Project Manager - Restaurant Development

Job DescriptionProject Manager – Restaurant Development & ConstructionCompany: BloocoLocation: Central Florida / Project-Based TravelEmployment Type: Full-TimeAbout BloocoBlooco is a restaurant development company focused exclusively on the physical environments where restaurant brands come to life.Through our integrated Design, Build, Equipment, and Furnishings divisions, we help restaurant owners and operators take projects from concept through opening day. Our goal is to make restaurant development simpler, faster, and more predictable by bringing the major pieces of the development process together under one team.We are looking for a Project Manager with strong restaurant construction and development experience to lead projects from preconstruction through turnover and opening.The RoleThe Project Manager is responsible for the overall successful delivery of Blooco projects, serving as the primary point of coordination between the client, design team, field team, subcontractors, vendors, equipment suppliers, and other project stakeholders.This is not simply a general commercial construction PM position.Restaurants are fast-paced, highly coordinated projects with unique requirements. A successful candidate should understand how a restaurant actually comes together—from underground utilities and grease waste to kitchen equipment, hoods, millwork, finishes, health inspections, fire inspections, owner-furnished equipment, and final opening.We are specifically looking for someone who understands the difference between building a building and opening a restaurant.What You'll Be Responsible ForAs a Blooco Project Manager, you will own the project from handoff through closeout, with responsibility for:Managing restaurant construction projects from preconstruction through final turnover and openingServing as the primary relationship and communication point for the client throughout the projectDeveloping and maintaining project budgets, commitments, forecasts, change orders, and financial reportingWorking closely with the Superintendent/Construction Manager to maintain the project schedule and remove obstacles affecting field productionCoordinating architects, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, equipment vendors, and owner vendorsReviewing drawings, specifications, submittals, RFIs, shop drawings, and project requirementsIdentifying constructability and coordination issues before they become field problemsManaging long-lead items and ensuring procurement aligns with the construction scheduleCoordinating Blooco's Design, Build, Equipment, and Furnishings teams when multiple divisions are involvedManaging owner decisions and communicating deadlines required to maintain the project scheduleManaging subcontractor scopes and identifying scope gaps before they result in change orders or delaysMaintaining accurate project documentation and reportingLeading project meetings and communicating clear action items, responsibilities, and deadlinesManaging permitting, inspections, testing, certificates of occupancy, health department approvals, and other turnover requirementsDriving punch list completion and closeoutEnsuring the restaurant is truly ready for the client—not simply "construction complete"Restaurant Knowledge MattersRestaurant development experience is a major priority for this position.The strongest candidates will have direct experience coordinating many of the systems unique to restaurant projects, including:Commercial kitchen equipmentType I and Type II hood systemsFire suppression systemsGrease interceptors and grease waste systemsWalk-in coolers and freezersRefrigeration systemsGas distributionFloor sinks, indirect waste, and kitchen plumbingElectrical requirements for commercial kitchen equipmentMillwork, casework, counters, and solid-surface fabricationFoodservice equipment utility rough-insHealth department requirementsFire marshal inspectionsADA and accessibility requirementsSignagePOS, security, low-voltage, and technology vendorsOwner-furnished and vendor-installed equipmentFurniture, fixtures, and décor packagesFinal commissioning, inspections, and opening coordinationJust as importantly, you should understand the pace of restaurant development. A delayed decision, missed equipment rough-in, late hood package, or coordination issue can jeopardize an opening date.Our Project Managers are expected to anticipate these issues rather than simply react to them.What Success Looks LikeA successful Blooco Project Manager consistently delivers projects that are:On ScheduleThe restaurant opens when we said it would.Financially SuccessfulProject costs, commitments, change orders, and forecasts are actively managed throughout the project.Well CoordinatedDesign, construction, equipment, furnishings, vendors, and owner responsibilities come together as one coordinated project.Proactively ManagedProblems are identified weeks ahead—not discovered when they become emergencies.Client FocusedThe client always understands where the project stands, what decisions are required, and what is happening next.Ready to OperateThe finished project isn't merely construction-complete. It is ready for the restaurant operator to move in, train their team, and open.QualificationsPreferred Experience:5+ years of commercial construction project management experienceStrong preference for restaurant, hospitality, foodservice, or retail construction experienceExperience managing ground-up and/or tenant-improvement restaurant projectsDemonstrated experience managing multiple projects simultaneouslyStrong understanding of construction drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, and budgetsExperience working directly with restaurant owners, franchisees, developers, architects, and brand representativesFamiliarity with permitting, inspections, health department requirements, and restaurant turnoverExperience coordinating commercial kitchen equipment and foodservice vendors is highly preferredThe Person We're Looking ForTechnical construction knowledge is important, but the right person also needs to be an exceptional operator.You should be:Proactive – You solve problems before they become emergencies.Organized – You can manage hundreds of moving pieces without losing sight of the critical path.Accountable – You take ownership of the outcome rather than explaining why something didn't happen.Urgent – You understand that restaurant opening dates matter.Communicative – Clients and team members never have to wonder where things stand.Detail-Oriented – You recognize that small coordination mistakes can create major downstream problems.Commercially Minded – You understand that great project management includes protecting the financial performance of the project.Restaurant Minded – You think beyond construction completion and understand what the operator needs to actually open the restaurant.Why Blooco?Restaurant development is traditionally fragmented. Owners may have separate architects, contractors, equipment dealers, millworkers, furniture suppliers, and consultants—all working independently.Blooco is building a different model.By bringing Design, Build, Equipment, and Furnishings together, we're creating a more integrated way to develop restaurants.For the right Project Manager, this means exposure to the entire restaurant development process—not just the construction portion of it.You'll have the opportunity to work with restaurant brands and operators, solve complex development challenges, and help build a company focused on becoming one of the leading restaurant development platforms in the country.If you understand restaurants, love construction, take ownership of outcomes, and thrive in a fast-moving environment, we'd like to meet you.\nCompany DescriptionBlooco is a restaurant development company focused exclusively on the physical environments where restaurant brands come to life.Through our integrated Design, Build, Equipment, and Furnishings divisions, we help restaurant owners and operators take projects from concept through opening day. Our goal is to make restaurant development simpler, faster, and more predictable by bringing the major pieces of the development process together under one team.Company DescriptionWe design, build, equip, and furnish restaurants.