Director of Cafe Development, (Construction)

About the Role

Employment Type: Full-time

Blue Bottle Coffee is looking for a Director of Cafe Development to serve as the head of construction for cafe development in North America. This individual will oversee all aspects of construction across our growing portfolio of cafes and facilities. They will oversee both new cafes and renovations on our existing cafes, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the high quality standards of Blue Bottle Coffee.

This individual will work cross functionally with our real estate, design, facilities and operations teams throughout the development lifecycle, from feasibility and pre-construction through handover, in addition to cafe renovations and expansions in our existing portfolio. They will lead the internal cafe development (construction) team and manage external partners, vendors, and consultants.

This position sits within the Real Estate & Cafe Development Team, and will play a part in developing a globally scalable expansion strategy. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker prepared to own continual improvement of our development processes and management of our building costs.

What You Will Do

• Lead all construction processes for new cafe and facility builds, renovations, and upgrades
• Define and execute a globally scalable cafe development process, with direct accountability for on time, on budget openings in North America
• Oversee budgeting, bidding, scheduling, permitting, and construction execution across multiple concurrent projects
• Ensure cost effective delivery by identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities while preserving design integrity
• Rigorously control projects costs, manage change orders, and track against budget with transparency
• Maintain and evolve Blue Bottle’s construction standards, documentation, and processes to support growth
• Vet, select, and manage general contractors, consultants, and vendors across all project phases with a focus on innovation, speed and cost-efficiency
• Conduct site reviews and coordinate punch list resolution, handover, and closeout documentation
• Partner closely with Real Estate and Design to ensure feasibility, constructability, and budget from early phases
• Establish KPIs and review mechanisms to drive accountability, track performance, and optimize our development playbook.
• Report project status, risks, and budget updates to senior leadership
• Shape the future of the brand’s physical presence and customer experience, balancing commercial success and cultural relevance

What You Bring

• Able to work simultaneously at both strategic and highly tactical projects
• Able to manage multiple concurrent projects at national scale
• Adept at managing high-impact projects with multiple stakeholders across matrixed organizations
• Able to successfully manage outside contractors, vendors and consultants
• A trusted communicator and thought partner
• Passionate about delivering extraordinary guest experiences and elevating brand through physical spaces
• Curious, resourceful, and grounded in a test, learn, and scale mindset

Experience and Skills

• 8+ years of progressive experience in construction management for retail, with focus on multiunit retail operators
• Experience in building out retail spaces in high-growth, consumer-facing industries (e.g., hospitality, food & beverage, retail)
• Proven success in scaling physical retail across multiple market types and geographies
• Expertise in managing full development lifecycles: strategy, sourcing, negotiation, construction, and delivery
• Deep knowledge of MEP systems, construction documents, permitting, and ADA compliance
• Experience working with remote teams and managing complex, multi-region project timelines
• Exceptional communications, budgeting and vendor management skills
• A love for great coffee, thoughtful design, and creating spaces that bring people together

Physical Activity and Environmental Factors

The following is a list of the physical activity requirements and environmental factors related to this role. Blue Bottle is committed to partnering with all candidates