractor pay applications/invoices, and forecast variances against capital expenditure (CapEx) baselines.

• Drive value engineering without compromising design integrity, food safety, or guest experience.

3. Design, Permitting & Regulatory Coordination

• Collaborate with internal/external architects, interior designers, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineers during schematic and construction drawing phases.

• Navigate local municipality zoning laws, health department codes, liquor licensing milestones, building permits, grease trap/exhaust approvals, and fire/life safety inspections.

• Ensure ADA compliance and brand prototype consistency across diverse real estate footprints (inline retail, standalone drive-thru, food halls, historical conversions).

4. Procurement & Vendor Management

• Coordinate procurement timelines for FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment) and OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment) alignment with construction milestones.

• Manage General Contractors (GCs), sub-contractors, millworkers, and third-party expeditors through competitive bidding, leveling, contract execution, and punch-list completion.

• Enforce site safety standards, quality control, and schedule adherence through regular site visits.

5. Commissioning, Training Hand-Off & Soft Opening

• Coordinate utility turn-ons, health/fire final inspections, equipment startup/calibration (refrigeration, combi ovens, hood systems, POS, CCTV, music/AV).

• Facilitate store walk-throughs and punch-list sign-offs with General Managers, Operations Directors, and Facilities teams.

• Manage the operational readiness checklist 7–14 days prior to soft opening/VIP night to ensure zero-defect store launches.

• Conduct post-opening debriefs/lessons-learned reviews at 30/60/90 days post-launch.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Architecture/Architectural Engineering required). Non-engineering degrees will not be considered.

• Minimum 8–12+ years of dedicated project management experience managing physical retail, hospitality, or multi-unit restaurant buildouts.

• Proven track record of launching multiple restaurant/hospitality units concurrently on time and within budget.

Technical & Functional Skills:

• Deep understanding of restaurant MEP requirements (commercial kitchen ventilation, grease interceptors, heavy commercial power loads, refrigeration drain lines).

• Proficiency in reading architectural, structural, and MEP blueprints.

• Working knowledge of scheduling software (Smartsheet, MS Project, Procore, or BuilderTrend) and budget tracking (Excel/ERP).

• Familiarity with local permitting, health department submittals, and GC contract administration (AIA forms or equivalent).

Soft Skills & Competencies:

• Obsessive organizational rigor: Capable of juggling 3–6 overlapping store builds at various lifecycle stages without dropping balls.

• Crisis-solver/Decisive leader: Calm under pressure when structural delays, municipal pushback, or equipment shipment failures threaten critical paths.

• Cross-functional diplomat: Able to translate contractor-speak for marketers and operational-urgency for strict building inspectors.

• High mobility: Willing/able to travel to project sites regularly (approx. [20%–50%] travel/site supervision depending on regional footprint).