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.