SR. DIRECTOR, CONSTRUCTION & FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

Our restaurants are only the tip of the flame! If you’re looking for a fast-paced, innovative and welcoming workplace then a career with us is right for you.

What’s in it for you!

• Hybrid work schedule
• Competitive pay and bonus
• Restricted Service Awards (RSAs)
• Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance + HSA Savings Account
• 401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting
• Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid Holidays
• Amazing office culture
• Free El Pollo Loco food (Dine Out Card) + Restaurant Discount
• Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more...


POSITION PURPOSE:
The Senior Director of Construction & Facilities is the enterprise leader responsible for the strategic direction, operational performance, and financial stewardship of Construction Delivery and Facilities Asset Management for approximately 175 company-operated restaurants, with scale readiness beyond 200 units.

This role owns end-to-end execution of new restaurant openings, remodels, capital reinvestment initiatives, and ongoing asset performance across the portfolio. The Senior Director ensures predictable schedule adherence, disciplined cost management, vendor accountability, and best-in-industry service standards in safety, quality, responsiveness, and cleanliness.

The position is accountable for rethinking and modernizing both Construction and Facilities operating models—driving value engineering, lifecycle cost optimization, preventative maintenance rigor, and capital allocation discipline to improve restaurant-level productivity, EBITDA performance, and return on invested capital. This leader partners cross-functionally to build a scalable platform that supports accelerated unit growth without disproportionate G&A expansion.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Construction Delivery
• Lead, manage, and establish the strategic direction for Construction Delivery, including new restaurant openings (NROs), remodels, relocations, and capital reinvestment projects.
• Own schedule adherence, budget performance, and quality outcomes for all company construction projects.
• Partner with Architecture & Design, Real Estate, Development Operations, and Operations to ensure constructability, cost discipline, and seamless turnover to the field.
• Drive design-to-cost initiatives and value engineering efforts to reduce build costs while maintaining brand integrity and operational functionality.
• Lead general contractor strategy, preferred vendor programs, and performance scorecards to ensure consistent execution standards.
• Implement governance, reporting cadence, and stage-gate controls to reduce variance to pro forma development models.
• Support franchise partners with construction standards, toolkits, and advisory guidance to ensure brand-compliant execution.


Facilities & Asset Management
• Provide executive leadership for the Facilities Department, defining annual goals, KPIs, and service standards aligned with operational excellence.
• Oversee preventative maintenance strategy, repair & maintenance (R&M) spend, and capital reinvestment prioritization across the portfolio.
• Lead vendor strategy, contract negotiation, and service level agreements to drive continuous improvement in cost, responsiveness, and asset uptime.
• Establish structured asset lifecycle management processes, including equipment replacement forecasting and capital planning.
• Partner closely with Operations leadership to ensure facilities performance supports restaurant cleanliness, food safety, and guest experience standards.
• Monitor and evaluate restaurant utility usage, billing accuracy, and alternative sourcing strategies to reduce operating costs.


Financial Stewardship & Capital Governance
• Own preparation and management of the Construction and Facilities budgets, including:
◦ New Restaurant Capital Budget
◦ Remodel and Reinvestment Capital Budget
◦ Repair & Maintenance Expense Budget
◦ Special Projects and Asset Optimization Budget
• Continuously evaluate in-house versus outsourced delivery models for both construction management and facilities execution to optimize cost and performance.


Leadership & Team Development
• Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing Construction and Facilities teams, fostering accountability, technical excellence, and leadership growth.
• Establish clear communication cadence, reporting standards, and performance expectations across internal teams and external partners.
• Build scalable organizational capability to support multi-market growth across three time zones.
• Promote a culture of safety, ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.