Director Design

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Playa Bowls is New Jersey's Original Acai Shop, and our mission is to bring superfruit bowls to the masses using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients while providing a fantastic in-store brand experience. What began as a pair of blenders, a patio table, and a fridge has flourished into a 300 unit operator and franchisor of the leading fast casual restaurant concept. Playa Bowls added more than 70 locations in 2024 and are on target to add as many 90 new locations in 2025. Our continued rapid growth has created the opportunity for an individual who will help us with continuing to grow our brand!

WHAT WE OFFER

Playa Bowls offers Competitive Compensation, Eligible for the Annual Bonus Program, Flexible Hybrid-Remote Work-Environment, Medical, Dental, Vision, Domestic Partner Benefits, Spouse & Children Benefits, 401K Plan with company match, Health Savings Account, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flight/Hotels paid for, Mileage Reimbursement, Cell Phone Stipend, Company Credit Card provided.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

• Open to candidates within our national footprint near a major airport
• Fully remote with the ability to travel up to 50% of the time

WHO YOU ARE

The Director of Design is a key member of the Development team, reporting directly to the VP of Design and Construction. You will play a critical role in establishing global restaurant design standards as well as managing the architecture process for new restaurants. You will execute restaurant prototypes or other test initiatives to learn and define scalable solutions. Responsible for building, signage, food service equipment, furniture, artwork and other specifications and the publishing of required manuals and support documents.

• Develop and manage the Playa Bowls design playbook, prototype design, and design standards.
• Ability to work independently to develop concepts and manage them through design development to final completion and documentation, frequently using drafting and modeling software like AutoCAD, Sketch-Up or others.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including marketing, operations, external suppliers, construction, franchise owners and external architects.
• Lead architecture including the vetting of approved architects to support new restaurant development.
• Drive continuous improvement and maintain time, cost, and quality standards with a focus on minimizing the time from site approval to the completion of construction documents.
• Review credentials for requested architects, recommend new architects and hold accountable existing architects.
• Work with external architects to not only deliver high-quality construction documents but also ensure that local requirements are captured in construction documents to facilitate the timely and efficient permitting approval for new restaurants.
• Interface with brand partners to seek feedback and support their design & architecture pipeline needs as appropriate.
• Lead a team responsible for store design execution focusing on people development and a drive to win.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in restaurant/hospitality design, preferably in multi-state, fast casual dining and quick service restaurant operations in a corporate or franchise environment.
• Must be experienced in design/modeling software.
• Ability to effectively speak and consult with internal customers, external customers, vendors, and franchisees.
• Ability to read, write, and interpret routine and complex reports, documents and correspondence.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers,
• common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to effectively listen and respond to customer needs.
• Ability to effectively make oral presentations to broad audiences.
• Ability to solve practical and abstract problems and deal with a variety of known and unknown variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, plan, multi-task, execute work assignments and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
• Proficiency with design/modeling software such as AutoCAD or Sketch up, Microsoft Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and the internet required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

• Must be able to traverse and inspect all areas of jobsite in all types of weather; this may include walking, climbing, reaching, bending, crawling, or stretching.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Must be able to engage in problem-solving skills to help identify and solve potential issues
• Must be on call to address delays, emergencies, bad weather, and other issues at the jobsite.

MISSION

Inspire and support our communities one bowl at a time.

VALUES

Real Deal. Playa Passion. Powerhouse. Big Wave Chaser. Dawn Patrol

“Playa Bowls is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local l