Manager, New Store Openings in Marietta, Georgia at Popup Bagels

About PopUp Bagels

PopUp Bagels is not just a bagel company; we’re a cultural movement. Our stores are small, our vibes are loud, and our energy is contagious. From signature neon and iconic bullhorns to our “Not Famous but Known” mirror, we’ve reimagined not just how a bagel is created, but how it’s enjoyed: Grip, Rip and Dip! With a cult-like following, massive social presence, and unparalleled collaborations with top companies, partners and Brand Ambassadors, PopUp Bagels is defining a new food lifestyle brand.

We keep things simple, but we do them really, really well. And our customers agree.

The Role

The Manager, New Store Openings will own the Countdown-to-Opening process of bringing our franchisees’ new PopUp Bagels locations to life. This is a predominantly franchisee-facing role. You’ll be the connective tissue between our franchisees’ teams and PopUp Bagels construction, operations, vendors, technology, training, marketing, leadership, and local teams, making sure every new store opens on time, on brand, and ready to deliver the PopUp experience from day one. This is a highly hands-on role for someone who prides themselves on being organized and keeping project timelines on track. You’ll coordinate multiple Countdown-to-Opening processes across a high-volume development pipeline, anticipate problems before they become realities, keep a close eye on details, and make sure nothing gets lost in the process. You should be proficient with project timeline software (such as Procore, Monday.com, or Airtable), comfortable interpreting construction schedules, and able to respond quickly as priorities evolve. Most importantly, you understand that a PopUp Bagels opening isn't just the opening of another restaurant. It’s the launch of an experience.

What You’ll Do

Own the New Store Opening Process

• Lead and coordinate the new store opening process from pre-construction planning through opening day and post-opening stabilization.
• Maintain detailed opening timelines, critical-path schedules, checklists, budgets, and readiness plans.
• Establish, communicate and forecast clear milestones, owners, and deadlines across every function involved in an opening.
• Coordinate multiple simultaneous processes across different markets and keep each one moving forward.
• Identify risks, roadblocks, and dependencies early and develop solutions to keep projects on track.
• Serve as the central point of communication for all pre-opening activities.

Bring the PopUp Experience to Life

• Ensure every new location reflects PopUp Bagels' brand standards, from the physical environment to technology, signage, merchandising, equipment, and guest experience.
• Partner with Design, Construction, Operations, Marketing, and other internal teams to ensure the checklists are adhered to in the process.
• Coordinate installation and setup of everything required for opening, from equipment and signage to technology and branded elements.
• Conduct detailed store readiness walks and create punch lists to ensure spaces are truly opening-ready.
• Protect the consistency of the PopUp experience while supporting the unique needs of each market.

Coordinate Cross-Functional Teams & Partners

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for franchisees throughout development and opening, answering questions, sharing updates, and connecting them with the appropriate internal partners.
• Act as the quarterback across internal teams, contractors, landlords, vendors, suppliers, technology partners, and local operators.
• Run regular pre-opening meetings and provide clear updates on progress, risks, and next steps.
• Hold stakeholders accountable for commitments and deadlines.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure deliverables arrive when and where they need to.
• Escalate issues quickly and appropriately while bringing potential solutions, not just problems.

Prepare Teams for Opening Day

• Partner with Operations and Training to ensure new store teams are staffed, trained, equipped, and ready to go.
• Coordinate operational readiness, including equipment, supplies, technology, procedures, and opening inventory.
• Support soft openings, training days, test runs, and other pre-opening activities.
• Build and execute opening-day plans that ensure the team, store, and guest experience are ready for prime time.
• Stay closely connected to the store team through opening and the initial stabilization period.

Measure & Improve

• Track opening timelines, budgets, readiness milestones, and post-opening issues.
• Maintain clear reporting on the status of the opening pipeline.
• Conduct post-opening reviews to identify what worked, what didn't, and what we can do better next time.
• Continuously improve the new store opening playbook, processes, tools, and checklists as PopUp Bagels scales.
• Help build a repeatable opening machine that can support rapid national growth without losing the magic that makes PopUp, PopUp.

What We’re Looking For

• 4+ years of experience in new store openings, restaurant or national branded operations, construction/project management, hospitality, retail, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and moving parts.
• Experience opening nationally branded restaurants, retail stores, hospitality locations, or other customer-facing physical locations strongly preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills. You need to love a checklist, a timeline, and knowing exactly what needs to happen next.
• Strong project-management instincts and an ability to prioritize when everything feels urgent.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to hold internal and external partners accountable.
• A highly proactive approach: you see the problem before everyone else sees the problem.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where processes are constantly evolving.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to support openings across the U.S., generally every 2–3 months for one week or less.
• Comfortable spending significant time in the field, including at active construction sites and new store locations.
• Strong attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• A bias toward action and a genuine “figure it out” mentality.
• Proficiency with project-management tools, spreadsheets, Google Workspace/Microsoft Office, and other operational systems.

Additional Role Note:

The duties of this position may change from time to time. PopUp Bagels reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of PopUp Bagels or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general work level. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

PopUp Bagels is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, age, ancestry, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related condition, unemployment status, gender identity or expression, transgender status or gender dysphoria, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, national origin, citizenship, disability, covered veteran and/or military status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, familial status as that term is described under other protected statuses or any other characteristic as protected under applicable federal, state and local law.

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