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Vuori, an athletic apparel brand blending performance and casual aesthetics, is seeking a Design Manager to lead end-to-end retail store design execution across Greater China. You will serve as the critical bridge between global brand standards and local market execution, reporting to both the VP of Brand Environment and the Greater China General Manager.
Your core responsibilities include:
**Design Leadership & Concept Development**
Partner with the VP, Brand Environment to develop test fit floor plans, facade designs, signage concepts, and detailed drawings for the Architect of Record. Create compelling presentation materials including plans, 3D renderings, hand sketches, inspiration boards, and material samples for senior management review. Research global trends in retail design, architecture, fashion, and culture to inform design solutions. Support development and maintenance of store design standards and prototype documentation.
**Local Execution & Team Leadership**
Lead and direct the local general contractor's in-house design team (architects, CAD/Revit drafters, MEP engineers), assigning tasks and setting clear deliverable deadlines. Review and approve all local drawing sets (schematic, design development, and construction documents) to ensure alignment with global prototypes. Upon space acquisition, conduct thorough site assessments and lead design coordination calls with landlords to gather technical, regulatory, and structural data. Identify design-site conflicts early and propose pre-vetted solutions to avoid delays.
**Cross-Functional Collaboration**
Work closely with Real Estate, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Marketing, Tech, and Operations teams to ensure store design aligns with brand standards. Partner with the Greater China GM and local business teams to ensure cultural alignment and business needs are met. Conduct weekly meetings with external consultants and internal teams to drive progress.
**Consultant & Vendor Management**
Source and qualify regional design, architecture, and design-build partners. Manage external Architects of Record across all project phases (Due Diligence through Construction Administration). Coordinate permit expeditors to ensure regulatory approvals meet schedules. Negotiate and maintain design budgets and contracts with consultants.
**Project Delivery & Timeline Management**
Manage and forecast the schedule of assigned pipeline projects, providing weekly updates to the Development team. Review and approve architectural plans, elevations, and shop drawings. Conduct regular site inspections and serve as the final design authority on-site, empowered to make quick decisions to resolve RFIs. Own the overall project master schedule and ensure the GC team delivers precise As-Built drawings at project close-out.
**Global Communication & Quality Assurance**
Serve as the primary design interface between Global Design and local execution teams. Provide transparent weekly progress reports, photo-documentation, and risk registers to global stakeholders, proactively flagging delays or quality issues with mitigation plans. Ensure the final built store reflects global design intent and document any deviations. Travel within Greater China and occasionally to Asia markets (~20% time) with flexible scheduling for multi-time zone collaboration.
**Requirements**
Education: Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural Engineering, or Construction Management.
Experience: Minimum 8+ years in retail store design, project architecture, or design management. At least 3-5 years managing or leading a design team (internal or external). Proven track record with multinational retail brands and design-build contractors. Premium or lifestyle retail experience highly preferred.
Technical Skills: Expert proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit (review, redline, approve drawings). Proficiency in SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Bluebeam for mark-ups and quality control.
Regulatory & Construction Knowledge: Deep, practical knowledge of Chinese building codes, fire safety regulations, and municipal permitting processes. Strong understanding of local construction methodologies, material supply chains, and cost structures.
Language: Fluent in Mandarin and English (written and spoken) to translate seamlessly between local teams and Global HQ.
Leadership & Decision-Making: Ability to guide and direct teams without micromanaging. Confidence to make on-site design decisions that protect brand integrity while keeping projects moving. Strong commercial awareness of how design impacts budgets, timelines, and store profitability. Capable relationship management with contractors and consultants.
