Vice President of Facilities & Construction

SUMMARY OF POSITION

California Pizza Kitchen, part of Convive Brands, is seeking a Vice President of Construction & Facilities to provide strategic leadership for construction, capital projects, and facilities operations across California Pizza Kitchen, Le Pain Quotidien, and Little Beet. This role leads the planning and execution of new restaurant construction, remodels, major renovations, and capital projects while also overseeing repair and maintenance strategy, preventive maintenance, asset lifecycle planning, vendor performance, and restaurant asset reliability. Working closely with Restaurant Operations, Real Estate, Finance, and other business leaders, the Vice President of Construction & Facilities establishes standards, prioritizes investments, manages financial performance, and ensures Construction and Facilities programs support safe, reliable, and efficient restaurant operations. The role provides end-to-end accountability for restaurant assets from design and construction through ongoing maintenance and operation.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Lead Construction and Facilities strategy, establish priorities and standards, and provide overall direction for both functions across the restaurant portfolio.
• Oversee the planning and execution of new restaurants, remodels, major renovations, closures, and other capital projects from initial scope through completion and turnover.
• Partner with Real Estate, Operations, Finance, and other stakeholders to define project scope, design requirements, schedules, budgets, phasing plans, and business priorities.
• Lead and manage third-party architects, engineers, general contractors, specialty consultants, service providers, and subcontractors to ensure accountability for cost, quality, schedule, and performance.
• Establish and maintain construction, engineering, equipment, and facilities standards that support brand consistency, operational requirements, maintainability, and long-term asset performance.
• Manage, review, and approve project budgets, cost estimates, schedules, forecasts, contracts, change orders, and expenditures related to construction, Facilities capital, and major repair projects.
• Ensure construction and capital projects are delivered safely, on time, within approved budgets, and to company quality standards while minimizing disruption to restaurant operations.
• Lead Facilities strategy for repair and maintenance, preventive maintenance, asset lifecycle planning, equipment reliability, and restaurant uptime.
• Establish, implement, and continuously improve preventive maintenance programs for restaurant equipment, building systems, and facility assets to extend useful life, reduce repair costs, and minimize downtime.
• Provide oversight of ServiceChannel and work order governance, including approval controls, escalation processes, invoice review, reporting, and repair and maintenance spend management.
• Develop and manage qualified Facilities vendor and contractor networks, negotiate service agreements, establish service standards, and drive vendor performance, competitive pricing, and cost improvement.
• Establish emergency response protocols and lead escalation and resolution of critical facility issues that affect restaurant operations, safety, or the guest experience.
• Provide leadership and technical direction for complex facility issues involving HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical, roofing, kitchen equipment, and general building systems.
• Oversee corrective construction, equipment replacements, capital repairs, and facility improvement projects, ensuring appropriate scope, prioritization, and execution.
• Establish consistent facility inspection, asset condition, documentation, and capital prioritization processes to identify needs and support long-term planning.
• Partner with Risk Management, Real Estate, Legal, and Operations on insurance-related repairs, landlord responsibilities, permitting, building codes, safety requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve energy efficiency, sustainability, equipment reliability, and total cost of ownership across the portfolio.
• Develop long-term capital plans and financial reporting for Construction and Facilities, balancing operational needs, asset condition, risk, and return on investment when prioritizing company resources.
• Lead, develop, and set priorities for the Construction & Facilities team, creating clear accountability, effective communication, succession planning, and consistent execution across the organization.
• Collaborate with executive and cross-functional leaders to establish strategic goals, support business initiatives, and align Construction and Facilities priorities with company objectives.
• Ensure effective turnover from Construction to Restaurant Operations and Facilities, including completion of open items, warranties, service contracts, asset documentation, and ongoing maintenance requirements.
• Stay informed on industry trends, emerging technologies, construction methods, materials, and facilities best practices and apply relevant improvements across the organization.
• Build strong partnerships with Operations and other internal stakeholders through proactive communication, timely issue resolution, and a service-oriented approach to supporting the restaurants.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Extensive progressive leadership experience overseeing construction and facilities functions within the restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other multi-unit commercial environment.
• Demonstrated expertise leading complex construction projects, remodels, renovations, capital programs, and geographically dispersed project portfolios.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical, roofing, kitchen equipment, and general commercial building systems.
• Strong knowledge of commercial construction methods, permitting, building codes, construction documentation, and applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, construction drawings, specifications, technical documents, and project schedules and to effectively hold architects, engineers, and contractors accountable.
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated experience developing and managing construction CapEx, Facilities CapEx, repair and maintenance budgets, forecasts, and cost controls.
• Demonstrated success negotiating contracts and managing architects, engineers, general contractors, service providers, and vendor performance.
• Experience developing preventive maintenance programs, asset lifecycle strategies, equipment reliability initiatives, and long-term capital plans.
• Experience with ServiceChannel or comparable work order management platforms and the ability to establish effective system governance and reporting.
• Highly developed project and program management skills with the ability to lead multiple concurrent projects and priorities across a geographically dispersed portfolio.
• Strong strategic planning, prioritization, and organizational management skills with the ability to translate business objectives into executable plans.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, motivate, and hold teams accountable while creating clear priorities and effective operating rhythms.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills with the ability to operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the executive presence and interpersonal skills to represent the organization effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong operational orientation and ability to balance restaurant needs, guest and team member experience, asset reliability, risk, and financial objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and comfort working with project, financial, and facilities management systems.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to travel up to 50% to restaurants, project sites, and business locations as needed.
• Frequent overnight travel may be required based on construction activity, project schedules, and field support needs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent use of computers and mobile technology.
• Ability to stand, walk, climb ladders, access rooftops, and inspect mechanical equipment.
• Ability to bend, kneel, crawl, and work in confined spaces when necessary.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in varying environmental conditions, including indoor and outdoor restaurant locations.
• Ability to safely access rooftop HVAC equipment and other elevated mechanical systems.

NOTE:   This job description is not a contract of employment. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications associated with the position. Management reserves the right to modify responsibilities and requirements at any time to meet changing business needs.

CPK is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.