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Restaurant Design Manager

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Location: 3500 Lacey Road, Downers Grove, IL
Brand: Cooper's Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants is experiencing fast paced national expansion and seeks to enhance its Real Estate & Development team. We are looking for an experienced Restaurant Design Manager who will ensure the precision and quality of design plans for Cooper’s Hawk (CH) and Piccolo Buco (PB) projects. This role encompasses the entire design lifecycle, including site layout, utility coordination, schematic design development, and construction drawing production.

This role demands a seasoned professional with a robust background in design management, particularly within the restaurant development and hospitality sector. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, exceptional project management capabilities, and the ability to drive successful design and development initiatives for Cooper’s Hawk and Piccolo Buco restaurants nationwide.

What You’ll Do:

Act as the primary liaison for external architects, engineers, and food service design professionals, overseeing all aspects of design strategy, implementation, and coordination.
Lead and manage external architects, engineers, and various consultants in developing contract documents for restaurants, ensuring adherence to our standards and maintenance of prototype documents.
Oversee the design process for 10+ projects annually, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines.
Coordinate drawing production with landlord teams, ensuring compatibility with landlord’s sitework submissions.
Collaborate with the CH Entitlements Manager on planning and permitting functions to ensure smooth project progression.
Interface with internal teams (Operations, Real Estate, Marketing, Purchasing) to adapt designs to specific site requirements and constraints.
Conduct research and development to address design and facility-related issues, focusing on materials, systems, and innovative solutions.
Lead value engineering efforts to optimize project costs and reduce time-to-market without compromising quality.
Evaluate in-line and conversion opportunities presented by the Real Estate Department
Support the Senior Design Manager in developing short-term and long-term strategic plans to enhance building design, reduce errors and omissions, and improve guest experience.

What You’ll Need:

Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in design project management, with a strong emphasis on restaurant and hospitality projects
B.S. degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Civl Engineering or a related field.
Architectural license, or related professional registration is highly desirable.
Proven experience working with multi-unit restaurant chains and managing the design process from an owner's perspective.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, BlueBeam, and AutoCAD; familiarity with Revit is advantageous.
Demonstrated ability to manage external design professionals effectively, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables.
Commitment to continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends, design innovations, and construction methodologies.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Ability to adapt to dynamic business environments, proactively solve problems, and leverage opportunities to optimize project outcomes.
Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time to oversee project sites and coordinate with external partners.

Competencies:

Disciplined and Methodical Approach
Action-Oriented and Proactive
Superior Communication Skills
Strong Team Collaboration
Innovative and Strategic Thinking
Complex Problem-Solving
Accountability and Responsibility

What You’ll Get:

Incredible Discounts:

Monthly Dining Allowance
50% Dining and Carryout
40% Retail Wine
20% Retail and Private Events

Monthly Complimentary Wine Tasting for Two
Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision Insurance plus Telemedicine and Wellness Program
Company Matching 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Flexible Savings Accounts- Health and Dependent Care
Health Savings Account
Long-Term Disability; Voluntary Short-Term Disability
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (with option to purchase additional coverage)
Paid Parental Leave
Highly Competitive Pay plus Team Member Incentives & Rewards
Paid Time Off
Access to Team Member Relief Program
Employee Assistance Program, providing mental health, legal and financial counseling
"Everyday Benefits" Program to include insurance coverage (pet, life, auto, home/property) and employee discounts on goods and services
Milestones Recognition Program
Complimentary Gym Membership in RSC Building
Hybrid Work Week (3 days in office, 2 days remote, depending on role)

Cooper’s Hawk reviews several factors when establishing compensation. Salaries and hourly wages appearing in a job posting may be published by third parties and may not reflect the salaries or hourly wages offered by Cooper’s Hawk.

Cooper’s Hawk is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Cooper’s Hawk makes reasonable accommodations during all aspects of the employment process, including during the interview process.

The information provided above indicates the general nature and level of work required of the position and is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities or qualifications. The Benefits list is only a highlight of some of the benefits offered to team members; eligibility for certain benefits apply.

About Us

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants was created with the inspiration of bringing the Napa Valley experience to all of America, by combining an elegant tasting room with a polished casual restaurant and scratch kitchen. Cooper's Hawk wines have won hundreds of awards and are the Official Wines of the Screen Actors Guild® Awards. We are built upon the belief that food and wine hold the power to forge a COMMUNITY, and with the world's largest wine club membership, we are paving the way to democratizing the good life!