Store Construction & Design Specialist (Mandarin Required)

Teso Life Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

TESO Group is seeking a Store Construction & Design Specialist to develop internal storefront designs and space layouts using base drawings, measurements and company standards. You will coordinate with Merchandising and licensed designers to finalize category zones, shelving plans and displays.

The role requires Mandarin and involves handing off designs to local drafters, managing supplier orders in China, and tracking construction progress while ensuring code compliance and approvals.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years in retail space planning or related design fields.
• Experience with shelving, fixtures and store layouts.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD/SketchUp and MS Excel; ability to read architectural/MEP drawings.

Responsibilities

• Gather site data, verify baselines and prepare internal layouts per store formats.
• Coordinate with Merchandising, Construction Manager and licensed designers.
• Define shelving, counters and stockroom layouts; ensure compliance with codes.
• Prepare BOMs, order approvals and supplier coordination in China.
• Track production, shipping, delivery and installation progress.

Skills

Spatial reasoning

Detail oriented

Multi-project coordination

Communication

Education

Associate degree or higher

Architectural drafting or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Job description

Store Construction & Design Specialist (Mandarin Required)

About TESO Group
Founded in 2017 in New York, TESO Group is an Asian-inspired lifestyle retail company bringing premium Asian products and culture to the U.S. market. With brands including TESO LIFE, TESO X, and TESO Mini, we offer a curated mix of beauty, snacks, home goods, and trendy collectibles—delivering quality, value, and a unique shopping experience.

Position Overview
Using new-store base drawings, field measurements and company standards, develop internal storefront designs, space layouts and shelving plans. First plan shelving, checkout counters, stockrooms/back-of-house and major functional areas, then submit the plan to the Merchandising Department for confirmation of category zones, shelving quantities and key displays. Incorporate confirmed business-side power/data outlets, equipment positions and the shelving bill of materials (BOM). Following Construction Manager approval, provide controlled drawings and requirements through the Construction Specialist to locally licensed drafters/architects for preparation of official permit drawings. Place approved shelving orders with designated suppliers in China and track production, shipping, delivery and exception resolution. This position does not replace licensed local professionals in code-compliant design, professional stamping or government permit submission.

Job Responsibilities

1. Site Information Intake and Baseline Verification

a. Receive new-store base plans, site measurements, photographs/videos, landlord standards, floor area, address, column grid, doors/windows, entrances/exits, existing MEP conditions and other project materials.

b. Check drawing scale, critical dimensions, ceiling heights, columns/walls/doors, back-of-house conditions and known constraints; request additional field measurements from the drafter or elevate missing/conflicting information to the Construction Manager.

c. Create project IDs, drafting schedules, revision numbers and document directories to prevent mixing information across stores or project stages.

2. New-Store Space Planning and Design Coordination

a. Identify locally licensed drafters, architects or engineers with retail project experience; compile licenses, quotations, service scopes, schedules and relevant projects for Construction Manager approval.

b. Confirm storefront renovation requirements and overall design direction with the Construction Manager; communicate storefront design requirements to the drafter and coordinate execution.

c. Prepare internal layouts under company store formats and construction standards, planning customer flow, main aisles, category C areas, shelving, endcaps, promotional displays, checkout, entrances and back-of-house, including stockroom, office, employee, receiving and replenishment flow.

d. Define shelving and equipment types, dimensions, quantities, spacing, orientation and placement based on operational needs and site constraints, balancing space utilization, merchandising capacity, efficiency and constructability.

e. Transfer approved layouts, functional requirements, landlord standards and site information to approved local licensed designers; coordinate measurements and agree design milestones.

f. Check architectural, MEP, fire and life-safety permit drawings produced by licensed local designers against confirmed business layouts and fundamental requirements; identify and coordinate correction of discrepancies.

3. Merchandising Confirmation and Functional Requirements

a. Submit preliminary shelving layouts to Merchandising and confirm beauty, general merchandise, collectibles/cultural-creative category zones, shelving counts, featured products/display locations and capacity requirements.

b. Revise layouts based on Merchandising feedback and maintain approval records; recalculate and seek Construction Manager approval for significant changes to category proportions, shelving quantity or location.

c. After merchandising layout confirmation, define locations and quantities of checkout counters, stockroom shelving, equipment, business-side power/data points, network, surveillance, anti-theft and other operating needs.

d. For electrical loads, fire safety, egress, structural and accessibility requirements, provide business needs only; licensed local architects/engineers own code-compliant design and final confirmation.

