Senior Retail Construction Project Manager

Axiom; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom in Portland, OR is seeking a Retail Preconstruction Project Manager to turn creative retail concepts into buildable, budget-ready projects. You will own the critical planning and coordination phase, ensuring scopes, estimates, and schedules are accurate and executable.

You’ll collaborate with design, engineering, estimating, manufacturing, purchasing, and installation teams to prevent surprises and protect project margins while delivering high-quality, on-brand environments for clients.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, project management, estimating, construction, or custom manufacturing.
• Experience with retail displays, signage, fixtures, millwork, exhibits, or fabricated environments.
• The ability to interpret architectural and shop drawings, specifications, and construction documents.
• Working knowledge of estimating, fabrication, materials, installation, budgets, and schedules.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, specifications, and project requirements to establish clear scopes and identify gaps, conflicts, and risks early.
• Develop project estimates, budgets, schedules, and cost assumptions, coordinating material, labor, vendor, freight, and installation pricing.
• Work with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are practical to fabricate, assemble, and install.
• Coordinate technical reviews, shop drawings, prototypes, site surveys, and installation planning.
• Manage project timelines, approvals, long-lead items, and external partners while anticipating potential challenges.
• Prepare complete project handoffs to manufacturing and installation, ensuring teams have the information they need to execute successfully.
• Manage multiple projects while protecting budgets, schedules, quality, and profitability.

Skills

Retail preconstruction

Project management

Estimating

Budgeting

Scheduling

Communication

MS Office & PM tools

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management tools

Job description

Retail Preconstruction Project Manager

We’re working with brands looking to make a bigger mark in the U.S. through significant North American retail expansion. They’re building on momentum driven by growing credibility among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, as well as consumers embracing modern sport style.

As physical retail reclaims its role in building brand awareness and loyalty, we’re helping our clients create experiences rooted in community, human connection, and sensory engagement. The goal is to move beyond transactional spaces and offer a compelling alternative to online shopping fatigue through immediate gratification, tactile discovery, and meaningful in-person interactions.

Through distinctive in-store experiences, from interactive events and personalized services to thoughtfully designed environments that foster emotional connections, brands can differentiate themselves and give customers more reasons to visit, engage, and return.

As our clients accelerate expansion, often doubling or more their store count in a relatively short timeframe, the challenge is scaling efficiently without losing what makes the brand unique. We help them navigate that growth while maintaining a cohesive, consistent brand experience across every channel and touchpoint.

All that to say, we need help to turn creative retail concepts into buildable, budget-ready, installation-ready projects. We are looking for a detail-driven project manager who can connect the dots between design, estimating, manufacturing, and installation.

We’re looking for a Retail Preconstruction Project Manager to help bring custom retail displays, signage, fixtures, and branded environments to life. In this role, you’ll own the critical planning and coordination phase that turns a client’s vision into a clearly defined, accurately priced, technically sound, and executable project.

Working closely with sales, design, engineering, estimating, manufacturing, purchasing, and installation teams, you’ll ensure every project is properly scoped, coordinated, and ready to move forward. You’ll anticipate challenges, manage details, align stakeholders, and help prevent costly surprises before fabrication or installation begins.

This is an ideal opportunity for a proactive problem-solver who understands how custom products are built and installed, takes ownership of project outcomes, and knows that great execution starts with great preparation.

What You’ll Do

• Review drawings, specifications, and project requirements to establish clear scopes and identify gaps, conflicts, and risks early.
• Develop project estimates, budgets, schedules, and cost assumptions, coordinating material, labor, vendor, freight, and installation pricing.
• Work with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are practical to fabricate, assemble, and install.
• Coordinate technical reviews, shop drawings, prototypes, site surveys, and installation planning.
• Manage project timelines, approvals, long-lead items, and external partners while anticipating potential challenges.
• Prepare complete project handoffs to manufacturing and installation, ensuring teams have the information they need to execute successfully.
• Manage multiple projects while protecting budgets, schedules, quality, and profitability.

What You Bring

You’re organized, proactive, and comfortable bringing together the people and details needed to move complex projects forward.

Ideally, you have:

• 5+ years of experience in preconstruction, project management, estimating, construction, or custom manufacturing.
• Experience with retail displays, signage, fixtures, millwork, exhibits, or fabricated environments.
• The ability to interpret architectural and shop drawings, specifications, and construction documents.
• Working knowledge of estimating, fabrication, materials, installation, budgets, and schedules.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Experience that sets you apart:

Multi-location retail rollouts, store construction, illuminated or digital signage, CAD and prototyping, production planning systems, or installation management.

Relevant hands‑on experience is valued alongside formal education.

How You’ll Make a Difference

You’ll help improve estimate accuracy, reduce production and installation issues, keep projects on schedule, strengthen cross-functional coordination, and protect project margins, all while delivering the quality our clients expect.

Why Join Us?

No two custom retail projects are alike. You’ll work across design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation to turn ambitious concepts into beautifully built, expertly installed realities.

If you enjoy taking ownership, thinking ahead, and making complex projects run smoothly, we’d love to hear from you.