Description
LA LA LAND KIND CAFE
Development Project Manager
Support Center · Development & Construction · Reports to the Managing Director
Who we are La La Land Kind Cafe is more than a coffee shop. It’s a movement to make the world a better place by fostering a culture of kindness and positivity. Every café we open supports our work with foster youth through employment and mentorship, and every space we build is designed to make people feel welcome, valued, and uplifted the moment they walk through the door.
The role As our Development Project Manager, you’ll bring new La La Land cafés to life, from the first site study to opening day, and lead remodels and relocations of existing cafés. You’ll own the plan, the budget, and the partners who help us build, while protecting the details that make each café feel like La La Land. More cafés mean more communities to serve and more young people to support, so the spaces you build carry our mission forward.
What you’ll do Plan and build ? Coordinate field and site studies before construction begins. ? Develop the program of work and the strategy to get each project from plan to open doors. ? Lead several multi-site projects at once, including new café openings, remodels, and relocations, while keeping disruption to our teams and guests to a minimum. ? Supervise work on site and plan, organize, and direct construction and maintenance of our buildings, facilities, and systems. ? Lead the rollout of our facilities maintenance program so every café stays in great shape. Budgets, contracts, and partners ? Review architecture and construction contracts and manage project spending. ? Determine labor needs, standards, and costs, and negotiate with general contractors and suppliers to deliver projects that are both beautiful and financially sound. ? Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes, additions, and deductions with consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors. ? Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, and cost-tracking reports. ? Find and build relationships with new vendors and partners, including general contractors, engineering firms, and architects. Quality and collaboration ? Keep our brand prototypes and design standards up to date, so every new café looks and feels unmistakably La La Land. ? Review and prepare site reports, designs, and project information. ? Maintain quality-control procedures from groundbreaking to grand opening. ? Partner with Operations, Marketing, Legal, and Finance, and keep the Managing Director updated on progress.
Why you’ll love it here Our kindness culture is just one of the perks of joining the La La Land family. You’ll also enjoy: ? Dental and vision coverage ? Room to grow your career as we expand ? Desirable holiday pay ? Free treats and 30% off La La Land merch
Requirements
What you bring ? At least 2 years of construction project management experience. ? Restaurant, café, or retail construction experience (a plus). ? A self-starter mindset: you work independently and follow through. ? Confidence leading and supervising contractors and project teams. ? Strong organization and detailed record keeping. ? Sharp attention to detail and the ability to analyze information to make good decisions. ? Calm, steady energy in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. ? Clear, kind communication, both written and verbal. ? Comfort with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and similar tools) and familiarity with people policies and procedures. ? Bilingual English/Spanish (a plus).
How you’ll live our values ? Creativity. You bring imaginative thinking to tricky sites, tight timelines, and new design challenges. ? Compassion. You lead contractors and partners with respect and empathy, and you build spaces that support our mission for foster youth. ? Community. You work hand in hand with teams across the company and help every new café become a gathering place for its neighborhood. ? Commitment. You hold every project to the highest standard, from the budget to the finishing touches.