Job Title: Restaurant Director of Construction
Job Description
The Restaurant Director of Construction leads and oversees all aspects of restaurant construction and property maintenance to ensure that every location operates at the highest standard throughout its life cycle. This onsite leadership role, based at the Support Center in Fairfax, Virginia, plays a central part in planning, executing, and delivering new restaurant builds, remodeling projects, and facility repair and maintenance initiatives. The position combines strategic project management with hands-on oversight of multiple projects and teams in a dynamic hospitality-focused environment.
Responsibilities
Provide leadership and management oversight for all phases of restaurant construction projects, from planning and design through execution, completion, and turnover.
Oversee property maintenance programs to ensure all restaurants remain in excellent operating condition throughout their life cycle.
Lead and manage new restaurant construction projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with brand standards and operational requirements.
Direct remodeling and renovation projects across existing restaurant locations, coordinating schedules and work to minimize disruption to operations.
Manage facility repair and maintenance efforts, prioritizing needs and allocating resources to maintain safe, efficient, and guest-ready environments.
Supervise and mentor project managers and superintendents, typically overseeing at least one to two project managers and superintendents concurrently.
Manage and coordinate large-scale project portfolios totaling $30M or more, ensuring effective budgeting, scheduling, and quality control.
Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including operations and support teams, to align construction and maintenance activities with business goals.
Ensure all construction and maintenance work complies with relevant codes, regulations, and company standards.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, and accountability across all construction and maintenance activities.
Represent the construction function as a key member of the Construction Team, contributing to the achievement of departmental goals and long-term growth objectives.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, or a related field.
At least 10 years of project management experience, including substantial experience with hospitality projects.
Proven experience managing project portfolios of $30M or more.
Demonstrated ability to manage and lead at least one to two project managers and superintendents simultaneously.
Strong in commercial construction management, particularly within the hospitality or restaurant sector.
Ability to provide strategic leadership and hands-on oversight across multiple concurrent projects.
Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
Proficiency in construction management principles, processes, and best practices.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience in a director-level or construction management role overseeing multiple commercial or hospitality projects.
in both new construction and remodeling or renovation projects within a multi-unit restaurant or hospitality environment.
Familiarity with coordinating construction and maintenance in operational, guest-facing environments.
Ability to work effectively in a professional construction management (CM) environment rather than a general contractor (GC) setting.
Demonstrated commitment to building strong teams and fostering a collaborative, people-focused culture.
Work Environment
This role is primarily onsite at the Support Center in Fairfax, Virginia, with an expectation of being on site 3-4 days per week and working in the office or from home 1 day per week. The position operates in a professional construction management environment (CM, not GC) that supports a portfolio of restaurants and bakeries in Northern Virginia and Maryland. The culture emphasizes dedication, collaboration, and excellence, reflecting recognition as a top workplace. The work involves close coordination with restaurant operations and support teams, as well as regular interaction with project managers, superintendents, and external partners in a fast-paced, hospitality-focused setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Falls Church, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $200000.00/yr.
Great American Restaurants is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of Construction to join our growing construction team. This on-site role is based out of our support center office in Fairfax, Virginia, with frequent on-site work expected at all new and existing locations. Established in 1974, Great American Restaurants operates thirteen high-volume, upper casual restaurants, an upscale dining location, three artisan bakeries, and a fast-casual BBQ joint in Northern Virginia and Maryland, with several new locations in progress and more in the works. We operate a lean construction team so this role requires hands-on involvement, personal accountability, and a willingness to solve problems directly. This position is ideal for an experienced hands-on construction leader (Senior Construction Manager/Director, Director of Construction & Facilities) who understands restaurant construction from the ground up and is comfortable being close to the work - reviewing plans, walking job sites, solving problems in real time, and ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Falls Church,VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 1, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
