Remote Permit Expeditor Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

• $95,000 - $110,000 base salary range + annual bonus potential! 
• 100% remote in the United States, however, due to state-specific regulatory requirements, Potbelly does not currently support remote work from the following states: Alaska, California, and Hawaii. To be considered for this position, you must be able to perform the role from a state not listed above at the time of hire and for the duration of employment

Do you hunger for more? Potbelly Sandwich Shop is looking for friendly and outgoing people who enjoy working in a fast-paced, friendly environment. We are where good vibes and great careers are a way of life! What started as a small antique store in 1977 has become a nationally recognized neighborhood sandwich shop with over 400 locations across the United States. But toasty sandwiches are only as good as the people behind them. And yeah, we've got the best. Ready to join our growing Potbelly Nation? 

Job Title: Construction Manager

Department/Function: Development

Location: Remote

Reports to: Director of Design & Construction

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Construction Manager (CM) provides oversight and assistance to new and existing franchisees in the coordination, planning and implementation of new shop construction. They will support franchisees in all site feasibility efforts, milestone tracking, owner furnished orders, entitlement procedures, General Contractor (GC) management and provide resolution to an assortment of problems in moderately complex scope using defined policies, procedures, and subject matter expertise. They will also serve as the Project Manager (PM) for communication and coordination with cross-functional teams.

This position may also be responsible for the oversight and execution of company owned new shop projects and refresh/remodel/reimaging initiatives across the company's existing portfolio. 

FOCUS

Responsibilities

• Utilize company's project management platform (FranConnect - Opener Module, along with GC project trackers) to ensure that franchisees, general contractors, architects and engineers (A&E), national account vendors, operations, training, supply chain, and other cross-functional teams are aligned to support timely and cost-effective development.
• Facilitate the leadership of bi-weekly update calls with franchisees and participants from multiple departments within the organization (i.e., real estate, design, legal, operations, training, marketing, finance, supply chain) for status updates on all sites in development.  
• Provide weekly pipeline reports to senior leadership so there is a clear and concise understanding of construction progression for all sites in development. Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of each project's plans, timelines, and potential risks.
• Review franchisee development proformas to determine site feasibility and establish realistic construction budget for new site development.
• Review franchisee financial budgets, architectural/engineering drawings, permitting procedures, GC bids and construction timelines to ensure company standards and procedures are being met and followed.
• Maintain consistent focus on driving schedule to deliver expedited timelines while identifying methods of course correcting/resolving potential delays.                                                                             
• Review and redline permit and bid construction drawing sets providing comments to the preferred A&E vendor and ensuring any errors or omissions in plans are caught prior to construction
• Coordinate smooth turnover of all new shops to the operations and training teams.
• Site visits to shops under construction at specific milestone events to ensure compliance, schedule and quality

Skills

• Has broad based business acumen and ability to collaborate with business leaders
• Experienced project manager of cross-functional and outside vendors to deliver project on time and on budget
• Creative problem solver, working through challenges with adaptability, resilience, and expertise
• Can develop contingency plans to deal with unexpected situations in the development process
• Able to prioritize duties and tasks with a sense of urgency
• Recognizes emerging patterns, makes connections among data and issues, and appropriately reacts
• Can analyze business challenges and offer solutions based on best practices and subject matter expertise
• Eye for delivering and ensuring high-quality workmanship and adherence to strict design policies
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Conflict management skills
• Strong presentation skills (in person and virtually)
• Strong collaborative skills that demonstrate teamwork, creativity, and innovation
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to travel up to 50% of time to include our Support Center in Chicago, IL, visit franchisees, and see sites under construction

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

• Must have the ability/stamina to work 45-50+ hours a week
• Must be able to work in both warm and cool environments, indoors and outdoors
• Must be able to engage in problem-solving skills to help identify and solve potential issues
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
• Ability to stand/walk for 9-10 hours per day and sit for 1-2 hours per day
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Will frequently reach, feel, bend, stoop, carry, finely manipulate, and key in data

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORS

• Must represent The Potbelly Values
• Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding goals/quotas
• Cool and collective under pressure
• Must be passionate about the food business in general and Potbelly in particular
• Self-starter who can work well with others as well as independently
• Must be highly organized with the ability to handle multiple projects at once
• 5-8 years of construction management in QSR development highly preferred
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong analytic skills
• Must be coachable, driven, focused, confident and a self-starter
• Must have experience performing in a highly competitive environment
• Must strive for excellence and have only the highest integrity in their intentions 
• Experience with CRM, FranConnect, SmartSheet/PM, and all Microsoft products for collaboration and communication
• Bachelor's degree preferred in related field (Construction, Architecture or Engineering)
• Knowledge of Auto CADD and Revit a plus

Potbelly Sandwich Works may use artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tools as part of its hiring and recruitment process. These tools may collect and analyze data including questionnaire and assessment responses, resume content, and professional profile information. AI-assisted tools are used for all position types. All final employment decisions are made by people. Potbelly may also use additional AI-assisted tools from time to time in its hiring process. 

If you have questions about how AI is used in connection with your application, or if you would like to request a reasonable accommodation related to the use of AI in the hiring process, please contact HumanResources1@potbelly.com.

At Potbelly, we are committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment where individuals are valued for their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and strengths. We believe that inclusion, collaboration, and mutual respect enhance the way we serve our customers and work together as a team. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. Each applicant will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by [7/31/2026] to be considered for this position. The posting may close earlier if a suitable candidate is selected before the deadline.