Store Design Manager – 12 month FTC

Job Introduction

Selfridges has always been much more than a shop. We’re a social space where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, a creative playground where culture and commerce collide, and an experimental hub where you can discover the most innovative and sustainable ideas in retail. We’re here to help make the world brighter. And you can be an important part of this. We’ll talk more about the role below, but before we get to that, let’s share with you the good stuff…  

Rewards and benefits 

Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary. 

• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working

• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service 

• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations 

• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies 

• Defined pension contribution scheme  

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme  

• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days 

• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment 

• Subsidised gym memberships  

• Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes  

• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme 

• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members 

• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail… 

Role Responsibility

As Design Manager, you will facilitate and assist in delivering world class retail environments in all Selfridges’ stores through highly professional design coordination and management, creating leading edge solutions in retail and non-retail areas alike.

•To support the Property Team, Creative Team and Buying Team in all Strategic Planning and Design related matters to deliver best in class solutions for all stores by ensuring the effective Design Coordination of projects through the entire design, development and delivery process, overseeing the development and maintenance of digital drawing data for all Selfridges’ sites. Working closely with Selfridges stakeholders and brands on concept development and sign off

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage collation and production of strategic design guidelines, compartment design guidelines, project specific design guidelines and creation of temporary guidelines for brand projects ensuring alignment throughout
• Co-ordinate/produce strategic project plans – walkways, sightlines, fixture zones, signage, lightboxes, liaison and interfaces with other projects eg M&E project
• Present all design schemes to Selfridges directors for approval
• Support brand briefings as required, chaired by Project Manager
• Manage the approval of brand shopfit projects through concept and detailed design stages:
• Liaise with brands throughout concept, detail, and design phases through to project completion
• Ensure projects adhere to Selfridges’ Masterplan and Store Guidelines
• Ensure timely and sufficient design information is passed to Project Manager’s for the delivery phase
• Work closely with the project management team to ensure design integrity is maintained at each stage of the design and delivery process
• Participate in post-project reviews and design analysis
• Manage the evolution and communication of key Selfridges’ design specifications – eg cash desk and fitting room templates
• Ensure designs meet or exceed defined quality standards and compliance with requirements of legislation and/or external authorities
• Ensure internal design approvals and financial sanctions are obtained at appropriate stages
• Encourage design innovation and creativity
• Oversee and track the standards and progress in the development and maintenance of digital drawing data (Selfridges’ working drawings – updated by the cad team and external consultants) for all Selfridges’ sites
• Maintain communication plan for the design stage of projects
• Liaise with and inform project progress with the internal Property Department, Retail Operations Department, B & M Department, Visual Merchandise Department, as well as external brand design teams
• Encourage and promote an understanding of the Selfridges brand values amongst external consultants
• Work effectively with Design Manager and Design Coordinators to maintain a coordinated team with clear focus

The Ideal Candidate

• ‘Expert’ understanding of the market place with a passion for innovative retail and design
• Innovative and highly commercial approach – able to develop and implement new ideas in cost effective ways
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship skills
• Resilience and ability to work under pressure on many diverse projects
• In depth knowledge of CAD and other design related packages
• Knowledge of technical aspects of construction practice and practical site experience

Key Behaviours:

• Excellent design knowledge and analysis
• Tenacity and Focus
• Self Motivated but Team Oriented
• Diplomatic
• Positive and Optimistic but Realistic
• Disciplined but Flexible

About the Company

Everyone is welcome 

Selfridges is a place where we want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. We embrace every self and are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive working culture. We are leading with purpose to not only increase the visibility and recognition of under-represented talent within our organisation, but the wider industry too. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome – irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all.   

Our awards cabinet  

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times. 

Selfridges