Julian Melo

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JULIAN MELO

I’m a multidisciplinary leader operating at the intersection of design, construction, and real estate, with extensive experience delivering complex, high-value projects across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. I specialize in leading prototypes, new concepts, and premium flagship developments—particularly in environments where brand standards, cost discipline, and execution excellence must coexist.I currently serve as LAC Construction Manager for Wendy’s, overseeing multi-country portfolios of franchisee restaurants. In this role, I lead prototype rollouts, CAPEX strategy, vendor coordination, and brand-standard execution across the full project lifecycle—from early design intent and feasibility through construction, equipment coordination, and post-construction review—bridging corporate strategy with on-the-ground delivery.A core part of my work is translating complex project data into decision-ready intelligence. I focus on structuring cost, schedule, and performance information in a way that moves leadership teams from anecdotal updates to clear, actionable insight—improving prioritization, risk visibility, and execution outcomes across portfolios. I enjoy building these feedback loops as much as delivering the projects themselves.Previously at Starbucks, I led a team of seven designers based in New York and oversaw $30–40 million in annual capital investment tied to new restaurant development. I drove design strategy and execution for prototypes, new concepts, and high-end projects, several of which received industry recognition for design excellence, operational performance, and brand integrity.Beyond corporate leadership, I’m an active real estate investor and operator, focused on value-add strategies, disciplined underwriting, and execution-driven growth.I’m deeply interested in AI and automation as practical tools to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and scalability across construction, real estate, and operations.I’m driven by building systems, assets, and teams that scale—and by delivering work that compounds in value over time.