Store Construction Specialist

Columbia Sportswear Company; Genf; Hybrid; CHF 105,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Significant discounts on Columbia andS

Soft mobility policy (Geneva office)

Health insurance allowance for Swiss

Pilates and yoga classes on premises

LinkedIn Learning access

Learning Hour monthly

In-house training courses

DEI initiatives

Job summary

Columbia Sportswear Company in Geneva is seeking a Project Manager Store Construction to lead openings, refits and fit-outs across Europe. You will manage budgets, timelines and quality, coordinating with architects, partners, and internal teams in Retail, Marketing and Finance.

This Europe-wide role requires around 35 projects per year, frequent travel, and a hybrid work model (2 days/week home-office). You will ensure adherence to Columbia's retail concept and standards while driving process

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing construction projects, store openings or store refits, in a multi-country scope.
• Solid track record in delivering projects within deadlines, budgets and brand standards.
• Excellent time and budget management skills.
• Fluent English, spoken and written (mandatory, as English is our working language).
• Very good command of AutoCAD, to read and adjust technical plans accurately.
• Ease with cost follow-up and budget analysis in Excel, and with collaborative tools (SharePoint, Smartsheet...).
• The ability to understand and check the technical information in construction and fit-out contracts.
• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from A to Z, from data collection (plans, photos, brief) to final handover.
• Manage several projects in parallel across different countries, while keeping the big picture.
• Work closely with architects to design the spaces, adjust plans in AutoCAD and ensure partners comply with Columbia guidelines.
• Request, validate and negotiate quotes to secure the best conditions with suppliers.
• Track construction sites and costs rigorously, and protect opening deadlines.
• Travel regularly to visit sites, meet local stakeholders and secure smooth execution.
• Contribute to budget per m², consistency of the retail concept, and on-time delivery.
• Help improve our processes so the team can work more efficiently and make the best use of its time.

Skills

Construction project management

Delivery on deadlines

Budget management

Fluent English

AutoCAD

Cost tracking

Travel willingness

Tools

AutoCAD

Excel

SharePoint

Smartsheet

Job description

Reports to: Principal Real Estate Specialist Permanent contract EMEA HQ, Geneva, Switzerland Hybrid mode (2 days/week home-office) Start date: at the earliest convenience

ABOUT THE POSITION

To support the growth of our retail network across Europe, we are strengthening our Store Construction team at our EMEA headquarters in Geneva. As Project Manager Store Construction, you will lead the construction, opening and refit projects for all our retail spaces: outlets, shop-in-shops, branded stores, partner stores (owned and operated by a partner), showrooms and more. You will work across both retail and wholesale business models, even though the role reports into Retail. This is a Europe-wide role, with around 35 projects per year in different countries. That means many store openings, regular travel and a fast pace. You will work closely with our architects, external partners, mall and outlet center owners, and internal teams (Retail, Marketing, Finance). Your mission: make sure every project is delivered on time, on budget and in line with Columbia's retail concept and standards. You will also help fine-tune our ways of working, so the team can manage its time and workload as efficiently as possible.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

• Lead projects from A to Z, from data collection (plans, photos, brief) to final handover
• Manage several projects in parallel across different countries, while keeping the big picture
• Work closely with architects to design the spaces, adjust plans in AutoCAD and make sure our partners comply with Columbia guidelines
• Request, validate and negotiate quotes to secure the best conditions with suppliers
• Track construction sites and costs rigorously, and protect opening deadlines
• Travel regularly to visit sites, meet local stakeholders and secure smooth execution
• Contribute to our key objectives: budget per m², consistency of the retail concept, and on-time delivery
• Help improve our processes so the team can work more efficiently and make the best use of its time

YOU ARE

• Experienced and autonomous, able to take ownership of complex projects and keep communication smooth with all stakeholders
• Very well organized, able to manage your own time and prioritize according to deadlines and business stakes
• A decision-maker who stays calm and makes the right call under pressure, when timelines are tight
• Comfortable juggling multiple projects and tasks at the same time without losing sight of the overall picture
• A strong communicator who adapts to different audiences: internal Retail, Finance and Marketing teams, architects, suppliers, clients, and landlords or outlet center teams
• Solution-oriented, flexible and reactive when the unexpected happens
• Ready for an intense, high-volume environment with frequent travel

YOU HAVE

• Proven experience in managing construction projects, store openings or store refits, in a multi-country scope
• Solid track record in delivering projects within deadlines, budgets and brand standards
• Excellent time and budget management skills
• Fluent English, spoken and written (mandatory, as English is our working language)
• Very good command of AutoCAD, to read and adjust technical plans accurately
• Ease with cost follow-up and budget analysis in Excel, and with collaborative tools (SharePoint, Smartsheet...)
• The ability to understand and check the technical information in construction and fit-out contracts
• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe

PERKS & BENEFITS

• Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products
• Soft mobility policy (Geneva office only)
• Health insurance allowance for employees in Switzerland
• Pilates and yoga classes on our premises, and running groups or sports activities
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning
• A monthly Learning Hour for training, discovery and learning
• Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights®…)
• DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

ABOUT THE CULTURE

At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment. Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.

We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries. Our "Always Be Learning" culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company. "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business. To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle: https://bit.ly/49bl1i5

At Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), we’re committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone has the same opportunity to thrive. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on age, gender, nationality, race, religion or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our success as a global brand. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain exceptional people, ensuring fair practices and transparency in line with evolving standards. We are committed to equal pay for equal work and make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Expected Pay: CHF105,120 - CHF147,240. Pay decisions are determined by multiple factors, including job competitiveness within the market, a candidate’s capabilities and skills, years of experience, and internal equity. The expected pay listed on this job posting reflects the gross expected pay for Full Time positions. This pay disclosure will not apply to roles subject to different pay structures due to age or employment category (such as minors, apprentices, or interns) permitted under applicable law/CBA Columbia is different. As a global apparel and footwear company with over 80 years of being ourselves and not apologizing for it, we’ve seen a lot and done a lot. But our motto remains: “It’s perfect. now make it better.” Learn more about how you can help us shape the next 80 years here.