Team Lead - Shop and Space Planning (14-Month Contract)

The Shop and Space Planning team blends design and visual merchandising to create retail spaces that deliver the perfect Lush brand experience. Team members lead with a passion for design, crafting unique, immersive spaces that reflect Lush’s values and innovation while prioritizing customer and staff experience. This hands-on role involves collaboration with R&D projects, supporting various teams to produce store layouts that emphasize core values and key messaging. A clear understanding of business-critical functions and priorities is essential.

About the role

The Shop Space and Planning (SSP) Lead plays a key role in translating business strategies into store design and visual merchandising (VM) objectives. They provide support, oversight, and mentorship to the team in project development, creative design solutions, drawing standards, documentation accuracy, and sustainable practices. The SSP Lead fosters curiosity, trust, and collaboration while maintaining a sense of fun and integrity within the team.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate team development through creative collaboration and feedback, working closely with the UK team on design and VM direction and global objectives.
• Provide constructive feedback via one-on-one meetings and redlining drawings.
• Drive SSP process development and identify areas of opportunity.
• Oversee technical standards and quality control coordination for AutoCAD and drawing packages.
• Implement design strategy for North America in collaboration with the NA Business Development Team.
• Support new team member onboarding.

Design-Specific

• Develop full design packages for new stores, relocations, and expansions, ensuring compliance with building codes, bylaws, and health & safety standards. Includes schematic drawings, plans, elevations, reflected ceiling plans (RCP), section details, and millwork packages.
• Collaborate with and direct external consultants on design intent, deadline deliverables, and milestone management to secure permits and approvals on time.
• Plan-check and redline drawing sets with Construction Project Managers to ensure design intent and details are accurately captured.
• Produce fixture packages for millwork vendors.
• Work closely with partner architects and contractors to troubleshoot, answer questions, and provide preferred recommendations.
• Maintain budget and Capex oversight for projects requiring construction or furniture fit-out.
• Prepare presentations and 3D models for internal approval, appraisals, and project signoff by senior leadership.
• Design fixture mockups for R&D and support product/range rollouts.
• Procure materials and goods for hands-on R&D projects.

Strategy-Specific

• Partner with the SSP team to implement a visual merchandising and design strategy that increases sales, upholds global brand standards, and delivers an exciting customer experience across 260+ shops in the USA and Canada.
• Collaborate with the SSP team on new shop openings from initial design to setup.
• Work with cross-functional teams globally and external vendors to determine design considerations related to project budget, construction, MEP, retail operations, visual merchandising, IT, and brand, ensuring environmentally responsible spaces.
• Produce and maintain design guides for other business areas.
• Manage and maintain online files for sharing and usage.
• Provide remote or onsite support for all Shop and Space Planning needs.

Visual Merchandising-Specific

• Collaborate with the SSP, Retail, and Brand teams to execute visually appealing, on-brand displays that drive sales and meet the needs of existing and new stores, including new product rollouts, retail initiatives, and shop openings.
• Guide and support shop staff in design and merchandising initiatives led by the SSP team.
• Assist with Lush-branded signage creation for shops or remote supply to shops and event spaces.
• Support the Retail team in maintaining consistent brand customer experiences by upholding global VM standards, including visual displays, signage, and cleanliness.
• Conduct store visits to assess VM execution, test new processes, and evaluate sales strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on the development, implementation, and maintenance of shop signage and sundries.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of related work experience in commercial or retail design within a brand or practice environment.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate proactively in cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to present ideas and findings to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Ethically minded with a passion for sustainable processes and material considerations.
• Self-motivated with the ability to drive work forward while managing multiple projects and deliverables, demonstrating personal accountability.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail and quality.
• Lead with courage, honesty, and kindness, championing these values in others.

Preferred

• Degree or diploma in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or equivalent.
• 3+ years of visual merchandising experience in a similar environment.
• Knowledge of creative and commercial aspects of visual merchandising and design, with the ability to demonstrate these in a store environment.
• Fluency in Spanish, French, or other languages.
• Experience in cross-cultural collaboration, DEIB initiatives, or social justice training.

Pay

Base Salary Range:

• USA: $73,000 - $83,000 USD annually
• Canada: $85,000 - $91,000 CAD annually

This range reflects base salary only and does not include bonus programs or total rewards eligibility. Salary may vary based on the candidate's location.

Schedule

• Full-time, regular role.
• Remote position open to candidates based in North America only.
• Travel requirement: Approximately 2 trips per quarter, including store visits, team meetings within North America, and trips to Vancouver, BC, and Toronto, ON offices.