Commercial Interiors Fitout - Project Manager

At Surescout.in, hiring isnt just a process its our purpose. We specialize in connecting exceptional talent with forward-thinking organizations, turning capabilities into opportunities. Our mission is to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement by aligning skilled professionals with roles where they can truly thrive.

We are currently seeking a Commercial Interiors Fitout - Project Manager to join our client's team in Chennai.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Commercial Interiors Fitout Project Manager

Department

Projects & Fitout / Infrastructure

Reports To

Head of Projects / Director Operations

Experience

4+ Years in Commercial Interior Fitout Projects

Location

Based at Corporate Office with site travel across restaurant locations

Employment Type

Full-Time

Position Purpose

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Interiors Fitout Project Manager to lead end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of restaurant interior fitout projects across multiple locations. The ideal candidate brings a disciplined project management approach with PMP-level competency, strong architectural coordination skills, and hands-on experience in material sourcing and procurement planning within the food & hospitality or restaurant chain environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution

Develop comprehensive project plans using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to decompose fitout scope into manageable deliverables and work packages.

Create and maintain detailed Gantt Charts for project scheduling, milestone tracking, critical path identification, and resource levelling across concurrent restaurant fitout sites.

Define project scope, timelines, budgets, and quality benchmarks in alignment with the brand design standards and operational requirements.

Monitor and control project progress through earned value analysis, variance reporting, and proactive risk mitigation.

Bill of Materials (BOM) & Cost Management

Prepare detailed Bill of Materials (BOM) for each fitout project covering furniture, fixtures, equipment (FF&E), finishes, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and kitchen infrastructure.

Maintain version-controlled BOM documentation ensuring accuracy across design revisions and value-engineering decisions.

Conduct cost estimation, budget tracking, and variance analysis at material category and line-item levels.

Architect & Design Coordination

Serve as the primary liaison between the internal team and external Architects, Interior Designers, and MEP Consultants.

Review architectural drawings, shop drawings, and design specifications for constructability, compliance, and alignment with brand standards.

Coordinate design development cycles, manage RFI (Request for Information) processes, and ensure timely design freeze to prevent scope creep and rework.

Facilitate design review meetings and ensure all stakeholder inputs are incorporated within project timelines.

Material Sourcing & Procurement Planning

Develop procurement schedules aligned with the project Gantt Chart, ensuring just-in-time delivery to avoid site idle time and storage costs.

Identify, evaluate, and onboard vendors and suppliers for interior materials, FF&E, signage, lighting, kitchen equipment, and specialty items.

Negotiate pricing, lead times, and quality terms with suppliers; maintain an approved vendor registry with performance ratings.

Coordinate sample approvals, mock-ups, and material testing in collaboration with the design and quality teams.

Site Execution & Quality Control

Oversee on-site fitout execution ensuring adherence to approved drawings, material specifications, and workmanship standards.

Conduct regular site inspections and snag management; maintain punch lists and ensure defect-free handover.

Coordinate with civil, MEP, and interior contractors for seamless integration of all fitout trades.

Ensure compliance with local building codes, fire safety regulations, FSSAI norms, and licensing requirements.

Stakeholder Communication & Reporting

Provide weekly project status reports with dashboard views covering schedule performance, budget utilisation, risk register, and key decisions.

Present project updates to leadership with clear escalation of blockers, dependencies, and resource needs.

Maintain centralised project documentation including contracts, change orders, approvals, and handover records.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Education & Certification

Bachelors degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Civil Engineering, or Construction Management.

PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is strongly preferred; PRINCE2 or equivalent is acceptable.

Experience

Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in commercial interior fitout project management, preferably in restaurant chains, QSR, hospitality, or retail.

Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent fitout projects from design coordination through handover.

Proven track record in vendor management, procurement negotiation, and cost optimisation for interior projects.

Technical Competencies

Project Planning Tools: Proficiency in MS Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent for WBS development, Gantt Chart creation, and critical path scheduling.

BOM Management: Advanced Excel / ERP-based BOM creation, version control, and cost roll-up.

Design Coordination: Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, MEP, and interior design drawings (AutoCAD, Revit familiarity preferred).

Procurement Planning: Experience in lead-time analysis, vendor qualification, rate comparison, and procurement pipeline management.

Budgeting & Cost Control: Hands-on experience with project budgeting, cost-to-complete forecasting, and variance reporting.

Soft Skills

Excellent coordination and communication skills to work across architects, contractors, vendors, and internal operations teams.

Strong problem-solving ability and comfort with ambiguity in fast-paced, multi-site environments.

High attention to detail with a quality-first mindset.

Self-driven with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Preferred Attributes

Prior experience in restaurant chain or food-service fitout projects with understanding of kitchen workflow, food safety zones, and customer experience design.

Familiarity with FSSAI, fire NOC, and municipal licensing processes for restaurant establishments.

Experience in standardised rollout models replicating brand-standard fitout across multiple outlets with controlled variation.

Exposure to sustainability practices in interior fitout energy-efficient systems, low-VOC materials, and waste reduction.

Key Performance Indicators

On-time project delivery (within +/ 5% of baseline schedule).

Budget adherence (within +/ 3% of approved project budget).

Defect-free handover rate ( 95% snag closure before handover).

Procurement lead-time compliance (100% materials delivered per procurement schedule).

Stakeholder satisfaction score (design compliance + operational readiness at handover).

Compensation & Growth

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and industry standards. This role offers a unique opportunity to be part of a growing restaurant enterprise with significant exposure to end-to-end project lifecycle management, brand-building through physical spaces, and career progression into senior project leadership or infrastructure strategy roles.

Please send your resumes to reachus@surescout.in