What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Construction & Development position at Pressed Cafe?
We are seeking a highly experienced Director of Construction & Development to lead the execution of our growing development pipeline. Over the next 24 months and beyond, we will be delivering multiple new restaurant builds, restaurant renovations, retail projects, and select mixed-use developments.
This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of construction projects from feasibility and budgeting through design, permitting, construction, and closeout.
This is not a desk-only project management position, the ideal candidate understands construction deeply, is comfortable on active job sites, and can confidently manage construction managers, architects, engineers, and trade partners in real time. This role sits at the intersection of Finance, Design, and Field Execution.
The ideal candidate has direct experience delivering restaurant projects, including ground-up builds and tenant fit-outs, and understands the unique operational, MEP, and timeline demands of hospitality environments.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Pipeline Leadership
Oversee a rolling pipeline of new builds and renovations at various stages of development. Maintain visibility across all active projects, ensuring alignment with company growth strategy, capital planning, and operational timelines.
Construction Manager & Consultant Oversight
Manage construction managers, general contractors, architects, engineers, and consultants. Lead contractor procurement, prequalification, bid leveling, and scope reviews. Hold partners accountable to schedule, budget, and quality standards.
Design Oversight & Owner Representation
Act as the owner’s representative during programming and design phases. Review drawings and specifications to ensure alignment with brand standards, operational requirements, constructability, and cost targets. Manage and coordinate architectural and engineering teams through design development and permitting.
Budget Development in Partnership with Finance
Work directly with the CFO and Finance team to develop accurate project budgets from early conceptual estimates through GMP. Provide cost modeling, value engineering options, and risk analysis. Track historical project data to inform future forecasting and capital planning.
Field Leadership & Jobsite Presence
Conduct regular site visits and actively monitor field progress. Identify issues early, solve problems in collaboration with project teams, and ensure construction is executed according to approved documents and specifications.
The ideal candidate understands sequencing, materials, and field coordination, and can spot issues before they become expensive problems.
Renovations & Operational Coordination
Lead renovation and refresh projects at existing locations with minimal disruption to ongoing operations. Coordinate phased work and off-hours construction when necessary.
FF&E, Turnover & Closeout
Oversee FF&E coordination and installation. Manage punch lists, closeout documentation, inspections, and certificates of occupancy to support timely openings and smooth operational turnover.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field preferred
- 5-7 years of progressive construction or owner’s project management experience
- Extensive retail and/or restaurant construction experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience managing construction managers and design teams
- Proven experience building project budgets in collaboration with finance teams
- Strong understanding of construction drawings, permitting processes, and field operations
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in different phases
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and organizational capabilities
Why This Role
This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact leadership position during a period of real, committed growth. You won't be managing a static portfolio or inheriting a finished system, you'll be building the infrastructure, processes, and partnerships that shape how we develop for years to come. You'll have direct access to ownership and finance leadership, a seat at the table on strategic decisions, and the autonomy to do the job the right way.
If you're a construction professional who is equally at home in a budget review and on a job site, and you're looking for a place where your expertise will directly drive outcomes, we'd like to hear from you!