Restaurant Development Coordinator

Career Guide

A Restaurant Development Coordinator supports the planning and opening of new restaurant locations. The role coordinates timelines, documents, and communication across real estate, design, construction, and operations to help projects move from site approval to opening day.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Track development schedules and key milestones for new locations
Coordinate communication between internal teams and external partners
Prepare and organize site and project documentation
Support site selection by collecting location details and market notes
Assist with permits, licensing, and inspection preparation
Coordinate vendor bids, proposals, and contract paperwork
Maintain budget trackers, invoices, and purchase order records
Schedule meetings, calls, and walkthroughs for project stakeholders
Update leadership with status reports and risk flags
Support opening readiness by coordinating handoffs to operations teams

Top Skills for Success

Project Coordination

Schedule Management

Document Management

Vendor Management

Stakeholder Communication

Attention to Detail

Budget Tracking

Basic Construction Knowledge

Permitting Process Knowledge

Risk Identification

Negotiation

Spreadsheet Skills

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Development Specialist

Construction Coordinator

Real Estate Coordinator

Facilities Coordinator Project Coordinator

Transition Opportunities

Restaurant Development Manager

Real Estate Manager

Construction Project Manager Facilities Manager

Franchise Operations Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Lease BasicsSite Selection CriteriaConstruction Cost EstimatingContract ReviewPermit Timeline PlanningReporting and DashboardingCross functional Leadership

Development SuggestionsBuild practical exposure by partnering closely with real estate and construction teammates, owning a small set of locations end to end, and creating simple tracking tools for schedule, budget, and risks. Consider targeted training in project management, basic real estate concepts, and construction fundamentals.

Market Intelligence Report

Restaurant Development Coordinator is part of the Kitchen Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level45000 to 60000 USD

Mid Level60000 to 80000 USD

Senior Level80000 to 105000 USD

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring tends to increase when restaurant brands expand into new markets, remodel existing locations, or accelerate franchise growth.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

McDonaldsStarbucksYum BrandsChipotleWendysBurger KingTaco BellDominosPanera BreadChick-fil-ARestaurant Brands InternationalDarden Restaurants

Industry Sectors

Quick service restaurantsFast casual restaurantsFull service restaurantsRestaurant franchise groupsHospitality groupsCommercial real estate servicesRetail construction and general contractors

Recommended Next Steps

Create a repeatable project tracker for schedule, risks, and decisions

Ask to own coordination for a small remodel or one new location to build end to end experience

Strengthen spreadsheet skills with budget and timeline templates

Learn the standard steps for permits, inspections, and licensing in your target markets

Shadow construction walkthroughs to learn common issues and terminology

Build a vendor and stakeholder contact map to improve communication speed

Pursue an entry level project management credential if helpful for your market

Prepare a portfolio of status reports, trackers, and process improvements for interviews