Director, Development & Construction

We are seeking a Director of Development and Construction to support Functional Inspired Training's (FIT) commitment to delivering exceptional, white glove service to our franchisees, fostering strong relationships and ensuring consistent, proactive support throughout the entire development and construction lifecycle. The Director, Development and Construction will act as a dedicated advisor and advocate for franchisees, providing personalized guidance and support from site selection through grand opening by building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships, ensuring open communication and consistent levels of construction related support. This position will play a critical role in the development and maintenance of brand-standard architectural, design, and construction guidelines, ensuring consistency and quality across all locations and will provide expert consultation to franchisees on site-specific development needs. This role requires strategic thinking, proactive problem resolution, and a relationship focused approach supported by a passion for delivering exceptional service.

Franchisee Construction Coaching and White Glove Support:

• Provide exceptional "white glove" service to franchisees throughout the entire franchise sales and pre-open process pertaining to design, development, and construction, offering personalized guidance and support from initial planning to final studio opening.
• Enhance existing, develop new, and consistently deliver comprehensive construction coaching programs, empowering franchisees with the knowledge and tools necessary for successful project execution.
• Serve as a dedicated point of contact for franchisees, addressing their concerns promptly and proactively, and ensuring a seamless and positive construction experience.
• Foster strong relationships with franchisees through regular communication, empathy, and a commitment to their success.
• Anticipate franchisee needs and provide proactive solutions.

• Establish and enforce project management processes to assist franchisees in achieving on-time and on-budget build outs with consistent adherence to the highest quality system standards.
• Provide expert guidance and support to franchisees, empowering them to navigate the construction process with confidence.

Standards and Innovation:

• Ensure strict compliance with all franchise system design, engineering, and development standards, while maintaining a culture of  continuous improvement.
• Introduce and implement new construction technologies and methodologies as may be applicable in partnership with senior leadership.

Architectural and Design Consultation:

• Offer guidance and support to franchisees on site-specific architectural and design considerations. 
• Review franchisee-submitted architectural plans and provide feedback to ensure compliance with brand standards and building codes, and aid and assist with the production of those floor plans prior to formal submission.
• Assist franchisees with the selection of appropriate design elements and materials.

  Project Management, Documentation, and Stakeholder Communication:

• Lead the planning and execution of support processes for multiple studio construction projects simultaneously, demonstrating exceptional organizational and prioritization skills.
• Establish clear project goals, timelines, and deliverables, and communicate effectively with all internal and external stakeholders through regular updates and meetings.
• Proactively address potential issues and provide solutions.

• Consistently maintain documentation of all ongoing studio construction projects and communications with franchisees within company CRMs, project management tools, and other relevant software platforms.

  Team Collaboration, Culture, and Vendor Management:

• Effectively support internal teams and vendor project teams, including contractors, engineers, and architects, fostering a collaborative, customer centric, and high performance environment.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with external preferred partners, including commercial brokers, real estate platform teams, contractors, architects, engineers, and other industry professionals.
• Provide support to franchisees’ floor plan design, contract negotiations, budgeting, and bid related to design, engineering, and construction.
• Continuously oversee the procurement of materials and equipment and preferred partner relationships, ensuring timely delivery and optimal utilization across the franchise network, as may be applicable.
• Lead a culture of excellence, teamwork, and accountability within the Operations Team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional global teams and divisional leadership to achieve business objectives.