MIDWEST REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER (RETAIL) IMPACT ON BUSINESS: The Construction Project Manager leads construction projects from early planning through key turnover, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with brand, operational, and customer experience standards.
This position partners closely with real estate, store operations, store maintenance, and external vendors to manage new store builds, remodels, relocations, and refresh programs across a multi-site retail portfolio. The Construction Project Manager serves as the primary point of accountability for construction outcomes, proactively managing risks that could impact cost, schedule, or store opening.
SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES [Essential Functions]: Budget & Schedule Management - Develop conceptual scope of work and budgets for new potential store locations.
- Work with contractors to produce detailed project budgets; track costs and proactively manage variances.
- Create and manage project schedules aligned to retail opening calendars and seasonal business needs.
- Review and validate contractor schedules to ensure alignment with store readiness and merchandising timelines.
- Identify risks early and drive solutions to keep projects on track.
- Coordinate with Finance and Real Estate teams on capital versus lease scope, including scope delineation and financial responsibility.
Vendor & Contractor Oversight - Lead bid processes and contractor selection.
- Manage general contractors, architects, engineers, and specialty vendors to ensure quality, safety, and brand compliance.
- Hold vendors accountable to scope, schedule, and cost commitments.
- Coordinate and support resolution of disputes that may impact cost, schedule, or store openings.
Permitting, Due Diligence & Compliance - Coordinate due diligence activities, including site assessments and landlord coordination.
- Support permit agents and coordinate with local jurisdictions as required during the permitting process.
- Ensure construction activities comply with local codes, lease requirements, and retail brand standards.
- Document delivery deficiencies and coordinate appropriate remedies in accordance with lease requirements.
- Maintain accurate project documentation, logs, and reporting.
- Interface with Legal and Real Estate teams on construction - related disputes or delays.
Construction Oversight & Store Readiness - Conduct site visits to monitor construction progress, quality, and readiness.
- Review weekly construction reports and communicate status, risks, and milestones to stakeholders. Accountability for maintain critical path items to store opening
- Manage punch lists and drive timely closeout.
- Coordinate final handoff to store operations to support opening or re-opening.
- Work with Store Maintenance to ensure a smooth transition.
Additional duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES: - Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience managing retail construction projects, including multi-site rollouts.
- Strong understanding of retail construction schedules, store opening coordination, and prototype execution.
- Experience managing budgets, schedules, vendors, and competing priorities across multiple projects.
- Ability to lead construction activities and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, vendors, and business partners.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to interface with Legal and Real Estate teams on construction-related disputes or delays.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Valid driver's license required.
- Fluent in English.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation, including adequate vision, speech, and hearing.
- Ability to climb ladders, lift and carry at least 30 pounds, and maintain full body mobility, including bending, stooping, twisting, reaching, and rotational movement.
