AKIRA Senior Project Manager - Store Construction & Maintenance

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 40+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com). AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other high fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position: Senior Project Manager - Store Construction & Maintenance

Location: Bolingbrook, IL

Position Summary:

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

Benefits and Perks:
AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and a generous employee discount. We're committed to internal growth, providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.

Compensation:
At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.

Job Type: Full-Time