Senior Design Manager

The Bridge Group is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to lead the design and delivery of retail store projects for our global financial services client. This role will serve as the owner's design lead, working closely with internal stakeholders, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and vendors to ensure each store reflects established brand and design standards while meeting operational, budget, schedule, and site-specific requirements.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in retail design, space planning, and project delivery, with experience managing multiple projects through design, permitting, construction, and opening.

Key Responsibilities may include:

• Serve as the owner's lead for design direction and delivery of new stores, remodels, renovations, and other retail projects.
• Lead site evaluation, space planning, test fits, and assessment of potential store locations to support business, operational, and design objectives
• Translate business, operational, and brand requirements into clear design direction, project requirements, and actionable guidance for design teams.
• Lead and coordinate architects, interior designers, engineers, consultants, and specialty vendors throughout the design process.
• Guide the application and site-specific adaptation of store prototypes, brand standards, design guidelines, and specifications while maintaining overall design intent and consistency.
• Oversee and review design deliverables at each phase, including schematic design, design development, construction documents, and permitting.
• Leaf interdisciplinary design integration across architecture, interiors, MEP, lighting, signage, fixtures, technology, security, and other store systems.
• Partner with retail operations and other stakeholders to ensure layouts support customer experience, merchandising, operational requirements, and efficient use of space.
• Lead design reviews and stakeholder meetings and facilitate timely design decisions.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce design standards, materials, finishes, fixtures, signage, and FF&E specifications.
• Manage design budgets and support value-engineering efforts while protecting design intent and brand standards.
• Provide design oversight for constructability, code compliance, accessibility, and alignment with landlord and jurisdictional requirements.
• Partner with construction and project management teams to resolve design issues and maintain project schedules.
• Provide design leadership permitting, bidding, procurement, and construction activities as the design liaison.
• Participate in site visits, construction milestone reviews, and project closeout to verify design intent and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Incorporate project lessons learned into future store designs, prototypes, standards, and program delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience in retail design, commercial interiors, architecture, or design management.
• Demonstrated experience leading retail store design projects from concept through construction and opening.
• Strong space planning and test-fit experience, with an understanding of customer flow, merchandising, back-of-house, and operational requirements.
• Experience with retail prototypes, design standards, and adapting established concepts to site-specific conditions.
• Experience acting as an owner’s representative, owner’s-side design manager, or managing external architects, designers, engineers, and consultants strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of construction documents, building systems, permitting, accessibility, applicable codes, and construction-phase design coordination.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD required; Revit, Bluebeam, and related design and project management tools, with the ability to effectively review and provide direction on design documentation.
• Knowledge of retail fixtures, finishes, signage, lighting, FF&E, and material specifications.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead design discussions and work effectively across multiple departments and disciplines.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-project retail environment.
• Ability to travel is required to support site evaluations, project reviews, construction milestones, and store openings.

Salary range dependent upon location and experience.

Pay: $125,000.00 - $209,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person