Project Specialist - Store Development

T&T Supermarket; Brea (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

T&T Supermarket is seeking a Project Specialist – Store Development to lead planning, coordination, and execution of new store development and retail space conversion across the U.S. This role focuses on transforming existing retail spaces into fully operational supermarket locations, rather than ground-up construction.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, the Project Specialist will support planning, coordination, and execution of store construction and renovation projects nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in construction project coordination or project management, preferably in multi-location grocery/supermarket chains or retail environments.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, electrical, mechanical drawings, construction plans, and technical specifications.
• Familiar with local construction permitting processes, building codes, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong ownership, organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; Mandarin/Cantonese a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project schedules, milestones, and deliverables for store construction and renovation projects.
• Monitor project progress and identify risks, delays, or coordination issues; communicate with the Project Manager.
• Maintain and update project schedules and milestone tracking.
• Coordinate activities among architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Review architectural drawings, construction plans, and technical specs; participate in site visits.
• Monitor progress and ensure compliance with safety requirements and regulations.
• Maintain project documentation including permits, drawings, inspection reports, contracts, and compliance records.
• Track vendor contracts, purchase orders, and invoices; support procurement of materials and services.
• Prepare project status reports and progress updates for management.

Skills

Project coordination

Communication

Reading drawings

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

Procore/Bluebeam/Smartsheet

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree or above in Construction Management/Engineering

Tools

Procore

Bluebeam

Smartsheet

CAD

Job description

As T&T celebrates over 30 years as Canada’s favorite Asian grocery destination, the company is also expanding into the United States. In 2024, T&T opened its first U.S. flagship store in Bellevue, Washington, located at the Marketplace at Factoria. Spanning 76,000 square feet, it is the largest Asian specialty supermarket in Washington state. Our first California Store located at San Jose will be opened in June 2026.

To support its U.S. growth, T&T has established a regional office in the greater Los Angeles area to expand its vendor network and build partnerships with American food suppliers.

Company Introduction:

T&T Supermarkets is marking over 30 years as Canada’s favorite Asian grocery store and recently announced multiple new store locations in the United States. Our growth into the US offers great opportunities within our first US flagship store, opened in 2024 in Bellevue, Washington in the Marketplace at Factoria, spanning 76,000 sq.ft. and standing as the largest Asian specialty supermarket in Washington state. Our first California Store located at San Jose has been opened in June 2026.

The Role

We are seeking a Project Specialist – Store Development to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of new store development and retail space conversion projects across the U.S. This role focuses primarily on transforming existing retail spaces into fully operational supermarket locations, rather than ground-up construction.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, the Project Specialist – Store Development, will support the planning, coordination, and execution of new store construction and renovation projects across the United States. These projects primarily involve store build-outs and renovation of leased retail spaces to support supermarket operations.

The Project Specialist plays a key role in coordinating project activities, monitoring project progress, maintaining project documentation, and facilitating communication among internal departments, consultants, contractors, and vendors. Working closely with the Project Manager, the role contributes to the successful delivery of construction projects by ensuring schedules, documentation, and project requirements are properly tracked and coordinated in accordance with company standards, lease requirements, and applicable regulations. This is a high-impact role offering the opportunity to drive store expansion and play a key part in shaping our retail footprint.

The position is based in San Fransisco, CA, and travel is required.

Major Responsibilities

The following duties are representative of the work performed. Additional duties may be assigned as necessary to support business operations.

Project Coordination

• Coordinate project schedules, milestones, and deliverables for store construction and renovation projects.
• Monitor project progress and identify potential risks, delays, or coordination issues, communicating updates and recommendations to the Project Manager.
• Maintain and update project schedules and milestone tracking to support timely project completion.
• Coordinate project activities among architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.

Construction and Site Coordination

• Review and interpret architectural drawings, construction plans, and technical specifications.
• Participate in site visits to monitor construction progress and document project status.
• Coordinate communication with contractors and consultants to support alignment with project schedules and requirements.
• Monitor project activities to support compliance with company standards, safety requirements, and regulatory guidelines.

Documentation and Compliance Tracking

• Maintain organized project documentation, including permits, drawings, inspection reports, contracts, and compliance records.
• Track permit applications, approvals, inspections, and regulatory documentation to support project compliance.
• Maintain project documentation within internal tracking systems or construction management platforms.
• Prepare project status reports, documentation summaries, and progress updates for internal review.
• Reviewing construction progress claims, change orders and shop drawings from contractors.

Vendor and Procurement Coordination

• Coordinate vendor documentation, proposals, and communications to support procurement of construction materials and services.
• Track vendor contracts, purchase orders, and invoices in coordination with the Project Manager and Finance team.
• Assist in maintaining vendor records and supporting documentation related to construction activities.

Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as a coordination point between internal departments, including Operations, Facilities, Finance, and Procurement.
• Maintain consistent communication with contractors, consultants, and project stakeholders to support project alignment and progress tracking.
• Assist in preparing project presentations, reports, and documentation for management updates.

Travel and Site Support

• Travel to project sites and store locations as required to support project coordination and monitor construction progress.

Perform other duties as assigned to support the efficient execution of store development and construction projects.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in construction project coordination or project management, preferably in multi-location grocery/supermarket chains or retail environments.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, electrical, mechanical drawings, construction plans, and technical specifications.
• Familiar with and knowledgeable of local construction permitting processes, building codes, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong sense of ownership with the ability to follow through on projects, ensuring tasks and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of Mandarin or Cantonese is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and construction/project management tools (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam, Smartsheet, or similar).
• Proficiency in CAD or similar design software is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites in the U.S. as required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Ability to travel to project and store locations as required.
• Ability to stand and walk on construction sites or store locations for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, reach, and navigate active construction environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work in a combination of office and construction site environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, dust, noise, and other conditions typical of construction sites and retail store locations.
• Ability to climb stairs and access different areas of construction or retail project sites as needed.