Retail Store Development & Strategic PM

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Match

Employee Discount Program

Lifestyle Allowance

Mobile Phone Plan Reimbursement

Health/Dental/Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Wellness Days

Creative Week

Monthly Team Building Budget

Job summary

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. seeks a Lead Project Manager for Retail Store Development to drive the US footprint expansion with strategic vision and hands-on execution. You will oversee complex, large-scale store openings and guide a growing project team across the US market.

The role demands extensive experience in commercial retail interior design/construction management, strong leadership, and bilingual English/Korean to align with Korea HQ. Travel up to 30–40% is required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in commercial retail interior design and construction PM.
• Pre-construction evaluation, TI negotiations, and site feasibility in the US market.
• Leadership experience guiding junior PMs or specialists.
• Professional bilingual proficiency in English and Korean.
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, or related field.
• Willingness to travel domestically across the US (30-40%).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Pre-Leasing & Feasibility Advisory: partner with Leasing/Real Estate during site selection; evaluate conditions, zoning, TI strategy.
• Portfolio & Project Leadership: end-to-end ownership of flagship and high-priority retail projects.
• Team Mentorship & Pre-Leadership: guide Sr. Specialists and unblock bottlenecks.
• High-Level Stakeholder Management: negotiate with landlords, city officials, legal teams, and GC.
• Financial & Risk Governance: set budgets, approve expenditures, manage risk across sites.

Skills

Leadership & Mentorship

English & Korean bilingual

Project management

Pre-construction & TI

Vendor & GC coordination

Budgeting & cost estimation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Interior Design/Construction Management

Job description

[Position] Retail Store Development & Strategic PM

[Employment Type] Full-Time

[Seniority Level] Mid-Senior Level

[Pay Range] $90,000 ~ $120,000 / yea

Benefits: 401(k) with Company Match, Employee Discount Program, Lifestyle Allowance, Mobile Phone Plan Reimbursement, Competitive Health/Dental/Vision Insurance plans, Paid Time Off, Wellness Days, Creative Week, Monthly Team Building Budget, and more!

About Us

OLIVE YOUNG is Korea’s No.1 Beauty and Lifestyle retailer, leading the industry since opening the nation’s first OLIVE YOUNG store in 1999. With more than 1,380 stores and a global reach across 150 countries, we continue to grow as a global lifestyle platform.

Discovery is at the heart of everything we do. We spot what’s trending, curate what matters – trends you anticipate, routines that feel like you, and finds you can’t get anywhere else. Every item earns its place in our stores to keep beauty fresh and uplifting.

We believe beauty is about celebrating what makes you unique. No more chasing perfection – it’s about feeling alive in your own skin. If you are passionately curious, welcoming what’s next, you are welcome at OLIVE YOUNG.

Job Summary

As the Lead Project Manager for Retail Store Development, you will be the key operational driver executing OLIVE YOUNG’s physical footprint and business expansion in the US market. This role is designed for a high-caliber, hands-on senior professional who can seamlessly translate corporate expansion strategies into flawless field execution. You will not only oversee complex, large-scale store openings, but also participate from the earliest stages of site selection to provide critical technical insights, ensuring our agreements are optimized for maximum investment efficiency. If you are a field-ready leader equipped with strong technical expertise, ready to unblock bottlenecks on-site and guide a growing project team, this is your next milestone.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Pre-Leasing & Feasibility Advisory: Partner with the Leasing/Real Estate team during the initial site selection phase; evaluate site conditions, zoning, and feasibility, and formulate Tenant Improvement (TI) allowance strategies to secure favorable lease terms.
• Portfolio & Project Leadership: End-to-end ownership of flagship and high-priority retail projects, ensuring alignment with corporate timeline, budget, and brand standards.
• Team Mentorship & Pre-Leadership: Serve as a technical and strategic guide for Sr. Specialists and Specialists, stepping in to unblock bottlenecks and ensure overall team success.
• High-Level Stakeholder Management: Lead negotiations and maintain critical relationships with landlords, city officials, legal teams, and primary general contractors (GC).
• Financial & Risk Governance: Establish project budget benchmarks, approve major expenditures, and implement risk-mitigation strategies across multiple ongoing sites.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 8+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in commercial retail interior design and construction project management.
• Pre-Construction & TI Expertise: Proven track record of leading pre-construction evaluation phases, site feasibility reviews, and TI (Tenant Improvement) work letter negotiations within the US market.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Exceptional leadership skills with demonstrated experience guiding, mentoring, or managing junior project managers or specialists.
• Language Proficiency: Professional bilingual proficiency in both English and Korean is required for seamless technical and strategic alignment with Korea HQ.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• Mobility: Willingness and ability to travel domestically across the US (up to 30-40%) to oversee on-site operations and resolve field bottlenecks.
• Physical Demands & Flexibility: Ability to stand, walk, and move around retail stores and warehouse environments for extended periods; capability to occasionally lift or move items up to 50 lbs. Must understand and accept that work schedules, hours, and locations may vary based on retail store operational and development requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Multi-Site Expansion Experience: Prior experience leading fast-paced, multi-site store rollouts or flagship store openings within a rapidly growing retail, beauty, or global consumer brand environment.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of US building codes, ADA compliance, and local state/city permitting and zoning processes.
• Established Vendor Network: An active professional network of trusted general contractors (GC), architects, engineers, and vendors across key US metropolitan areas.
• Financial Acumen: Advanced proficiency in project budget benchmarking, construction cost estimation, and proactive value engineering.

Additional Information

• Employment decisions will be made in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local fair chance hiring laws, including the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
• Benefits described herein are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable benefit plans. The Company reserves the right to modify or terminate its benefit plans at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe in hiring with empathy and strive to build a diverse workforce that reflects our community. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to these factors.