Assistant Retail Store Designer - CONTRACT

About Designer Brands

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective contributes to our success.

The Opportunity

At Designer Brands, our stores are more than places to shop. They're spaces that bring our brands to life and create meaningful experiences for customers. As an Assistant Retail Store Designer (CONTRACT), you'll play an important role in helping shape and maintain those environments across our North American retail fleet. In this position, you'll combine design expertise, project coordination, and cross-functional collaboration to support everything from new store openings and remodels to ongoing floor plan updates. You'll help ensure our stores are operationally ready, thoughtfully designed, and aligned with business needs. This role is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys both the creative and operational sides of retail design. You'll work closely with teams across Store Operations, Construction, Marketing, Store Planning & Allocation, and Field Leadership to bring store concepts to life while maintaining consistency and accuracy across hundreds of locations.

What You'll Be Doing

• Floor Plan Management & Design Support
• Own and maintain store floor plans for North American retail locations, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with operational requirements.
• Create, update, and manage the store floor plan database for field teams and internal business partners.
• Review and validate floor plans with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure stores can effectively support capacity and operational needs.
• Serve as backup Designer for New Store, Remodel, and Capital Projects as needed.
• New Store Openings, Remodels & Refresh Initiatives
• Support fixture planning and implementation for new store openings, remodels, and refresh projects across North America.
• Ensure fixture plans meet North America-specific requirements and operational standards.
• Partner with teams throughout the design and execution process to support successful project delivery.
• Lead new store feasibility readiness activities to ensure stores are fully equipped and operational by key deadlines.
• Project Coordination & Execution
• Coordinate day-to-day activities for floor plan initiatives across North America.
• Manage project timelines, readiness checklists, status updates, and supporting documentation.
• Track project milestones and deliverables, proactively identifying potential risks, delays, or gaps.
• Escalate issues appropriately to help keep projects on track and moving forward.
• Conduct post-project follow-up with field leadership to gather feedback, confirm completion, and document lessons learned.
• Cross-Functional Partnership
• Serve as a primary point of contact for fixture plan updates and validations.
• Collaborate closely with Store Design, Store Operations, Construction, Marketing, Store Planning & Allocation, and Field Leadership to support project success.
• Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and support continuous improvement efforts.
• Communicate project expectations, timelines, updates, and next steps clearly and effectively to business partners.
• Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve planning, communication, documentation, and coordination processes.
• Support ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency, consistency, and execution across the retail fleet.
• Help drive operational excellence through strong organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.

What You'll Need

• Experience & Education
• 3-5+ years of relevant experience in operations or a corporate office environment preferred.
• 3-5+ years of store design experience or a related degree in design, architecture, or a similar field preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Skills Required
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Proficiency in design and productivity tools, including:
• AutoCAD
• SketchUp
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Professional Skills
• Passion for and curiosity about customer experience and retail environments.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to analyze issues, interpret metrics, and influence outcomes.
• Creative problem-solving skills and an innovative mindset.
• Able to work independently while also collaborating effectively with others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across teams and organizational levels.
• Proven ability to partner effectively across functions and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Adaptability and flexibility in a changing environment.
• Ownership and accountability for decisions, actions, and results.
• Commitment to continuous learning, development, and growth.
• Willingness and ability to travel to support market visits and project implementation as needed.
• Strong analytical mindset with well-developed process improvement capabilities.