Head – Projects & New Store Development

Company Overview

Not specified

Job Summary

The Head – Projects & New Store Development is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing the end-to-end planning, execution, and management of all new store rollouts across multiple geographies. This role is pivotal in driving the company's expansion efforts, ensuring timely delivery, adherence to budget, and alignment with brand standards. The position requires a dynamic leader capable of building scalable processes, managing diverse stakeholder groups, and fostering a high-performance project delivery function to support rapid growth.

Responsibilities

• Expansion & Rollout Strategy
  Own and develop comprehensive project execution strategies for new store openings across all targeted cities. Create scalable frameworks, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and governance mechanisms to streamline project delivery. Collaborate with leadership on expansion planning, launch schedules, and capacity planning to ensure alignment with business growth objectives.

• Project Leadership & Execution
  Lead the end-to-end execution of all new store projects from handover to launch. Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within approved budgets, and meet brand standards. Conduct project reviews, track milestones, and implement risk mitigation plans. Establish governance and escalation mechanisms for project oversight.

• Vendor & Partner Management
  Build and maintain a robust network of vendors specializing in civil, electrical, HVAC, signage, furniture, and equipment. Negotiate commercial terms, service levels, and timelines. Develop vendor performance scorecards and accountability frameworks to ensure quality and cost efficiency.

• Cost Management & Capital Efficiency
  Manage project budgets and capital expenditure planning. Drive cost optimization initiatives without compromising quality or customer experience. Review Bills of Quantities (BOQs), vendor quotations, and project estimates. Monitor project profitability, budget adherence, and variance reporting.

• Cross-Functional Leadership
  Collaborate closely with Operations, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Design, Finance, Procurement, and City Teams to ensure seamless coordination from project initiation through launch. Align stakeholders on timelines, dependencies, and priorities, acting as the central point of accountability for project delivery.

• Team Management & Capability Building
  Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing Projects team. Define KPIs, performance metrics, and accountability structures. Develop execution playbooks and training frameworks to foster a culture of ownership, speed, and continuous improvement.

• Reporting & Governance
  Create leadership dashboards covering store rollout status, budget utilization, project timelines, vendor performance, and expansion pipeline. Present periodic updates to founders and senior leadership. Conduct post-project reviews to incorporate learnings and improve future execution.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of experience in Projects, Retail Expansion, Store Development, Construction, or Infrastructure Execution.
• Proven experience managing large-scale multi-location rollouts.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Expertise in vendor management, project governance, and stakeholder management.
• Solid commercial acumen with experience managing project budgets and CAPEX.
• Knowledge of civil works, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) services, BOQs, and construction practices.
• Educational qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related fields; Project Management certifications (e.g., PMP, Prince2) are preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in QSR, café chains, retail, hospitality, or consumer-facing businesses.
• Familiarity with store fit-outs, civil works, MEP services, and construction practices.
• Experience working in high-growth startup environments.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP, Prince2, or equivalent).

Experience

• 8 to 12+ years of relevant experience in project management, store development, or infrastructure execution.
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-location retail or hospitality expansion projects.

Environment

• The role involves working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with a focus on retail store expansion.
• The position may require travel across various locations for project oversight.
• The work setting is primarily office-based with site visits during project execution phases.

Salary

Not specified

Growth Opportunities

Not specified

Benefits

Not specified