4. Design Handoff and Construction Permit Follow-up

a. Compile final internal layouts, shelving/equipment schedules, critical dimensions, functional requirements and Merchandising signoffs into a complete handoff package for Construction Manager review.

b. After manager approval, release controlled design materials through the Construction Specialist to locally licensed drafters, architects or engineers for formal permit drawings and applications.

c. Support the Construction Specialist in design coordination with local contractors; clarify shelving, checkout, stockroom, equipment and functional requirements; re-confirm changes caused by local codes, site conditions or construction needs.

d. Check architectural, MEP, fire and life-safety permit drawings against approved business layouts and requirements; coordinate correction of discrepancies.

e. Track landlord reviews, government submissions, plan review comments and drawing revisions; coordinate permit applications through receipt of the building permit.

f. Identify and coordinate available permit-expediting resources with landlords, partner contractors and other parties to address approval delays.

g. Coordinate layout and official design codes raised by local designers with the Construction Manager and drafting team; obtain internal approval before changing approved business plans.

h. Maintain clear boundaries: local licensed designers own local code review, professional design, seals and approval responsibilities; this role communicates requirements, checks design alignment, coordinates functions and tracks approvals.

i. Capture lessons across store sizes and formats and improve standardized layout templates, shelving modules and handoff packages.

5. Shelving BOM, China Supplier Ordering and Approvals

a. Prepare shelving BOM/purchase lists from approved drawings, verifying uprights, shelves, back panels, endcaps, hooks, dividers, accessories, colors, heights, dimensions, quantities and reasonable spares.

b. Confirm standard models, packaging, lead times, quotations, transportation and store-delivery requirements with designated suppliers in China; prepare order approval packages.

c. Place formal orders only after relevant Merchandising confirmation and Construction Manager approval; re-approve any changes to quantity, specification, color, supplier, price or delivery date.

d. Maintain order, PO, sample/specification approval, production revision and payment milestone records; ensure drawings, BOM and orders match.

6. Production, Transportation, Delivery and Exception Tracking

a. Track shelving production in China, quality inspections, packaging, dispatch, shipping, expected store delivery and receipt; update project logs.

b. Provide the Construction Specialist with delivery schedules, carton counts, unloading and storage requirements in advance; coordinate site readiness for receiving and installation.

c. Assist with receipt checks for quantities, specifications, colors, damage, missing parts and wrong shipments; document exceptions, photographs and owners.

d. Drive supplier replacement parts, rework, exchange, return or credits to closure without affecting installation/opening; elevate major delays promptly.

7. Drawing Revisions, Standards Library and Project Coordination

a. Control changes arising from Merchandising, the Construction Manager, licensed local designers, site construction and shelving order feedback; record reasons, dates, approvers and applicability.

b. Ensure the Construction Specialist, local designers, contractors and suppliers use the same current version; clearly void and archive superseded versions.

c. Maintain standard shelving drawings, store layout templates, checkout/stockroom modules, BOM pricing and supplier specification libraries for efficient replication.

d. Attend weekly construction meetings and report drafting, merchandising approvals, management and shipping statuses and exceptions.

Qualifications

• Education : Associate degree or higher; architectural drafting, interior design, environmental design, construction management or related fields preferred.
• Professional Experience : At least 2 years in retail space planning, architectural/interior drafting, shelving or commercial project design implementation; shelving purchasing, production or cross-border order tracking preferred.
• Knowledge & Skills : AutoCAD, SketchUp or similar; retail floor plans; shelving/display fixtures; basic architectural and MEP drawing interpretation; BOM and quantity takeoffs; Excel; revision control; supplier production/logistics tracking; good Chinese and English communication.
• Core Competencies : Spatial reasoning; dimensional/quantity accuracy; attention to detail; multi-project scheduling; communication; risk awareness; version discipline; accountability; learning agility and cross-time-zone coordination.

Compensation

• $28 Per Hour
• Quarterly Performance Bonus: This position is eligible for a quarterly performance-based bonus, subject to the eligibility requirements, performance criteria, and terms of the Company's bonus program.
• Project Completion Bonus
• 401(k) & 401(k) matching - subject to the eligibility requirements