Business Development Manager

Devyani International Limited; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Devyani International Limited is seeking a Senior Manager – Business Development (New Store Openings) to lead end-to-end NSO projects across designated regions, ensuring stores launch on time, within budget, and in line with brand standards.

The role requires strong project management, stakeholder alignment, and cross-functional collaboration with Projects, Operations, Finance, Legal, Procurement, IT, HR, Marketing, and Supply Chain.

Qualifications

• 10–14 years of NSO or related experience in retail expansion.
• Experience managing the end-to-end lifecycle of new store opening projects.
• Proven ability to manage multiple NSO projects simultaneously while ensuring timelines, budgets, and brand guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end NSO projects from site handover to successful store launch.
• Develop project plans, milestones, and monitor execution timelines for on-time delivery.
• Identify risks, track dependencies, and implement corrective actions to minimize delays.
• Ensure projects are completed within budgets while maintaining quality and compliance.
• Coordinate with Projects, Operations, Finance, Legal, Procurement, IT, HR, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams for pre-opening activities.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, or Commerce

Job description

Department: Business Development - New Store Openings

Responsible for: South & West and North & East regions

No. of Positions: 2

Role Overview

The Senior Manager – Business Development (New Store Openings) will be responsible for driving the end-to-end execution of new store opening (NSO) projects across the assigned region, ensuring stores are launched on time, within budget, and in accordance with the company's operational and brand standards. The role requires strong project management, stakeholder coordination, and cross-functional collaboration to support the organization's expansion plans.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution

• Manage end-to-end execution of New Store Opening (NSO) projects from site handover to successful store launch.
• Develop project plans, define milestones, and monitor execution timelines to ensure on-time delivery.
• Identify project risks, track dependencies, and implement corrective actions to minimize delays.
• Ensure projects are completed within approved budgets while maintaining quality and compliance standards.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Projects, Operations, Finance, Legal, Procurement, IT, HR, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure timely completion of all pre-opening activities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to resolve project bottlenecks and ensure smooth execution.
• Conduct regular project review meetings and provide progress updates to leadership.

Site Readiness & Store Launch

• Ensure completion of civil work, interiors, MEP services, branding, IT infrastructure, equipment installation, and statutory compliances before store opening.
• Verify operational, commercial, and infrastructure readiness prior to launch.
• Coordinate store launch activities and facilitate seamless handover to operations.

Pre-launch Quality Assurance

• Conduct pre-opening audits to ensure compliance with company standards, operational SOPs, and brand guidelines.
• Monitor closure of audit observations and ensure launch readiness.
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and customer experience standards.
• Identify construction and operational snags during final inspections.
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, landlords, and vendors for timely closure of pending works.
• Ensure completion of statutory approvals, project documentation, and handover activities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with landlords, contractors, architects, consultants, and external agencies.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure adherence to project timelines and quality standards.
• Resolve commercial and operational issues through effective coordination and negotiation.

Budget & Cost Management

• Track project budgets and expenditures to ensure effective resource utilization.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization without impacting project quality or timelines.
• Support commercial evaluations from an execution perspective.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• 10–14 years of experience in New Store Openings (NSO), Retail Expansion, Project Execution, Projects, Business Development, or Store Development, preferably in the Retail, QSR, Food & Beverage, Hospitality, or FMCG industry.
• Proven experience in managing the end-to-end lifecycle of new store opening projects, from site handover and fit-out coordination to store launch and project closure.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple NSO projects simultaneously while ensuring adherence to project timelines, budgets, quality standards, and brand guidelines.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, landlords, consultants, contractors, vendors, and business leaders.
• Strong project management, planning, negotiation, problem-solving, and communication skills with a focus on operational excellence and execution.