Expansion Manager (m/f/d)

LAP (Life Among People) is making specialty coffee radically more accessible – grab-and-go micro-hubs in the heart of Germany's cities, at a price point people can afford every day. We're in Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, and moving fast into Frankfurt, Cologne, and Düsseldorf. Every new store we open is a bet on what we believe: great coffee should be for everyone. ABOUT THE ROLE We're looking for someone who takes a raw space and turns it into a LAP store – on time, on budget, and without cutting corners. You'll own every stage of the buildout: from walking the site and reading the drawings to holding the contractors accountable onsite & strategically improving the customer and barista experience.. This role sits at the intersection of expansion, operations, and process-building. It's hands-on by design while never losing the bigger picture out of sight. If you thrive on turning chaos into a finished store – read on. WHAT YOU'LL DO Store Buildouts & Construction · This is the core of the role - Own fit-out projects end-to-end: site assessment, permits, contractor management, timeline, budget – through to keys-in-hand handover to ops - Be on-site. Read the drawings. Spot the problem before it becomes a three-week delay - Tender and manage GCs, subcontractors, and suppliers – hold them accountable on programme, quality, and budget. No exceptions - Conduct technical site assessments (structural condition, floor loads, MEP feasibility) and produce clear go/no-go recommendations - Manage snagging, defect resolution, and formal handover – the job isn't done until ops signs off Process Optimisation - Turn every buildout into a better template for the next one – document what worked, cut what didn't - Build the procurement, briefing, and cost-tracking workflows that let us open stores faster without losing quality - Configure and maintain Asana, Notion, and dashboards so the team stays aligned across five projects at once Portfolio Performance - Keep existing locations performing – manage adhoc requests, coordinate technicians, prevent downtime before it happens and implement strategic measures - Identify improvements across the portfolio that drive performance, not just fix problems WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Must-haves - 1–3 years of real, hands-on experience in construction project management, retail fit-out, or a closely related field – not just project support - You can read architectural drawings and technical specs, and you know when something doesn't add up - You've managed contractors on-site before and know how to keep a programme on track when it starts to slip - Organised enough to run multiple projects simultaneously; decisive enough to make calls without being chased - Willing to travel ~30% and spend real time on construction sites across Germany – this is non-negotiable - Fluent German (C1+) · Solid English - Driver’s license Nice-to-haves - Background in F&B, hospitality, architecture, civil engineering, or real estate - Comfortable with Asana, Notion, or MS Project; curious about AI and automation What's In It For You • Direct access to the Expansion Lead and founding team – real decisions, short paths • You build things. Actual stores. You’ll be important from day one. • Competitive salary + a huge community • Berlin HQ base with time on the road and on-site across Germany • Exceptional coffee. Obviously.