Lead Design Planning Manager

Job Introduction

Together with the Lead Design Managers this role will lead the Design Team and act as an ambassador for the Design department and Property function throughout the business.

The Lead Design Planning Manager will collaborate with Buying and Merchandising, Visual Merchandising and Operations to define project goals and create considered Retail Briefs and presentations, acting as the cornerstone of all retail projects.

Based on their research and development of standards, the Lead Design Planning Manager will agree and set visual guidelines, the principles of product densities by category and area and ensure that these are delivered for every project, as outlined in the Retail Brief.

The Lead Design Planning Manager will plan, coordinate and deliver Retail Briefs, work with architects in developing capacity studies and fixtures and manage mock up process of fixtures, for Selfridge’s strategic projects in all stores.

Working closely with the PMO team the role is key in accurately planning and tracking projects, ensuring that they are suitably resourced with the right skill set.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team this role will positively challenge the business, Design and Property Leadership Team to ensure the best outcomes are realised for the business.

Role Responsibility

Preparation and ownership of Retail Briefs

• This is a critical role in developing the Selfridges brand environment and supporting the business to achieve the leading-edge space solutions via the Retail Brief. This role has a direct impact on the success of retail projects, as the Retail Brief is the document that architects will use to create an environment that surprizes, amazes and amuses while delivering to the requirements of the business case.
• Own the creation of project briefs and presentations through working collaboratively with Buying and Merchandising, Visual Merchandising and Operations.
• Ensure all documentation is consistent in content, look and feel and is easily accessible to the business.
• Detailed, concise briefs will be created, library of past projects (density studies and standards) and benchmarking collated, fixture catalogues developed and extensive retail benchmarking catalogues compiled.
• Briefs are to encompass all areas of the retail project including a summary of the Creative Brief, Product Vision, Stock Room, IT and Til requirements, Fitting Rooms and General Capacity requirements.
• Manage the fixture mock-up process.
• Lead Design Planning Manager will create consistency in standards across all project types including the standardisation of templates and methods of communication with the assistance of the Planning Administrative Assistant.
• Lead workshops to drive out critical information making decisions and recommendations as appropriate.
• Coordinate internal communication relating to the Retail Brief.
• Translate numerical data into clear diagrams and charts (utilising multiple programmes and free hand sketching).
• Test buying data against space constraints via diagrams and data on past projects.
• Participate in post-project reviews and design analysis.
• Drive design innovation and creativity.

Project and Resource Planning

• Work in partnership with the Property PMO team to accurately plan and track projects, ensuring that they are on track and identifying where there are any risks or issues.
• Ensure that projects are suitably resourced and work with the team Leads to enable them to manage their resources and ensure that the right team members are working on the right things.
• Work with the Property PMO team to ensure the Design team are aligned with the wider business view of project planning and following best practice.
• Ensure that Property Leadership Team are kept up to date with project plans and are engaged with any risks and issues.

Industry Best Practice

• Research and insight into industry best practice, sharing knowledge with the wider Property team and business.
• Implement new best practices and ways of working across the team.
• Positively challenging the business to ensure decisions are made with considerations to best practice.

Stakeholder Management

• The individual in this role will liaise with people from all areas and levels of the business as well as external consultants (architects and designers) and as a result excellent communications skills are critical to this role.
• Developing and managing key stakeholder relationships across the business.
• Able to challenge the business, Design and Property leadership team to ensure the best outcomes are realised.
• Ensure stakeholders are regularly updated and engaged with project plans and deliverables.  
• Manage 2 direct reports, coaching and supporting them with their development.
• Manage tight timelines on multiple projects and update all key stakeholders regularly.
• Work with architects to help them to understand and interpret the Retail Brief data.

The Ideal Candidate

Experience:

• Retail experience within a department store or fashion brand
• ideally experience of a department store environment or fashion brand
• Strong background in Project Planning and Resource planning
• Understanding of Visual Merchandising, fixture design and interior design
• Strong experience in creating and managing briefs and budgets
• Project Management skills
• Experience in design – Interior Design or Architecture training
• Extensive knowledge of materials and products
• Current knowledge of fashion trends and retail innovation

Technical Skills:

• AutoCAD
• Hand sketching
• Excel
• InDesign and Power Point
• Photoshop and Illustrator (a plus)

Personal Attributes:

• Strong leader able to work collaboratively as part of a team and lead others
• Ability to build positive working relationships and communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and to work to tight timelines
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Clear and confident presenter, both verbal and written
• Professional and positive approach
• Leads by example – promotes and sets standards which reflect our values
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to work at pace and under pressure
• Ability to work with ambiguity and changing circumstances, and translate into actionable outcomes
• Listens to others and is able to give and receive feedback

About the Company

Selfridges is a shop run on imagination: a place where the world’s most covetable brands combine with the most extraordinary spectacles, events and ideas for an experience like no other.

The story began when Harry Gordon Selfridge first arrived in London from Chicago in 1906 with his heart set on opening his dream store. With his revolutionary understanding of publicity and the theatre of retail, Selfridges Oxford Street opened its doors for the first time in 1909. The founder’s spirit of innovation and creativity lives on through its owners today. Since 2003, W. Galen Weston and his family have owned and operated the business, which now includes two stores in Manchester, one in Birmingham, plus selfridges.com and the Selfridges App which both deliver to over 130 countries.

In 2016 Selfridges was the first ever store to be awarded the title of ‘World’s Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store’ at the IGDS Global Department Store Summit, in-line with its focus on buying better and inspiring change. For an unprecedented three consecutive occasions in a row (2010, 2012 & 2014) Selfridges also won the coveted ‘Best Department Store in the World’ award, underlining its place at the forefront of retail.

Selfridges