Director, Construction

At Caribou Coffee we create day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of GOOD!  This is our purpose.  Our team brings this to life by focusing on what’s really important around here – TEAM, GUEST, BUSINESS!  It’s that simple.  If you’re ready to work somewhere you can be yourself while making an impact on your community, creating life-long relationships, and serving the best coffee around, join our herd!  Apply today and be part of the ‘Bou Crew!

Position Overview:

As the Director, Construction at Caribou Coffee, you lead Caribou’s enterprise construction strategy across new store openings, remodels, and refresh programs. Your responsibilities also include budgeting, feasibility analysis, managing general contractor selection, and providing technical expertise in design and construction. You create and support outstanding store designs, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Additionally, you maintain relationships with vendors and partners, , and support legal and contractual processes for design and construction projects. Your expertise and leadership will be crucial to driving successful project outcomes and supporting our overall growth initiatives.

Core Responsibilities:

Drive strategy and lead team to support growth objectives

• Oversee employee retention, development, and staffing. Foster professional growth through onboarding, open communication, training, and performance management.
• Cultivate a positive team environment to enhance morale and motivation, while ensuring the team is adequately staffed with the necessary skills and competencies.
• Lead and manage cross-functional teams to drive project completion and deliver outstanding results through collaboration and clear communication.
• Lead and oversee the coordination of activities with internal departments such as Operations, Finance, Brand Marketing, Facilities Management, IT, Asset Protection, and other departments to ensure alignment and minimal disruption.
• Implement effective communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders. Develop opportunities through collaboration with various lines of business and external resources.

Lead Construction Strategy and Capital Execution

• Provide the technical expertise and creative solutions pertaining to engineering, design, and construction means, methods, and materials.
• Develop the overall vision, direction, and execution of construction projects and programs.
• Lead a team of professional staff in the delivery of various project types such as new store construction, additions, renovations, close-out, and other construction projects to established brand standards and quality, balancing budget and schedule parameters.
• Establish and monitor annual and store-specific capital expenditures related to the new store openings and major remodels.
• Source and manage preferred general contractor selection to provide construction services for retail stores on a regional basis, including but not limited to contractor qualification/approval, contract negotiation/execution, and performance evaluation.
• Develop and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs), review contracts, and hire and manage external consultants as needed to support project objectives.

Manage new store and concept design

• Create and support store design within the new and remodeled store process for company-operated stores and provide design insight for franchise store designs.
• Support the organization, development, and management of global design standards, including guidelines, architectural and engineering standards, prototypical drawing sets, specifications, and technical data, aimed at maintaining consistent project quality, conformity, and facilitating efficient team communication.
• Apply and demonstrate expertise in architectural details and technical specifications relevant to ground-up construction, conversions, and tenant improvement projects.
• Transform approved conceptual designs into "Rollout Ready" formats by standardizing design details and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), while providing effective implementation tools.
• Oversee and support the collaboration with vendors on shop drawings, integrating them into prototype template sets, and work with facilities and procurement to establish vendor workflows that enable scalable project execution.
• Create and manage regional adaptations to designs, addressing high-capacity needs, jurisdictional variations, cold