Senior Project Manager - Store Construction & Maintenance

AKIRA•Bolingbrook, IL

2d•$80,000 - $140,000

About The Position

AKIRA is seeking a Senior Project, Store Construction & Maintenance Manager to serve as the execution lead - for new stores and construction projects. This role willown the end-to-end delivery of new store openings and major remodels across AKIRA's national footprint, with a strong focus on enclosed mall environments. This is a high-visibility, senior role responsible for coordinating landlords, mall operators, general contractors, specialty trades, fixture manufacturers, and internal stakeholders to ensure stores open on time, on budget, and fully operational. The ideal candidate has 7+ years of hands-on retail construction experience, has personally opened multiple locations, and is comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects across the U.S. Travel: ~40%

Requirements

7+ years of experience managing retail, grocery, restaurant, or QSR construction projects
Proven track record of opening multiple physical locations across different regions
Direct experience working in enclosed malls and with mall landlords
Strong knowledge of permitting, inspections, fire/life safety, and certificates of occupancy
Experience coordinating fixture manufacturers, millwork, and specialty vendors
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced environments
Willingness to travel frequently (~40%)
Strong communication skills and comfort working with senior internal and external partners
Project management platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Monday.com, MS Project, Procore, or similar)
Budget tracking and cost control tools
Contractor sourcing platforms and regional vendor networks
Cloud-based document management and collaboration tools

Responsibilities

Full lifecycle ownership of new store construction projects from keys in hand through store opening
Execution leadership across multiple active projects nationwide
Critical path scheduling and delivery risk management
Coordination of landlords, mall management, contractors, and specialty vendors
Budget development, cost tracking, and change management
On-site representation of AKIRA during construction and inspections
Fixture & Vendor Coordination (Key Differentiator)
This role is responsible for sourcing, scheduling, and coordinating third-party fixture manufacturers and millwork vendors, ensuring fixtures are:
Designed, fabricated, shipped, and installed on schedule
Aligned with construction milestones
Delivered in compliance with mall access rules and site constraints
Candidates must be comfortable managing off-site production timelines alongside on-site construction schedules and resolving conflicts between trades, logistics, and installations.