Store Concept & Design Strategy Operations Manager

Abercrombie & Fitch; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Store Concept & Design Strategy Operations Manager to lead innovative store design initiatives. This role is central to creating exceptional in-store experiences that align with brand strategies. The ideal candidate will drive multi-branded projects, fostering collaboration across teams while managing budgets and timelines. With a strong focus on creative problem-solving, this position requires deep knowledge of store operations, marketing, and visual merchandising. Join a forward-thinking company that values its people and offers a supportive environment for career growth and personal development.

Benefits

401(K) savings plan with company match

Flexible spending accounts

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Paid parental and adoption leave

Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace

Work from anywhere days

Paid time off & one paid volunteer day

Onsite fitness center

Merchandise discount

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in store design, planning, or project management.
• Strong knowledge of marketing, visual merchandising, and real estate.
• Exceptional leadership and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead store design processes for innovative physical experiences.
• Manage project timelines and stakeholder communications.
• Facilitate collaboration across internal teams and external vendors.

Skills

Store Design

Project Management

Visual Merchandising

Creative Thinking

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

BA/BS or related experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

3D Modeling Programs

Project Management Platforms

Job description

Store Concept & Design Strategy Operations Manager

• Full-time

Job Description

The Store Concept & Design Strategy Operations Manager is a dynamic leader who drives and refines store design and planning processes to create exceptional physical store experiences that resonate with brand strategies. This role is at the heart of multi-branded projects, fostering vibrant cross-functional collaboration, optimizing workflows, and ensuring flawless execution while managing budgets, timelines, architects, and consultants to achieve strategic objectives. This individual is a master at building strong relationships and maintaining high connectivity with various cross-functional partners across the brands and company. They are a versatile problem-solver, seamlessly transitioning between strategy, operations, and creative solutions. Moreover, they possess deep knowledge of all functions that touch the store ecosystem, including store operations, marketing, visual merchandising, product, real estate, and more. This person also supports store concept and design development, including new and first development and prototype evolution.

This job is located at our Global Home Office in Columbus, Ohio.

What Will You Be Doing?

1. Lead and refine store concept & design processes to deliver innovative and exceptional physical store experiences
2. Drive store concept and design team strategy, including new and first branded initiatives, owned and operated prototype evolution, third-party relationships, and supporting the real estate strategy
3. Manage and maintain branded project timelines, deliverables, and milestones for store concept initiatives
4. Serve as the primary point of contact for project tracking, stakeholder communication, and alignment
5. Coordinate branded project intakes, prioritization, and resource allocation to balance team workloads
6. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across internal teams (e.g., product, visual, marketing, stores, real estate, construction) and external vendors
7. Proactively identify and resolve potential roadblocks to ensure timely project delivery
8. Develop and implement workflows and tools to streamline project management and operational processes
9. Maintain project dashboards, trackers, and reporting systems for real-time visibility into progress
10. Document and standardize best practices for project management and team operations
11. Provide leadership updates on project status, challenges, and solutions

Architect Management:

1. Select and onboard architects and architectural firms based on project requirements and company standards
2. In partnership with our Design Director, establish clear expectations and deliverables for architects, ensuring alignment with project goals
3. In partnership with our Design Director, monitor and evaluate the performance of architects, providing feedback and guidance as needed
4. Facilitate onboarding & training, regular meetings and communication between architects and internal teams to ensure project alignment and progress
5. Manage budgeting and contracting processes for architectural and consulting services

What Do You Need To Bring?

• BA/BS or related experience - 7+ years of work experience preferred, with proven experience in store design, planning, project management, visual merchandising, or related fields
• Creative thinking and innovation skills to develop unique and engaging store designs
• Proficient in PowerPoint and Excel; familiarity with AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, 3D Modeling programs, project management platforms a significant plus
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills to foster strong partnerships across teams and stakeholders
• Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to oversee multiple complex projects
• Knowledge of all functions that touch the store ecosystem, including store operations, marketing, visual merchandising, product management, real estate, construction, and more

Our Company

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global, digitally-led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.

Our Values

Our corporate purpose of being here for you on the journey to being and becoming who you are, fuels our customer-led brands and our global associates. We lead with this purpose and always put our people first, which is evidenced by our Great Place to Work Certification, as well as being named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to equitable compensation and benefit offerings, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, we offer a range of educational and engagement opportunities, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities, and additional time off to give back to our global communities.

What You'll Get

As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you’ll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F is committed to providing simple, competitive, and comprehensive benefits that align with our Company’s culture and values, but most importantly – with you! We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward:

• 401(K) savings plan with company match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Associate assistance program
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
• Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Paid time off & one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
• Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles & six work from anywhere weeks per year)
• Seven associate wellness half days per year
• Onsite fitness center
• Merchandise discount on all of our brands
• Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
• Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
• Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!