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.