Director of Global Shop Design & Standards

Accrue Partners; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AccruePartners is seeking a Director of Store Design to lead the global shop design strategy for a well-established consumer brand. You will own architectural design, global prototypes, materials, fixtures, brand standards, and design governance, partnering with Operations, Marketing, IT, and Procurement to scale internationally.

Onsite in Charlotte, NC (3x per week), you will guide a team, shape processes, and collaborate with franchise partners and external architecture firms across markets to

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience in architecture, design, construction, or development within retail, hospitality, restaurants, or the food and beverage industry.
• Strong ability to read construction documents and evaluate architectural plans and design submissions.
• Experience in global design governance, brand standards, prototype development, or architectural documentation across a multi-location business.
• International experience working across markets and cultures; experience with franchise partners, or external architecture firms is valuable.
• Proven people leadership, with the ability to build trust, develop talent, and lead a team through change while maintaining cross-functional relationships.
• A strategic, commercially minded leader who can balance brand consistency and customer experience with construction feasibility, cost control, and operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain global design standards and governance across company-owned, franchised, and joint venture locations.
• Lead the evolution of global shop prototypes and layouts to improve constructability, cost efficiency, and speed of delivery.
• Oversee architectural submissions and design documentation to ensure brand consistency while accommodating local regulations and market requirements.
• Influence early-stage development through site evaluations, architectural test fits, and prototype adaptations that account for specialized production equipment and operational workflows.
• Strengthen the design function by developing the team, improving collaboration with external partners, and creating scalable processes that support long-term international growth.

Skills

Leadership

Global coordination

Design governance

Brand standards

Job description

Director of Store Design

The Team You Will Be Joining

• Join an established, internationally recognized consumer brand with a broad global footprint and continued expansion plans.
• Become part of a global development organization responsible for supporting new locations and maintaining consistent brand standards across markets.
• Lead a team with the opportunity to strengthen team collaboration, capabilities, and processes.
• Partner closely with senior development leadership and collaborate with Operations, Construction, Marketing, IT, and Procurement.
• Work with international business leaders, franchise partners, and external architecture and design firms across a variety of markets.
• Join a business investing in its global development capabilities and looking to strengthen how design standards are managed across its international footprint.

What They Offer You

• The opportunity to lead global shop design strategy and shape how a well-established consumer brand enters new markets and scales internationally.
• Broad ownership across architectural design, global prototypes, materials, fixtures, brand standards, and design governance.
• Direct access to senior development leadership and the opportunity to influence strategic decisions beyond the design function.
• The ability to shape team direction, strengthen existing processes, and establish scalable systems that support continued expansion.

Location

• Onsite in Charlotte, NC (3x per week)

Why This Role Is Important

• Establish and maintain global design standards and governance processes across company-owned, franchised, and joint venture locations.
• Play a key role in supporting a growing pipeline of new locations across international markets.
• Oversee architectural submissions and design documentation to ensure brand consistency while accommodating local regulations and market requirements.
• Lead the evolution of global shop prototypes and layouts to improve constructability, cost efficiency, and speed of delivery.
• Influence early-stage development through site evaluations, architectural test fits, and prototype adaptations that account for specialized production equipment and operational workflows.
• Strengthen the design function by developing the team, improving collaboration with external partners, and creating scalable processes that support long-term international growth.

The Background That Fits

• 15+ years of relevant experience in architecture, design, construction, or development within retail, hospitality, restaurants, or the food and beverage industry.
• Strong technical architecture and design experience, including the ability to read construction documents and evaluate architectural plans and design submissions.
• Experience in global design governance, brand standards, prototype development, or architectural documentation across a multi-location business.
• International experience working across markets and cultures; experience with franchise partners, or external architecture firms is particularly valuable.
• Proven people leadership, with the ability to build trust, develop talent, and lead a team through change while maintaining strong cross-functional relationships.
• A strategic, commercially minded leader who can balance brand consistency and customer experience with construction feasibility, cost control, and operational performance.