Head – Projects & New Store Development

Company Overview

At abcoffee, we focus on creating exceptional experiences by expanding our footprint and delivering high-quality service. Our team is dedicated to innovation and excellence in the coffee and retail industry.

Job Summary

The Head – Projects & New Store Development will spearhead the strategy, planning, and execution of new store openings, ensuring successful alignment with our brand and business growth objectives. This role emphasizes leadership in managing processes, stakeholders, and project delivery to facilitate our ambitious expansion goals.

Responsibilities

• Expansion & Rollout Strategy

  • Own the overall project execution strategy for new store rollouts across all cities.
  • Develop scalable frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and governance mechanisms for project execution.
  • Collaborate with leadership on expansion planning, launch schedules, and capacity planning.
  • Ensure project readiness aligns with business growth objectives.

• Project Leadership & Execution

  • Lead the end-to-end execution of all new store projects from handover to launch.
  • Ensure stores are delivered on schedule, within approved budgets, and to brand standards.
  • Drive project reviews, milestone tracking, and risk mitigation plans.
  • Establish project governance and escalation mechanisms.

• Vendor & Partner Management

  • Build and maintain a strong network of civil, electrical, HVAC, signage, furniture, and equipment partners.
  • Negotiate commercial terms, service levels, and execution timelines.
  • Establish vendor performance scorecards and accountability mechanisms.
  • Ensure consistent quality and cost efficiency across all projects.

• Cost Management & Capital Efficiency

  • Own project budgets and capital expenditure planning.
  • Drive cost optimization without compromising quality or customer experience.
  • Review Bill of Quantities (BOQs), vendor quotations, and project estimates.
  • Monitor project profitability, budget adherence, and variance reporting.

• Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Design, Finance, Procurement, and City Teams.
  • Ensure seamless coordination from project initiation through launch readiness.
  • Align stakeholders on timelines, dependencies, and project priorities.
  • Act as the central point of accountability for project delivery.

• Team Management & Capability Building

  • Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing Projects team.
  • Define team Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), performance metrics, and accountability structures.
  • Create execution playbooks and training frameworks.
  • Foster a culture of ownership, speed, and continuous improvement.

• Reporting & Governance

  • Create leadership dashboards covering:
    • Store rollout status
    • Budget utilization
    • Project timelines
    • Vendor performance
    • Expansion pipeline
  • Present periodic updates to founders and leadership teams.
  • Drive post-project reviews and implementation of learnings.

Qualifications

• Must-Have

  • 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 experience.
  • Expertise in vendor management, project governance, and stakeholder management.
  • Strong commercial acumen with experience managing project budgets and capital expenditure (CAPEX).
  • Ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced environments.

• Good to Have

  • Experience in Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), café chains, retail, hospitality, or consumer-facing businesses.
  • Knowledge of store fit-outs, civil works, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) services, BOQs, and construction practices.
  • Experience working in high-growth startup environments.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP), Prince2, or equivalent project management certifications.

Preferred Skills

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools.

Experience

• 8-15+ years of relevant experience in project management, store development, and retail expansion.

Environment

• This position typically operates in a hybrid work setting, requiring both in-office and on-site involvement at store locations. Physical demands may include site visits and interaction with construction teams.

Salary

• Salary details are unspecified.

Growth Opportunities

• Opportunity to lead a pivotal growth function within the organization, with significant autonomy and responsibilities that can lead to further leadership roles.

Benefits

• Details about benefits are unspecified; however, expect competitive offerings typical for leadership roles in the industry.