Senior Manager - Design & Construction - Retail

The Senior Manager – Design & Construction serves as a key operational leader responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of all Retail Division airport dining construction projects within a designated region or division of North America. This role is accountable for managing project execution at scale—ensuring all projects across multiple airport platforms are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality, compliance, and operational readiness.

The Senior Manager leads a team of Senior Project Managers, Project Manager IIs, and Project Manager Is, providing strategic oversight, workload allocation, performance management, and technical direction. This role works cross-functionally with Design, Procurement, Business Development, Brand, and Operations teams and acts as the primary conduit between national leadership and project execution. This role will also participate in strategic site development activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Regional Leadership & Team Management

• Directly manage and support a team of Senior Project Managers, PM IIs, and PM Is assigned to active and upcoming Retail construction projects across the region.
• Establish team goals, workload assignments, and performance expectations aligned with national construction strategy.
• Mentor and develop project management talent across all levels, with a focus on growing future leaders and strengthening executional consistency.
• Serve as the key escalation point for technical issues, permitting challenges, or contractor performance concerns.
• Participate in strategic site development activities with airports and internal business partners.

Project Portfolio Oversight

• Oversee execution of 25+ concurrent construction projects across multiple airport platforms, including new units, remodels, and phased buildouts.
• Review and approve regional schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies developed by project teams.
• Ensure consistency in project reporting, quality standards, documentation, and closeout practices across all regional workstreams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary liaison to the Director of Construction - Retail, ensuring alignment with national initiatives, capital plans, and scheduling priorities.
• Collaborate closely with Design, Sourcing, Business Development, Brand, and Operations teams to ensure construction outcomes meet business goals.
• Participate in design reviews, brand integration meetings, and platform planning sessions to influence upstream decision-making.

Airport & Stakeholder Relations

• Maintain strong relationships with airport authorities, municipal officials, and regulatory bodies across the region.
• Ensure project teams are compliant with all airport protocols, TSA regulations, union labor considerations, and terminal operational requirements.
• Represent the company in high-level meetings with airport clients, local municipalities, and national brand partners as needed.

Financial Oversight & Reporting

• Monitor regional project budgets, change orders, and financial forecasts in collaboration with Finance and Procurement.
• Ensure certified cost reporting, turnover packages, and closeout documentation are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Analyze project performance metrics across the region and present updates, risks, and strategic recommendations to national leadership.

Process Development & Standards

• Champion the adoption of national construction standards, project delivery protocols, and documentation systems (e.g., Procore, MS Project).
• Lead regional initiatives to improve project delivery, contractor performance, and internal team efficiency.
• Provide structured feedback to help refine training, onboarding, and operational tools for the national construction team.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep expertise in retail construction, preferably within airport environments. Hybrid Retail/Food & Beverage construction expertise is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, distributed teams and oversee multiple concurrent projects across diverse geographies.
• Strong command of airport construction permitting, logistics, phasing, and stakeholder coordination.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Procore, MS Project, Excel), reporting systems, and budget forecasting tools.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• A strategic yet hands-on leader who brings technical depth, operational precision, and a people-first management approach.
• Able to navigate between tactical site issues and high-level program oversight while driving accountability across the team.
• Passionate about developing others, delivering exceptional dining environments, and improving airport guest experiences through thoughtful execution.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field required; Master’s degree or professional certification (PMP, CCM) a plus.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive project management experience, with 5+ years in a leadership or multi-site oversight role.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position is based out of Atlanta, GA.
• Hybrid office environment
• Willingness to travel frequently (up to 60%) across the assigned region for site visits, contractor meetings, and platform reviews.

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