Employee Records
VP of Development
Savory
Full Time
9 Years Experience
Coins Icon Competitive salary
VP of Development
Savory

Full Time
9 Years Experience
Coins Icon Competitive salary
Skills
Cross-Functional Leadership
Change Management
Vendor & Partner Management
Project Management
Real Estate Negotiation
Communication & Executive Presence
+3
Description

Savory is seeking an experienced and execution-oriented Vice President of Development to lead all aspects of restaurant development across our growing portfolio. This executive will play a critical role in driving the firm’s expansion efforts—overseeing site selection (in partnership with our VP of Real Estate), design, construction, and opening of new restaurant locations. The ideal candidate is a seasoned restaurant development professional with strong project management skills, in-depth knowledge of construction and design, and a proven track record of delivering successful, scalable restaurant builds on time and within budget.


Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Planning & Expansion
    • Lead the development strategy for new restaurant locations across multiple brands.
    • Identify high-potential markets and work with internal and external partners to build market entry plans.
    • Align development goals with investment timelines and brand strategies.
  • Site Selection & Real Estate
    • Evaluate and participate in the approval process of new locations based on market analysis, operational feasibility, and financial performance projections.
  • Design & Construction Management
    • Manage the full lifecycle of restaurant buildouts—from concept design through construction to opening.
    • Oversee architects, contractors, engineers, and consultants to ensure consistent brand execution.
    • Standardize development processes and create scalable building prototypes where applicable.
  • Project & Budget Oversight
    • Lead development projects with tight control over timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
    • Monitor and report on key project metrics to stakeholders and investment partners.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
    • Partner with operations, finance, marketing, investment, and culinary teams to ensure readiness and alignment for each restaurant launch.
    • Build and manage a high-performing development team as the company scales.


Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in restaurant development, with a proven track record of building and opening multiple successful restaurant units (fast casual, casual dining, and/or upscale concepts).
  • Strong experience managing third-party vendors and internal teams for design, construction, and project management.
  • Deep understanding of restaurant architecture, kitchen layouts, building systems, and permitting processes.
  • Ability to lead multiple concurrent development projects across geographies.
  • Financial acumen to manage multi-million-dollar development budgets.
  • Highly organized, results-driven, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in construction management, real estate development, architecture, or related field preferred. 

Savory Restaurant Fund Company Culture Highlights:

  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Company Outlook 2023
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best CEOs for Women 2023
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Career Growth 2022
  • Savory Restaurant Fund is ranked in the top 5% of companies for Overall Culture on Comparably.
  • Savory Restaurant Fund is ranked in the top 5% of companies for Manager Score on Comparably.

Savory is seeking an experienced and execution-oriented Vice President of Development to lead all aspects of restaurant development across our growing portfolio. This executive will play a critical role in driving the firm’s expansion efforts—overseeing site selection (in partnership with our VP of Real Estate), design, construction, and opening of new restaurant locations. The ideal candidate is a seasoned restaurant development professional with strong project management skills, in-depth knowledge of construction and design, and a proven track record of delivering successful, scalable restaurant builds on time and within budget.


Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Planning & Expansion
    • Lead the development strategy for new restaurant locations across multiple brands.
    • Identify high-potential markets and work with internal and external partners to build market entry plans.
    • Align development goals with investment timelines and brand strategies.
  • Site Selection & Real Estate
    • Evaluate and participate in the approval process of new locations based on market analysis, operational feasibility, and financial performance projections.
  • Design & Construction Management
    • Manage the full lifecycle of restaurant buildouts—from concept design through construction to opening.
    • Oversee architects, contractors, engineers, and consultants to ensure consistent brand execution.
    • Standardize development processes and create scalable building prototypes where applicable.
  • Project & Budget Oversight
    • Lead development projects with tight control over timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
    • Monitor and report on key project metrics to stakeholders and investment partners.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
    • Partner with operations, finance, marketing, investment, and culinary teams to ensure readiness and alignment for each restaurant launch.
    • Build and manage a high-performing development team as the company scales.


Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in restaurant development, with a proven track record of building and opening multiple successful restaurant units (fast casual, casual dining, and/or upscale concepts).
  • Strong experience managing third-party vendors and internal teams for design, construction, and project management.
  • Deep understanding of restaurant architecture, kitchen layouts, building systems, and permitting processes.
  • Ability to lead multiple concurrent development projects across geographies.
  • Financial acumen to manage multi-million-dollar development budgets.
  • Highly organized, results-driven, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in construction management, real estate development, architecture, or related field preferred. 

Savory Restaurant Fund Company Culture Highlights:

  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Company Outlook 2023
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best CEOs for Women 2023
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022
  • Winner of Comparably's Award for Best Career Growth 2022
  • Savory Restaurant Fund is ranked in the top 5% of companies for Overall Culture on Comparably.
  • Savory Restaurant Fund is ranked in the top 5% of companies for Manager Score on Comparably.
We use eVerify to confirm U.S. Employment eligibility.