Director, Architecture & Interior Design – Global Franchise

Gap Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 194,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Merchandise discount

Competitive Paid Time Off

Employee stock purchase plan

Health, dental, vision and life ins.

Job summary

Gap Inc. is seeking an experienced leader to manage architectural, interior, and engineering aspects of global franchise store development. You will translate enterprise standards into scalable solutions for partners while ensuring brand consistency and compliance with codes.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and vendors across 60 countries, driving cost, schedule, and quality outcomes and guiding projects from design through construction.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in architecture, interiors, design, engineering, or store development in retail or commercial environments.
• Franchise and/or international retail market experience is required.
• Ability to guide design intent with leadership from concept to construction.
• Experience applying enterprise standards across global markets.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD/Revit and construction documentation.

Responsibilities

• Leverage Gap Inc.’s Enterprise Store Design Standards across franchise projects.
• Translate design intent into technical architectural, interior and engineering requirements.
• Ensure all projects adhere to brand design standards and layouts.
• Collaborate with Enterprise teams to improve standards based on franchise insights.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-brand franchise projects focusing on cost, schedule, and quality.
• Oversee all phases: feasibility, design adaptation, permitting, and construction.

Skills

Architecture leadership

Retail design

Franchise experience

Global markets

AutoCAD/Revit

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

About Gap Inc.

At Gap Inc., we create culture as much as we create clothes. Our ambition is to become a high-performing house of iconic American brands that shape culture.

Our portfolio—Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta—each brings a distinct point of view to how we show up in the world and serve our customers.

Old Navy democratizes style with quality and value for all. Gap champions originality through essential pieces that celebrate individuality. Banana Republic is rooted in a spirit of discovery, creating modern pieces inspired by craftsmanship and travel. Athleta champions the Power of She through confidence, strength, and movement.

We are driven by a shared purpose: to bridge gaps—between people, perspectives, and possibilities—to create a better world. We’re building a team that performs at a high level—people who think boldly, take ownership, and turn ideas into impact. If you’re ready to learn fast and help shape what’s next, you’ll fit right in.

About The Role

In this role, you are responsible for the architectural, engineering, and permitting strategy and oversight of all franchise design and construction activities by leveraging Gap Inc.’s enterprise store design standards. As a leader, you will inform, manage, and mitigate risk across cost, quality, and schedule—from initial design adaptation through final construction documentation and execution.

While responsible for store design standard implementation and adaptation, the role requires strong design skills coupled with savvy design management acumen to manage a global program. Operating within a leveraged model, you will translate enterprise standards into scalable, buildable solutions for franchise partners, ensuring consistent brand expression while enabling compliance with local codes, landlord requirements, and regional market conditions.

This role requires close collaboration with internal cross-functional teams and external franchise partners, consultants, governing agencies, vendors and to ensure successful project delivery across all store formats and geographies. Spanning 50 partners, 60 countries, a spectrum of store typologies, and country-wide launch initiatives, this team seeks an entrepreneurial spirited leader with a passion for creativity and organizational excellence.

What You’ll Do

• Leverage and operationalize Gap Inc.’s Enterprise Store Design Standards across all franchise projects.
• Translate design intent into technical architectural, interior and engineering requirements that are executable across diverse global markets.
• Ensure all projects adhere to brand design standards, prototype templates, specifications, and layout requirements.
• Partner with Enterprise teams to provide feedback and continuously improve standards based on franchise execution insights.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-brand franchise projects, ensuring delivery against cost, schedule, and quality goals.
• Oversee all phases of project execution including feasibility, design adaptation, permitting, and construction.
• Review and approve drawings and technical documentation from franchise partners and their consultants.
• Ensure alignment with landlord criteria, local, state, and international building codes and regulations.
• Inform and mitigate risk across all projects related to cost, constructability, code compliance, and schedule.
• Apply deep knowledge of construction sequencing, building systems, and permitting processes to guide execution.
• Evaluate complex project conditions using multiple sources of information (internal and external) to drive decision-making.
• Act as the primary A&E partner to franchisees, architects, engineers, and general contractors.
• Provide clear guidance, tools, and frameworks to enable consistent execution of enterprise standards.
• Build strong relationships across global markets to support scalable and repeatable delivery.
• Collaborate closely with Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Finance, Store Operations, Field Leadership, Loss Prevention, and Gap Tech.
• Align with Construction, Procurement, and Store Design teams to ensure seamless execution from concept to opening.
• Lead and influence cross-functional initiatives tied to store development, pilots, and innovation.
• Measure project and partner performance using analytics, metrics, and scorecards.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and execution efficiency.
• Contribute to new store concepts, pilots, and strategic initiatives that enhance the store development lifecycle.
• Set direction, priorities, and policies for franchise A&E execution within the leveraged model.
• Lead planning, budgeting, and resource alignment to achieve business objectives.
• Guide team and stakeholders through complex, multi-market challenges with a structured and solution-oriented approach.

Who You Are

• 10+ years of experience in architecture, interiors, design, engineering, or store development in retail or commercial environments.
• Experience in retail programming, planning and store design layouts.
• Experience working within enterprise standards systems, guidelines and/or leveraged business models strongly preferred.
• Ability to guide design intent with strong leadership from concept to construction.
• Franchise and/or international retail market experience is required.
• Experience with adapting construction materials, fixtures and fabrication across global markets.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD/Revit and construction documentation.
• Demonstrated expertise in construction sequencing, permitting and regulatory compliance.

Benefits at Gap Inc.

• Merchandise discount for our brands: 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, and 30% off at Outlet for all employees.
• Competitive Paid Time Off plans.
• Employees can take up to five 'on the clock' hours each month to volunteer at a charity of their choice.
• Extensive 401(k) plan with company matching for contributions up to four percent of an employee’s base pay.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Additional benefits available.

Gap Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We have received numerous awards for our long-held commitment to equality and will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive environment of belonging. In 2022, we were recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s best employers and one of the best employers for diversity.

Salary Range: $194,300 - $252,600 USD

Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.