DescriptionDIRECTOR, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTIONWild Fork Foods Doral, FL
Role OverviewThe Director of Design & Construction owns the full construction execution lifecycle for every new Wild Fork store - from the moment a lease is signed to the day keys are handed to the Operations team. Real Estate drives site selection, lease execution, LOI management, and GC/subcontractor engagement upstream. Marketing owns brand and design standards. This role sits squarely in between: translating approved plans into built stores, on time and on budget.
Execution is the mandate. This Director ensures that Marketing-approved design standards are delivered in the field, that General Contractors and subcontractors are held accountable to scope, schedule, and payment obligations, and that the company's financial exposure - bonds, liens, and contractor payment risk - is actively managed in partnership with Legal and Real Estate.
At 20-25 new openings per year, there are 8-12 projects in flight at any given time across multiple markets. The Director leads a construction PM, a coordinator, and an AP specialist, and serves as the primary D&C voice in cross-functional approval processes alongside Real Estate and Legal.
Key ResponsibilitiesPortfolio & Program Management- Maintain real-time visibility across all active projects - budget, schedule, and risk - and report program health to leadership on a regular cadence
- Develop and manage the annual project calendar aligned to the 20-25 store opening target
- Identify capacity constraints and resource gaps before they become schedule problems
- Own the project management system and ensure it reflects accurate, current project status
- Participate - alongside the Real Estate team - in regular committee meetings and project approval processes; involve Legal whenever contractual, lien, or compliance matters arise
Construction Execution & Delivery- Upon receipt of the executed lease from Real Estate, coordinate with Marketing (design) and the relevant parties (GC, landlord) to manage the permitting and construction readiness process - ensuring timely progress while respecting each party's ownership of their respective scope
- Manage GC bid process, contract award, and contract administration across all active projects
- Oversee construction execution through punch list, Certificate of Occupancy, and clean handover to Operations
- Hold General Contractors and subcontractors accountable to scope, schedule, and budget; manage change orders with rigorous scrutiny and appropriate approvals
- Proactively track and manage payment bonds and liens related to GCs and subcontractors across all active projects; work closely with Legal and Real Estate to address any disputes, exposures, or required filings in a timely and structured manner
- Conduct or delegate site visits at critical milestones; escalate and resolve field issues quickly
Vendor & GC Relationships- Build and maintain a regional panel of preferred GCs sized to support 20-25 concurrent openings
- Note: Real Estate retains ownership of LOI management, lease agreements, and formal GC/subcontractor engagement agreements; this role manages performance and execution within those established relationships
- Evaluate GC and subcontractor performance continuously; provide recommendations to Real Estate on expanding or exiting vendor relationships
- Negotiate favorable terms leveraging volume; standardize scopes of work and unit pricing where possible
Budget & Financial Oversight- Own project cost tracking across the portfolio; ensure actuals are reconciled against approved budgets
- Partner with the AP Specialist to ensure contractor billing, draws, and lease-related payments are processed accurately and on time
- Drive year-over-year improvement in per-unit build cost without compromising quality or approved brand standards
Compliance with Marketing-Approved Design Standards- Ensure all construction deliverables comply fully with design standards as defined and approved by Marketing
- Coordinate with Marketing on site-specific deviations or landlord-required modifications; obtain formal approvals before field execution
- Do not modify or approve changes to brand standards; escalate any conflicts between landlord requirements and approved design to Marketing and Real Estate for resolution
Team Leadership- Lead, coach, and develop the D&C team; set clear priorities and remove blockers
- Identify capacity needs proactively - recommend adding a second Construction PM as volume demands it
- Build a culture of accountability, urgency, and operational rigor
Cross-Functional Partnership- Serve as the primary D&C liaison to Real Estate, Legal, Marketing, Operations, and Facilities
- Flag construction-related lease issues to Real Estate and Legal early; provide documented recommendations
- Ensure clean handoffs to Operations: no open punch items, all systems commissioned, documentation complete
QualificationsRequired- 8-12 years of construction and/or development experience with a multi-unit retail, restaurant, or similar operator - ideally one opening 15+ units per year
- Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of 10+ concurrent projects simultaneously
- Strong working knowledge of construction processes: reading plans and specs, interpreting schedules, evaluating change orders, and managing GC and subcontractor performance
- Solid understanding of payment bonds, mechanics liens, and construction contract risk - and the discipline to manage them proactively
- Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget at volume
- Comfortable operating within a cross-functional model where design, real estate, and legal each own distinct lanes; able to coordinate across those boundaries without overstepping them
- Sharp communicator - able to give leadership a clear and accurate read on program health without drama
- High organizational discipline; builds and uses systems, not just manages by inbox
Preferred- Background in retail, grocery, QSR, or convenience store rollouts - somewhere that builds the same thing over and over, fast
- Experience managing both ground-up and second-generation (tenant improvement) builds
- Familiarity with lease exhibits, landlord work letters, and construction-related lease obligations
- Experience presenting in committee-style approval environments with Legal and Real Estate stakeholders
- Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or related field - or equivalent experience
