Restaurant Construction Director

TITLE: Construction Director (Restaurants, Multi-Unit)

COMPENSATION: $135,000-145,000, plus 25% bonus

BENEFITS: Medical, dental, and vision coverage | Retirement savings plan with employer match | Paid time off and vacation program

TRAVEL:  50% - regularly fly out of Austin to various job sites around souther US

OVERVIEW:

The Sr. Construction Manager is a high-travel role (50% percent), generally flying to different project sites. This person is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of construction projects across a portfolio of restaurant and foodservice locations. This role provides strategic and operational oversight of all construction activities, from pre-development through closeout, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with brand, quality, and safety standards.

This position requires direct experience delivering commercial restaurant construction projects, including new builds, remodels, and tenant improvements. The Director of Construction will work closely with design, operations, and development teams to ensure constructability, efficient execution, and minimal disruption to ongoing business.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and define construction management scopes, execution plans, and delivery strategies to support restaurant development and growth initiatives
• Partner with architectural, engineering, and design teams to refine plans, specifications, and value-engineering solutions that improve constructability and cost efficiency
• Lead, mentor, and oversee construction management staff, project managers, and on-site representatives across multiple active projects
• Direct all phases of construction administration, including preconstruction planning, site mobilization, active construction, and project closeout
• Lead preconstruction meetings, coordinate site logistics, and evaluate contractor and subcontractor performance
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, and cost forecasts; proactively identify risks and implement mitigation strategies
• Review, negotiate, and approve contractor payment applications, change orders, RFIs, and procurement requests
• Manage construction budgets, field office operations, and reporting processes across the project portfolio
• Resolve construction, inspection, permitting, and contract administration issues in coordination with local authorities and internal stakeholders
• Ensure consistent communication across all project participants, providing clarifications and interpretations required for proper execution
• Support business development and site selection initiatives by providing construction input, feasibility assessments, and preliminary cost estimates
• Enforce safety standards, quality control measures, and compliance with building codes, brand standards, and company policies
• Coordinate closely with restaurant operations teams to align construction schedules with opening timelines and operational readiness

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5-10+ years of progressive construction management experience, with demonstrated delivery of commercial restaurant construction projects (required)
• Experience with airport concession builds very nice to have
• Proven expertise in restaurant new builds, remodels, and tenant improvement projects
• Strong working knowledge of construction documents, cost estimating, scheduling, and building codes applicable to foodservice environments
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously across varying scopes and budgets
• Proficiency with industry-standard project management tools and office software; familiarity with design platforms preferred
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, managing internal & external teams
• Proven ability to resolve complex field issues and drive projects to successful completion

Equal Opportunity Employer

This organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Agency Description

Patrice and Associates is a recruiting and consulting firm specializing in Executive Search, dedicated to helping organizations achieve their strategic objectives in talent acquisition through comprehensive project consulting.