Sr. Manager, Design Program Management

Panera is a recognized leader in the development of digital interaction/integration for its clean food initiative. Today, with over 2000 cafes in the US serving passionate and loyal guests, we are bringing this same level of innovation to the development of next-generation café design. As a result, our need to elevate design to the highest level has never been greater. To support this effort, we are on the hunt for an experienced, passionate and highly skilled team member to join our in-house design studio.

With a broad mandate to deliver high quality design work in a fast-paced environment, our studio-based designers have a unique opportunity to work with a world-class design team.  The ideal Panera Program Manager is highly organized, deadline driven and effective in creating order and priorities within complex schedules. This role seeks to propel projects through the development cycle, with broad retail, restaurant and hospitality design experience. S/he has a passion for design and is able to work effectively as part of a collaborative creative team to execute projects to the highest brand standards.

Overview – what you need to know

We are looking for an experienced and talented design leader to join Panera’s Store Design Studio, with experience working in and leading small, high caliber creative teams. The Senior Program Manager will report directly to a Studio Design Director and, as an integral part of the broader development team, will manage the delivery of varied design projects, working with the studio designers, while accommodating business considerations, functional goals and our typical aggressive timelines.  Additionally, as a leader in the design studio, the Senior Program Manager will assist the Design Director by leading small project teams as needed to execute multiple café projects.

Elevate Design - Studio

• Responsible for the design and overall look/feel of new and remodeled Company and Franchise cafés and to create thoughtful and highly creative regional café designs that align with current design criteria (strategies) and Panera’s high-quality brand standards.
• Help build a strong creative studio culture that encourages open discourse, collaboration and critical thinking. Has a passion for all things design that includes an understanding of history and current trends in design, furniture and fashion, etc.
• Promote a successful attitude, confidence in leadership, and collaboration with a focus on elevating design while achieving business results.
• Provide clear, effective and timely communication of project direction to designers and consultants and, as needed, identify issues/conflicts and propose solutions to resolve outstanding concerns.
• Be an advocate for elevated design with our franchise partners and/or cross functional teams to support larger brand initiatives.
• Participate in team design reviews providing experience, insight, and support to the creative process

Elevate Talent

• Support the Design Director in elevating the level of existing design talent in the organization.  Establish and sustain expectations for designer caliber (design and leadership capabilities) for existing and new associates at all levels in the organization.
• Regularly evaluate designer performance, identify high performing associates for development and promotion, and provide clear feedback, as necessary, to team members that do not meet expectations.
• Continuously set a high bar for design talent, understand and clearly articulate expectations to project team and provide effective and timely direction and feedback on performance and project work.
• Understand, identify and clearly communicate key responsibilities, best practices and expectations to ensure the success of the immediate team of direct reports.
• Challenge and inspire teams and provide timely coaching, feedback, leadership support and developmental opportunities in order to achieve design and business results.

The Work

• Directly responsible for the management of a pipeline of projects, with our Franchise and/or Company development partners.
• Utilize project management tools to evaluate team workload balance and prioritization. 
• Utilize reporting tools to provide Director team with regular updates on organizational goals and team productivity.
• Coordinate, organize, and prioritize project intake with cross-functional teams (real estate, real estate strategy, development program managers, franchise partners).
• Meet with the internal Store Development team regularly, partnering to ensure smooth communication and project delivery.
• Connect with the Café Operations teams for project discussions and cross-functional project approval presentations.
• Participate in and/or bring projects into regular open-forum style design reviews as well as offline review as needed. Give and/or respond to design direction, coaching and guidance so that the projects meet Panera’s high-quality brand standards.
• Work with Franchise partners to ensure that Panera design intent is executed to the highest standards and in coordination with their outside Architect’s design development, and construction documents.

• Support Panera’s cross-functional team goals (Company and Franchise; operations, ops services, real estate, construction) in order to:
  • Deliver effective store layouts that meet functional and business needs.
  • Provide effective collaboration and communication with broader store development team so that projects meet internal project timelines and construction budgets, hit annual new store and remodel project counts and achieve sales weeks goals.
  • Monitor the work quality of the external architect consultants to ensure they deliver high quality construction documents that comply with architectural and quality standards, building codes and health and safety regulations, on time and on budget.

Summary of Experience

• 7 years of broad experience, including design, detailing and preparation of construction documents, in high end single-family Residential, Restaurant/Hospitality and Retail preferred.
• 5 years of design experience in a restaurant or retail brand.
• 5 years management of outside architectural, MEP and/or other design consultants.
• Professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design and/or a related field of study.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Current working knowledge and experience with:
  • 3D visualization (hand sketching/CAD programs, etc.)
  • Working knowledge of design, architectural detailing and specifications.
  • Current knowledge of relevant professional building codes, health codes and entitlement, permitting & compliance issues.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, highly organized and detail oriented.
• Self-starter with ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Strong work ethic and professional attitude with ability to thrive in a fluid, fast-moving, high pressure, and constantly changing business environment.
• Ability to manage multiple project timelines and schedules simultaneously and work with little supervision to produce high quality work on strict timelines.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency required. Prefer experience with ACAD/Revit, Google Sketch-up, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Microsoft Office.