The Project Manager Restaurant Development leads Daikan Hospitality Group s restaurant projects from pre-opening through post-opening. They oversee new openings, refurbishments, renovations, relocations, and operational improvement projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to brand standards. Acting as the single point of accountability, the role coordinates Senior Leadership, Operations, Culinary, Procurement, HR, Finance, and external contractors. It requires strong project management, commercial judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders across both new and existing restaurants.

Job Description

• Project Planning & Delivery: Own project plans, timelines, milestones, and checklists for new openings and ongoing restaurant projects.
• Design & Fit-Out: Coordinate architects, designers, contractors, FF&E, kitchen equipment, and vendors to ensure quality, cost, and timeline targets are met.
• Licensing & Compliance: Manage all required permits, licenses, food safety, civil defense, and regulatory approvals.
• Pre-Opening Readiness: Coordinate recruitment, training, systems, SOPs, menus, trial runs, and soft openings to ensure operational readiness.
• Post-Opening Projects: Lead refurbishments, renovations, relocations, refits, operational improvements, and future site development.
• Budget & Cost Control: Manage project budgets, procurement, negotiations, and spend against approved costs.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the central project lead, coordinating internal teams and external partners, tracking risks, resolving issues, and reporting progress to Senior Leadership.
• Project Handover: Ensure smooth completion and handover of all projects to Operations with minimal disruption to trading.

Desired Candidate Profile

Requirements

• 5+ years project management experience in restaurant/hospitality, with proven standalone restaurant pre-opening experience.
• Experience managing renovations, refurbishments, relocations, and operational improvement projects in live restaurants.
• Strong hands-on experience across design, fit-out, licensing, procurement, and operational readiness.
• Good understanding of restaurant BOH/FOH layouts, kitchen equipment, and UAE regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to manage contractors, vendors, budgets, and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organization, problem-solving, and commercial skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including senior leadership and ownership.
• Proficient in MS Project, Excel, and project management tools.
• Willingness to travel between sites and work flexible hours during pre-opening periods.
• High integrity, ownership, attention to detail, and ability to deliver under pressure.