Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Engineering Project Management, serves as the primary project manager for initiatives led by Panera’s Engineering team that improve café operations and systems. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with Panera’s strategic goals. The ideal candidate combines strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate technical assessments and cross-functional collaboration. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this position plays a critical role in driving operational efficiency and supporting Panera’s future operating model.

Key Responsibilities

Own end-to-end project management for café engineering initiatives, including planning, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder communication.Develop and maintain detailed project plans and timelines; monitor progress and proactively resolve issues.Serve as a liaison between Engineering and cross-functional teams (Operations, Development, Culinary, IT, Finance) to ensure alignment and smooth execution.Create and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocations; monitor progress and adjust as needed.Serve as a liaison between engineering and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and successful execution.Prepare and deliver clear, actionable updates to leadership and field teams, support testing and equipment deployments.Validate technical feasibility of new equipment, systems, and processes; provide recommendations based on operational impact.Work with Development’s design and creative groups to provide feedback on how curated plans impact in-cafe day-to-day operations, validating equipment placement that avoids bottlenecks to ensure effective customer and associate travel paths.Drive continuous improvement by leveraging data, analytics, and feedback from field operations.Willingness to learn café team members, AGMs, and GMs daily responsibilities and operations.Work on other assigned projects as necessary

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field preferred.3+ years of experience in project management, engineering, or operations (within a multi-unit restaurant or retail environment preferred.)Experience working in a restaurant/café is a nice to have.Strong technical aptitude with ability to troubleshoot and solve complex problems.Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver results on time.Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to build relationships across departments.Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with project management tools a plus.Able to delegate effectively, with strong follow-up skillsAbility to travel up to 50% based on project needs.
Additional Description :

Competitive Pay $136,383-$190,937 annually.