Vice President, Design & Construction

About the Role

Chipotle is looking for a senior design and construction leader to head its Center of Excellence for restaurant design. In this role, you will guide the global design direction for restaurants so that every concept supports business priorities, reflects the brand, incorporates new technologies, and can be rolled out consistently across markets. This is a high-visibility leadership opportunity within a fast-growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the Center of Excellence, the CCC Development Lab, and the internal global Design & Construction team.
• Ensure restaurant concepts follow established design principles and maintain strong brand identity across all markets.
• Drive strategic and special projects that shape the restaurant environment, working closely with cross-functional partners to bring them to completion.
• Guide the sourcing, selection, and evaluation of materials, furniture, fixtures, lighting, and equipment vendors so they stay aligned with brand standards.
• Choose external service providers that help achieve company goals and COE objectives.
• Oversee Design & Construction relationships with outside consultants, general contractors, and design vendors worldwide.
• Work with development field teams to translate new concepts into scalable rollout packages.
• Shape the guest experience and creative direction of the restaurant environment through broad influence across teams.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Design, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline is required.
• A master’s degree in Design, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a related field is also required.
• Architectural licensure is preferred, though not mandatory.
• At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Restaurant Design, and/or Retail Design.
• At least 8 years of supervisory experience in Design and/or Construction.
• Hands-on proficiency with design tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud, and hand sketching.
• Practical understanding of restaurant operations, finance, and marketing.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing creative teams.
• Strong influence skills and cross-functional collaboration ability across departments.
• Capability to work independently on restaurant design, development, and deployment while assessing project costs against architectural and design requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, planning, collaboration, decision-making, and project management skills.

Compensation & Benefits

The estimated base salary for this position is between $275,000 and $325,000 per year. In addition, the role is eligible for annual cash bonuses and equity awards, depending on performance and other factors. The total rewards package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), sick leave, vacation time, and additional benefits.

About the Company

Chipotle Mexican Grill focuses on serving responsibly sourced, freshly prepared food made with wholesome ingredients and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The company operates restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, and it owns and runs all of its North American and European locations. Chipotle continues to invest in digital experiences, technology, and sustainable business practices while aiming to make better food more accessible.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

The company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Applicants who need a disability-related accommodation for the application process, interview, or other hiring steps may request support through the company’s accommodation contact.