Vice President of Construction & Design - Upscale Restaurant Group

Willow Tree Recruiting; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance 100% paid

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

FSA/HSA

401k with 5% match

Paid vacation

Job summary

Willow Tree Recruiting seeks a Vice President of Construction & Design to lead upscale restaurant group development from lease execution to grand opening in New York City. You will drive schedules, budgets, and brand-aligned design while coordinating across Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Technology, and Finance.

The role requires 10+ years in restaurant development or related fields, a business-focused bachelor's degree (MBA preferred), and hands-on leadership of multi-unit projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in restaurant development, hospitality, retail development, or related industries.
• Experience negotiating complex lease provisions, work letters, and landlord obligations.
• Financial acumen in developing project budgets, investment analyses, and capital plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead all restaurant development projects from executed lease through grand opening, with schedules and milestones.
• Oversee lease requirements, including construction exhibits, landlord obligations, and permitting responsibilities.
• Direct construction for openings, renovations, and capital projects within time and budget targets.
• Select and manage architects, designers, engineers, consultants, contractors, vendors, and internal teams.
• Guide design, décor, furnishings, equipment, and layout balancing brand standards and guest experience.
• Develop and manage project budgets, change orders, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure timely permits, inspections, and occupancy certificates; regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Technology, and Finance for turnover and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Vendor negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Operations alignment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

VP of Construction & Design – Upscale Restaurant Group

$200,000 - $275,000 + Bonus

Join this renowned hospitality group as the VP of Construction & Design, leading restaurant development from executed lease through grand opening while ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to company standards.

COMPANY:

• Known for delivering exceptional guest experiences through creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence

BENEFITS & FEATURES:

• Medical insurance paid 100%
• Dental and Vision insurance
• FSA and HSA
• 401k with 5% match
• 2 weeks of vacation, 3 weeks after 2+ years

YOUR ROLE WITH THE COMPANY:

The VP of Construction & Design provides strategic leadership across development, construction, and design, driving cost control, brand consistency, operational alignment, and the successful growth of the restaurant portfolio. Primary responsibilities include:

• Lead all restaurant development projects from executed lease through grand opening, establishing schedules, milestones, and risk-mitigation plans.
• Oversee technical lease requirements, including construction exhibits, landlord obligations, delivery conditions, engineering provisions, and permitting responsibilities
• Direct construction for new openings, renovations, and capital improvement projects, ensuring work is completed on time, within budget, and to company standards
• Select, manage, and evaluate architects, designers, engineers, consultants, contractors, vendors, and internal development team members
• Guide restaurant design, décor, furnishings, equipment selection, and layout while balancing brand standards, guest experience, operational efficiency, and financial goals
• Develop and manage project budgets, capital expenditures, change orders, and cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality
• Ensure timely completion of permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and all required regulatory approvals and building-code compliance
• Partner with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Technology, and Finance to coordinate project turnover, opening readiness, project closeout, and executive reporting

BACKGROUND PROFILE:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in restaurant development, hospitality, retail development, commercial real estate, or related industries
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Hospitality Management, Construction Management, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• Demonstrated success leading multi‑unit restaurant development and expansion initiatives
• Comprehensive knowledge of commercial construction, restaurant design, permitting, and project delivery
• Extensive experience negotiating complex lease provisions, work letters, landlord obligations, and construction requirements
• Financial acumen in developing project budgets, investment analyses, pro formas, and capital plans
• Exceptional project management and organizational abilities, with the capacity to oversee multiple projects simultaneously
• Skilled in vendor negotiation and relationship management across architects, contractors, consultants, and ownership teams.
• Effective leadership experience building and developing internal teams while supporting organizational growth
• Ability to work in person at the company’s New York City office five days per week