Project Manager

DAIKAN; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Daikan Hospitality Group in Dubai seeks a Project Manager – Restaurant Development to drive new openings, refurbishments and relocations from pre-opening through post-opening. You will lead cross-functional teams across design, procurement, operations and external contractors to ensure on-time delivery within budget and in line with brand standards.

The role requires hands-on planning, strong commercial judgment and the ability to manage multiple sites and stakeholders in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 5+ years project management experience in restaurant/hospitality (standalone pre-opening experience).
• Experience managing renovations, refurbishments, relocations and operational improvement projects in live restaurants.
• Strong hands-on experience across design, fit-out, licensing, procurement and operational readiness.
• Good understanding of UAE regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to manage contractors, vendors, budgets and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organization, problem-solving and commercial skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including senior leadership and ownership.
• Proficient in MS Project and Excel.
• Willingness to travel between sites and work flexible hours during pre-opening periods.
• High integrity, ownership, attention to detail and ability to deliver under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Own project plans, timelines, milestones and checklists for new openings and ongoing restaurant projects.
• Coordinate architects, designers, contractors, FF&E, kitchen equipment and vendors to meet cost, quality and timeline targets.
• Manage permits, licenses, food safety and regulatory approvals.
• Coordinate recruitment, training, systems, SOPs, menus, trial runs and soft openings for pre-opening readiness.
• Lead refurbishments, renovations, relocations, and operational improvements post-opening.
• Manage project budgets, procurement negotiations and spend against approved costs.
• Act as central project lead, coordinating internal teams and external partners, tracking risks and reporting progress to Senior Leadership.
• Ensure smooth completion and handover of projects to Operations with minimal trading disruption.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Procurement

Vendor management

Planning

Design coordination

Commercial judgment

Communication

Problem solving

Travel willingness

Pre-opening experience

Tools

MS Project

Job description

The Project Manager Restaurant Development leads Daikan Hospitality Group s restaurant projects from pre-opening through post-opening They oversee new openings refurbishments renovations relocations and operational improvement projects ensuring delivery on time within budget and to brand standards Acting as the single point of accountability the role coordinates Senior Leadership Operations Culinary Procurement HR Finance and external contractors It requires strong project management commercial judgment and the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders across both new and existing restaurants

Project Planning amp Delivery

• Own project plans timelines milestones and checklists for new openings and ongoing restaurant projects

Design amp Fit-Out

• Coordinate architects designers contractors FF amp E kitchen equipment and vendors to ensure quality cost and timeline targets are met

Licensing amp Compliance

• Manage all required permits licenses food safety civil defense and regulatory approvals

Pre-Opening Readiness

• Coordinate recruitment training systems SOPs menus trial runs and soft openings to ensure operational readiness

Post-Opening Projects

• Lead refurbishments renovations relocations refits operational improvements and future site development

Budget amp Cost Control

• Manage project budgets procurement negotiations and spend against approved costs

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the central project lead coordinating internal teams and external partners tracking risks resolving issues and reporting progress to Senior Leadership

Project Handover

• Ensure smooth completion and handover of all projects to Operations with minimal disruption to trading

Requirements

• 5+ years project management experience in restaurant/hospitality, with proven standalone restaurant pre-opening experience.
• Experience managing renovations, refurbishments, relocations, and operational improvement projects in live restaurants.
• Strong hands-on experience across design, fit-out, licensing, procurement, and operational readiness.
• Good understanding of restaurant BOH/FOH layouts, kitchen equipment, and UAE regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to manage contractors, vendors, budgets, and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organization, problem-solving, and commercial skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including senior leadership and ownership.
• Proficient in MS Project, Excel, and project management tools.
• Willingness to travel between sites and work flexible hours during pre-opening periods.
• High integrity, ownership, attention to detail, and ability to deliver under pressure.