Senior Design Project Manager (Hybrid, Seattle)

Nordstrom; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 131,500 - 210,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, Dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Merchandise discount

Job summary

Nordstrom is seeking a Senior Design Project Manager in Seattle to oversee design projects from concept to construction. This role requires 10+ years of retail design experience, proficiency in design software, and strong communication skills to coordinate with various stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will excel in managing budgets, timelines, and delivering measurable results while fostering a cohesive customer experience. The position comes with a comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in retail design with knowledge of building codes and ADA requirements.
• Expertise in design software with ability to create high-quality renderings.
• Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills for presenting design solutions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee projects from scoping through concept development and construction.
• Provide expertise in support of developer contracts.
• Lead design development by coordinating with consultants and contractors.
• Create tools for organizing and communicating project status.

Skills

Retail design experience

Fluency across design software

Strong communication skills

Budget management skills

Planning and time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field

Tools

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Revit/AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Bluebeam

Smartsheet

Job description

Job Overview

As a Senior Design Project Manager at Nordstrom, you understand how design translates from flagship to core stores and bring a thoughtful problem‑solving approach — balancing brand standards with operational needs to ensure a cohesive customer experience. This is a role for you if you drive scalable, solution‑based thinking, thrive in a rapidly changing environment, and build trust with people at every level of the organization. You move fluidly between big‑picture strategy and ground‑level execution, guiding concepts from initial ideation all the way through rollout and adapt as you learn new information. Your experience demonstrates the ability to make design work within real‑world constraints.

Day in the Life

• Oversee projects from scoping through concept development, shop drawing review, prototyping and construction; partner with stakeholders to align requirements and priorities, synthesizing them into design solutions that thoughtfully balance quality, cost, and timelines to deliver measurable results.
• Provide subject matter expertise to Real Estate and Legal teams in support of developer contracts, define landlord responsibilities, and review landlord designs for new and existing facilities.
• Lead design development by coordinating with architectural and engineering consultants, contractors, fabricators, and regulatory agencies to produce clear design and contract documents – develop test fits and design studies to evaluate spatial and operational feasibility.
• Create tools and platforms to organize, document, and communicate status throughout the project lifecycle, and develop strategies that optimize processes for improved quality, repeatability, efficiency, and cost.

What You Bring

• 10+ years of retail design experience, deep knowledge of building codes, and ADA requirements, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, contract negotiation, and construction administration supported by a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field.
• Fluency across design software with expertise in producing high quality renderings; proficiency in industry tools – SketchUp, Enscape, Adobe Creative Suite, Revit/AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, Bluebeam, Smartsheet.
• Excellent communicator and strategic thinker with ability to present creative solutions and design direction clearly and confidently to audiences ranging from executive leadership, internal and external partners.
• Business acumen and budget management skills with high accuracy and attention to detail, and strong planning and time management skills to prioritize multiple, sometimes competing workstreams.
• Forward‑thinking, continuous improvement mindset – proactively looks ahead to avoid potential issues and present options to minimize risk – with the ability to build trust and manage change across the organization, and willingness to travel up to 40%.

Pay Range

$131,500.00 – $210,500.00 Annual

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away.
• Life Insurance and Disability.
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources.
• 401(k), medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, holidays, and more.

Additional Information

For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com.