Project Manager

Overview

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 ensure quality, cost, and timeline targets are met.
• Manage all required permits, licenses, food safety, civil defense, and regulatory approvals.
• Coordinate recruitment, training, systems, SOPs, menus, trial runs, and soft openings to ensure operational readiness.
• Lead refurbishments, renovations, relocations, refits, operational improvements, and future site development.
• Manage project budgets, procurement, negotiations, and spend against approved costs.
• Act as the central project lead, coordinating internal teams and external partners, tracking risks, resolving issues, and reporting progress to Senior Leadership.
• 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.
• 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.