Retail Architectural Specialist

Develops Fixture Plans and Architectural Criteria Drawings for new stores, relocations, expansions, remodels, and special projects for all chains. Makes design and layout decisions in order to create plans for each project based upon site-specific requirements and budget guidelines, ensuring that standards are met.

In conjunction with Store Planning Manager, assigns projects for all new stores, relocations, expansions, remodels, and special projects for designated retail chains to Store Planning associates and outside consultants. Provides guidance to Store Planners and outside consultants with regards to conformance to planning guidelines, prototypical requirements, and site-specific criteria.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

• Gather and analyze project data to design site-specific plans.
• Make design and layout decisions for each project, relying on experience and judgment.
• Recommend solutions for efficient overall store layout, including all support areas and department adjacencies.
• Collaborate with Store Planning Management, Design Department, Store Operations, and Merchandise Planning and Analysis.
• Enhance overall customer and associate in-store experience to drive sales.
• Create architectural drawings that meet standards and construction specifications, balancing design and operational needs
• Interface with Architects and Construction Department to interpret local building codes, adhere to store opening timelines, budget and lease requirements.
• Troubleshoot site-specific challenges that arise during planning, drawing, and the construction phase of assigned projects.
• Develop creative solutions to resolve problems.
• Proactively partner with both internal and external teams to communicate changes and resolve project scheduling conflicts.
• Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate distribution and archiving of drawings and project data to meet Construction and Real Estate store opening schedules.
• For design-build stores, review completed site survey with collected data about existing conditions.
• Interprets and analyzes collected data to facilitate design development decisions with internal team.
• Conducts design-build meeting with appropriate team members.
• Develop site specific plans and architectural drawings that adhere to Construction budget and store opening schedule.
• Assists Store Planning Management in training and providing technical guidance to Store Planners and outside consultants with regards to implementation of planning guidelines and chain specific prototype requirements for new stores, relocations, expansions, remodels, and special projects for designated retail chains.
• Delegates projects to Store Planners and outside consultants, ensuring timely and accurate distribution of drawings to meet Construction and Real Estate store opening schedules.
• Recommends solutions to overall store layout, including all support areas and department adjacencies to enhance both the associate and customer in-store experience to drive sales.
• Collaborate with Store Planning Management, Design, and Construction to develop solutions for non-prototypical stores.
• Work closely with outside Architects to ensure chain-specific prototype requirements and construction specifications.
• Assign projects and provide guidance to Store Planners.

Who We Are Looking For:

• Associates Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering Technology, or Interior Design preferred (or equivalent certificate). Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Retail store and fixture layout experience
• Strong understanding of retail store operations, building architecture, construction procedures and related codes.
• Working knowledge of Revit and AUTOCAD or equivalent software
• Excels at problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multi-task while remaining flexible
• Time management oriented
• 4 years related planning experience, preferably in retail design, store planning, interior design or architecture.
• Store Planner with Revit and AUTOCAD or equivalent software knowledge with another retailer or architectural firm.