Senior Project Construction & Maintenance Manager

Company: Akira
Location: Bolingbrook
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Senior Project Manager - Store Construction & Maintenance Location: Bolingbrook, IL Job Type: Full-Time About AKIRA AKIRA is a fast-growing women's fashion brand with 30 retail stores nationwide and a thriving eCommerce business. Our brand is bold, our pace is fast, and our people are everything. We believe in ownership, accountability, and delivering standout customer service. The Role AKIRA is seeking a Senior Project, Store Construction & Maintenance Manager to serve as the execution lead - for new stores and construction projects. This role willown the end-to-end delivery of new store openings and major remodels across AKIRA's national footprint, with a strong focus on enclosed mall environments. This is a high-visibility, senior role responsible for coordinating landlords, mall operators, general contractors, specialty trades, fixture manufacturers, and internal stakeholders to ensure stores open on time, on budget, and fully operational. The ideal candidate has 7 years of hands-on retail construction experience, has personally opened multiple locations, and is comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects across the U.S. Travel: ~40% What You'll Own Full lifecycle ownership of new store construction projects from keys in hand through store opening Execution leadership across multiple active projects nationwide Critical path scheduling and delivery risk management Coordination of landlords, mall management, contractors, and specialty vendors Budget development, cost tracking, and change management On-site representation of AKIRA during construction and inspections Reports to the Director of Store Construction Fixture & Vendor Coordination (Key Differentiator) This role is responsible for sourcing, scheduling, and coordinating third-party fixture manufacturers and millwork vendors, ensuring fixtures are: Designed, fabricated, shipped, and installed on schedule Aligned with construction milestones Delivered in compliance with mall access rules and site constraints Candidates must be comfortable managing off-site production timelines alongside on-site construction schedules and resolving conflicts between trades, logistics, and installations. What We're Looking For 7 years of experience managing retail, grocery, restaurant, or QSR construction projects Proven track record of opening multiple physical locations across different regions Direct experience working in enclosed malls and with mall landlords Strong knowledge of permitting, inspections, fire/life safety, and certificates of occupancy Experience coordinating fixture manufacturers, millwork, and specialty vendors Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced environments Willingness to travel frequently (~40%) Strong communication skills and comfort working with senior internal and external partners Tools & Enviroment Project management platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Monday.com, MS Project, Procore, or similar) Budget tracking and cost control tools Contractor sourcing platforms and regional vendor networks Cloud-based document management and collaboration tools Why This Role High ownership, high impact role with direct influence on AKIRA's growth National project exposure across diverse markets Direct partnership with senior leadership Opportunity to help scale construction processes as the store base grows Compensation & Benefits Salary range: $80,000–$140,000 based on experience Medical, dental, vision, life, disability 401(k), FSA/HSA, transit benefits Generous employee discount

Keywords: Akira, DeKalb , Senior Project Construction & Maintenance Manager, Retail - All , Bolingbrook, Illinois