Lead Store Concept Planner

About The Role

This role translates the brand strategy into scalable store concepts and systems that shape the customer experience across the fleet. Acting as a senior thought partner, it drives concept leadership, cross-functional alignment, and clear recommendations that balance creativity, feasibility, and long-term business goals.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development and evolution of scalable store concepts, systems, fixture strategies, and brand-level standards that support enterprise brand, customer experience, and business goals, all with critical self-management
• Serve as a senior cross-functional partner to Merchandise Presentation, In-Store Marketing, Brand Creative, and Store Operations to integrate brand environment design strategy into the broader brand ecosystem
• Shape strategies by defining design intent, frameworks, and principles that guide designers and cross-functional partners, creating and issuing necessary materials to allow coordination, implementation and execution within core team
• Own the creation and ongoing refinement of store design standards, playbooks, and toolkits, ensuring they are scalable, actionable, and aligned with brand strategy
• Develop prototype development and fixture concepts from ideation through recommendation, partnering with internal teams and external consultants and vendors to validate design, functionality, and feasibility
• Support priorities for consistent, compelling customer experiences while balancing creativity, operational feasibility, and long-range business priorities
• Mentor and task-lead team partners, providing creative direction, feedback, and prioritization while elevating overall team capability and output
• Represent team in key project forums, participating in routine status meetings while maintaining momentum and clarity
• Identify opportunities to evolve the store environment with a long-range perspective, contributing to multi-year concept roadmaps and future-state thinking in partnership with leadership
• Develop executive-ready presentations and narratives that clearly articulate design strategies, tradeoffs, and recommendations for senior leadership review
• Additional tasks may be assigned

Required What Skills You Have

• 4+ years of experience in retail store design, architectural environments, or concept development within a multi-unit or national retail context
• Demonstrated ability to lead concept development, standards creation, or system-level design work that scales across a fleet
• Strong conceptual and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate brand and business objectives into physical environments
• Proven experience influencing cross-functional partners and building alignment across merchandising, operational, and marketing teams
• Advanced communication skills, including the ability to create concise, executive-level presentations and clearly articulate recommendations
• Proficiency collaborating with architects, designers, vendors, and consultants to develop and validate design concepts and prototypes
• Proficient skills in AutoCAD, Microsoft Office / Google Workspace, and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Working experience in 3D modeling/rendering, including both SketchUp and Lumion or V-Ray software platforms

Preferred

• Bachelor's Degree in related field
• Experience contributing to or leading the development of fixture systems, modular kits of parts, or brand environment standards
• Familiarity with retail capital planning considerations, constructability, and operational impacts of design decisions
• Prior experience mentoring or task-leading creative professionals in a matrixed environment