Sr. Manager, Capital Sourcing

El Pollo Loco•Costa Mesa, CA

3d•$137,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At El Pollo Loco, we are on a mission to be the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant. When it comes to our people, we are all about growth. Whether that means specialized training, a clearly laid out career trajectory or collaborating cross-functionally, we are committed to the success of our people the same way we’ve been committed to the success of the El Pollo Loco brand for the last 50 years. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people who set us ablaze. Our restaurants are only the tip of the flame! If you’re looking for an innovative, winning, and welcoming workplace, then a flamin’ good career in our Restaurant Support Center is right for you. At our Support Center, we believe our best work is done Together, when departments collaborate and everyone is confident in contributing their ideas. This is why we are in the office 3 days per week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Finance, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
7-10+ years of progressive procurement, purchasing, or supply chain experience, focusing heavily on construction, Capex, and development within the restaurant, retail, or hospitality industry.
Proven experience leading hard bids with General Contractors and interpreting architectural blueprints.
Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and able to travel for: Vendor meetings at their facilities – vendor shows, Pre/post construction walk throughs, Travel with facilities and broker facilities when necessary!, Review and assess restaurant products, samples, and observe live product demonstrations
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex RFI/RFP processes with multiple competing vendors.
Strong negotiation skills with experience structuring construction contracts, pricing agreements, and SLAs.
Must be decisive and able to make fact-based, data-driven decisions utilizing TCO models.
Willingness and ability to travel locally within Southern California and to out-of-state locations as needed to collaborate on-site with Facilities and Real Estate teams.

Nice To Haves

CPSM, CPP, or equivalent procurement certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage the sourcing and procurement of CapEx and development categories, including General Contractors, kitchen equipment, furniture, and architectural fixtures.
Support new market expansion by sourcing materials and contractors for the refined "iconic prototype" design, ensuring build costs align with the target of approximately $1.8 million per location.
Drive robust unit economics by protecting margins through a methodical approach to cost savings and value engineering across all construction and equipment categories.
Review and interpret architectural plans, construction blueprints, and equipment schedules to ensure accurate bidding and scope alignment.
Lead the competitive bidding process for General Contractors (GCs) across New Restaurant Openings (NROs) and remodel projects.
Utilize a Universal Vendor Qualification Matrix during the Request for Information (RFI) phase to evaluate potential partners on corporate stability, portfolio versatility, integration maturity, and support infrastructure.
Execute comprehensive financial modeling utilizing a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach that evaluates acquisition, operating, maintenance, and indirect costs against residual value.
Select final vendors using a standardized weighted scoring matrix, prioritizing Technical/Functional Fit (40%) and Total Cost of Ownership (25%).
Negotiate construction contracts, manage change orders, and track project-level CapEx budgets.
Establish and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with binding performance standards, including target uptime, resolution times, and liquidated damages for non-compliance.
Ensure all procured physical goods and systems meet mandatory environmental durability standards (e.g., thermal management, IP ratings) and ADA accessibility requirements.
Design and manage a structured vendor performance review program, including scorecards, KPIs, and regular business reviews.
Mandate that all third-party vendors adhere to industry-standard security frameworks, including mandatory data encryption and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for administrative interfaces.
Maintain accurate records of purchase orders, contracts, pricing agreements, and vendor documentation.