At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting retail construction projects from concept to completion, ensuring exceptional store openings.
- Company: Join a passionate chocolate company dedicated to creating indulgent experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy 50% off products, 70% off stays in Saint Lucia, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for growth and travel across the UK.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by crafting outstanding retail environments that delight customers.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in retail construction management and strong stakeholder communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
As we continue our mission to make people and nature happy through chocolate, we’re looking for an experienced Retail Construction Project Manager to join our Property & Facilities team on a permanent basis.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about retail environments and understands that every successful store opening starts long before the doors open.
We're looking for someone who thrives on delivering exceptional retail spaces, enjoys working closely with Retail Operations, and takes pride in creating stores that provide an outstanding customer and colleague experience.
You’ll be responsible for delivering new store openings, refurbishments and capital projects across our UK retail estate, ensuring every project is completed safely, on time, within budget and to the premium standards our customers expect.
Working closely with our Property, Retail Operations and Facilities teams, you’ll manage projects from initial concept through to handover, ensuring our retail teams are fully prepared to open and trade successfully from day one.
As well as a competitive salary and a range of company benefits, you’ll receive 50% discount on all products, and a 70% discount for you and your guests when you stay at our Rabot Estate hideaway on the paradise island of Saint Lucia.
Here at Hotel Chocolat, we've adopted hybrid working.
This means you’ll join us on site for two days a week (dependant on project work), and for the other three days you can work from wherever you like!
The on-site location for this role is our support office, ‘Mint House’, in Royston, Hertfordshire.
Our home from the very beginning, it’s just off the A505 and 10 minutes’ walk from Royston train station, with direct rail links to London King’s Cross.
- What you’ll be doing
- People
- Lead cross-functional teams through every stage of a project, from concept to store handover.
- Build strong partnerships with Retail Operations to ensure stores are operationally ready for opening.
- Manage architects, designers, M&E consultants, contractors and external suppliers.
- Develop positive relationships with landlords and managing agents.
- Provide regular project updates to the Head of Property & Facilities and key stakeholders.
- Influence decisions that balance commercial objectives with the Hotel Chocolat customer experience and brand standards.
- Operations Strategic
- Develop project programmes aligned with retail trading calendars and store opening plans.
- Identify project risks early and implement practical solutions.
- Drive value engineering opportunities without compromising quality or customer experience.
- Support capital planning and future retail expansion programmes.
- Delivery
- Manage contractor tender processes and recommend appointments.
- Oversee Cap Ex budgets, project costs, variations and payment approvals.
- Carry out regular site visits and chair progress meetings.
- Ensure CDM compliance and safe working practices throughout every project.
- Manage practical completion, snagging and defect resolution.
- Maintain accurate project plans, trackers and reporting.
- Success looks like
- New stores opening on schedule.
- Refurbishments completed with minimal disruption to trading.
- Projects delivered within agreed budgets.
- Excellent feedback from Retail Operations and internal stakeholders.
- High-quality retail environments that reflect the Hotel Chocolat brand.
- Zero reportable health and safety incidents.
- Who we’re looking for
You’ll be someone who genuinely enjoys working within retail and understands what makes a successful store.
You’ll bring
- At least 5 years' experience managing retail construction projects.
- Proven experience delivering multiple store openings and refurbishments simultaneously.
- A strong understanding of retail fit-outs, M&E services and commercial cost management.
- A degree in Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- The ability to build trusted relationships with both operational and technical teams.
- A proactive approach with strong planning and problem-solving skills.
- A willingness to travel nationally to support projects across our retail estate.
- It would be great if you also have Experience working within a multi-site retail business.
- A passion for creating exceptional retail environments and customer experiences.
- Knowledge of premium retail brands or hospitality-led environments.
About Us
We’re not just a chocolate company; we’re a family of chocolate lovers.
From luxury gifts to our iconic Velvetiser™ and beyond, we’ve built a brand that’s all about crafting moments of indulgence.
Our journey began as a humble mint company, but we soon found our passion for cacao and never looked back.
Today, we’re proud to operate over 150 stores across the UK and continue to grow across categories, channels, and territories.
Patience, passion, and purpose drive everything we do – just like the perfect cacao pod, our success doesn’t happen overnight.
It’s the result of hard work, innovation, and the shared dedication of our customers, colleagues, farmers, and suppliers.
To learn more about who we are and our People Pledge to equality, diversity, and inclusion, visit: hotelchocolat. com/uk/engaged-ethics/our-people. html
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Retail Construction Project Manager in Royston employer: Hotel Chocolat
At Hotel Chocolat, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values passion and customer obsession. Our vibrant work culture fosters teamwork and personal development, offering a competitive salary, generous discounts, and exciting career progression opportunities in the heart of a premium retail environment. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your love for chocolate and commitment to excellence can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Construction Project Manager in Royston
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Hotel Chocolat, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Retail Construction Project Manager at Hotel Chocolat.
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Construction Project Manager in Royston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hotel Chocolat
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
