Construction Manager, New Store Development

Welcome to the Table. At Sur La Table, community, culinary joy, and celebration are at the heart of who we are. From monthly spotlights to the Golden Whisk awards and cooking class perks, our culture blends recognition with hands-on experiences. New team members are welcomed with care and inspired by wellness events, inclusive stories, and a personal touch that makes you feel right at home.

 

Reports to: Senior Manager of Construction

Location: Remote US (preferred locations: Florida; Atlanta, GA; Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC)

About the role

Sur La Table is expanding its East Coast store portfolio with multiple new builds slated over the next two years, and this role exists to serve as the sole on-the-ground construction leader for the region. As Construction Manager, New Store Development, you will independently manage the full lifecycle of new store builds, remodels, and tenant improvements — from pre-construction through closeout — with full budget accountability on projects ranging from $50K to $2.5M+.

Success in the first year means delivering your first new store build on time and on budget, establishing reliable GC and subcontractor relationships across East Coast markets, and building the forecasting and reporting cadence that keeps leadership informed without surprises. Given that our stores include commercial-grade teaching kitchens, experience with restaurant or grocery construction is critical.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

What you'll do

Independently manage the full lifecycle of construction projects ($50K–$2.5M+), including new store builds, tenant improvements, and remodels — from pre-construction through punch list and closeout

Own project budgets, forecasts, and cost tracking end-to-end — building initial budgets, maintaining cost-to-complete forecasts, and proactively flagging variances to leadership before they become overruns

Solicit, review, and award bids; negotiate contracts with general contractors, subcontractors, and vendors

Serve as the primary owner's representative on-site and in all project-related communications

Coordinate with internal stakeholders including Real Estate, Store Operations, Visual Merchandising, IT, and Finance

Oversee commercial kitchen buildouts including hood systems, ventilation, gas, plumbing, and equipment connections in compliance with health code requirements

Manage project permitting, inspections, and certificate of occupancy processes in coordination with architects and local authorities

Deliver detailed, recurring budget and forecast reporting to leadership, including variance analysis and corrective action plans

Maintain detailed project documentation: RFIs, submittals, change orders, lien waivers, and closeout packages

Prepare landlord closeout packages and submit for TIA reimbursement

Proactively identify and resolve risks before they impact timeline or cost

Required Qualifications

5–7+ years of construction project management or project engineering experience in commercial retail, restaurant, or grocery environments

Must be based in the Midwest or East Coast

Demonstrated independent ownership of new store builds from $50K to $2.5M+ — not just remodels or TI work — with full budget accountability

Track record of increased project responsibility and effective management of project teams

Strong background in construction budgeting and financial forecasting — building project budgets from scope/GC bids, tracking actuals vs. forecast, and managing cost-to-complete projections

Direct experience with commercial kitchen construction: hood systems, grease interceptors, gas lines, and health department coordination

Proficiency reading and interpreting construction drawings, specifications, and MEP documents

Proven track record managing GC/subcontractor relationships, contract negotiations, and change order review with limited supervision

Working knowledge of building codes, ADA compliance, and permitting processes across multiple jurisdictions

Proficiency using AI tools to accelerate budget/forecast reporting, variance analysis, and project documentation (RFIs, submittals, etc.)

Strong organizational skills managing multiple, geographically dispersed projects simultaneously

Willingness to travel to project sites (20–50%, depending on active project load)

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management software (e.g., Procore, BuildingConnected, or similar); advanced Excel skills for budget modeling and forecasting

Why join

The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership, move fast, and want to see the direct impact of their work.

Team Impact: Build and lead East Coast construction delivery as the region's sole owner — your decisions directly shape how new Sur La Table stores come to life.

Leadership Development: Grow your management craft across increasingly complex builds, with exposure to department leadership and cross-functional partners in Real Estate, Operations, and Finance.

Full Ownership: Own your projects end-to-end — budget, timeline, vendor relationships, and closeout — with the autonomy to run them your way.

Competitive Benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k) match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts across our portfolio of brands.

Interview process

1. Recruiter Screen - A 30-minute conversation with our recruiting team to align on the role, your background, and what you are looking for.
2. Hiring Manager Interview - Conversation with the Senior Manager of Construction focused on your construction project management experience, budget ownership, and approach to managing builds independently.
3. Technical / Case Discussion - A deeper dive into your experience managing commercial kitchen buildouts, budget forecasting, and navigating permitting across multiple jurisdictions.
4. Reference Checks - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.
5. Offer - We move quickly for the right candidate.

Interview process is subject to change. Any updates will be communicated promptly and clearly.

Please note

Part of our interview process is a mandatory in-person interview with someone on our team prior to an offer.  Candidates that are unwilling or unable to meet for an in-person interview will be removed from consideration immediately.