Store Planner

Advance Stores Company Inc (500); Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC, is seeking a Store Planner to develop accurate floor plans for new stores, relocations, remodels, expansions, downsizes, and store refresh initiatives using AutoCAD and related planning tools to optimize space, inventory placement, operational efficiency, and the customer shopping experience.

You will collaborate with Real Estate, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Inventory Management, Operations, and external design partners to ensure plans meet

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD.
• Familiarity with project management systems and document management platforms.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, construction, and merchandising drawings.
• Knowledge of retail floor planning, fixture utilization, space optimization, and prototype standards.
• Understanding of customer shopping behaviors, traffic flow, adjacencies, and merchandising presentation principles.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare preliminary layouts for store locations using AutoCAD.
• Develop floor fixtures plans for new stores, expansions, downsizes and remodels.
• Align plans with prototypes, timelines, and business requirements.
• Analyze operational and inventory needs to optimize space and flow.
• Determine efficient layouts to enhance customer experience and sales.
• Prepare final layouts and manage project documentation.
• Adhere to project timelines and prototypical standards.
• Coordinate with architectural designers, Visual Merchandising, and Real Estate.
• Ensure plan quality, accuracy, and adherence to standards.
• Support field change requests and NSO prototype changes.
• Communicate with cross-functional teams to review and approve plans.

Skills

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPo

Project management familiarity

Reading architectural drawings

Retail floor planning

Merchandising principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in interior design, architecture, or related field

Equivalent combination of education and/or experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Summary: The Store Planner is responsible for developing accurate and effective floor plans that support new store openings, relocations, remodels, expansions, downsizes, and store refresh initiatives across the retail portfolio. This role utilizes AutoCAD, and related planning tools to create and maintain layouts that optimize space utilization, inventory placement, operational efficiency, and the customer shopping experience. The Store Planner partners closely with Real Estate, Construction, Visual, Inventory Management, Operations, and external design partners to ensure plans align with prototype standards, business requirements, and project timelines. This position is accountable for delivering high-quality plans, maintaining project documentation, supporting process improvements, and ensuring consistency, accuracy, and quality throughout the planning and execution phases of store development projects.

Plan Preparation and Resource Oversight (40%)

• Review the site architectural survey in the preparation of preliminary layouts for each location utilizing AutoCAD
• Coordinate the reallocation of floor space and development of store fixture plans for new stores, expansions, downsizes and existing store upgrades within the existing store portfolio
• Adjust plans upon review of architectural and construction surveys

Analyze (10%)

• Understand and interpret operational and inventory requirements as related to floor planning for inventory upgrades, expansions, commercial resources and downsizes within the existing store portfolio, as well as new stores and relocations
• Determine the most efficient space layout for new and remodel stores based on operational, inventory and customer needs
• Utilizing AutoCAD in the preparation of preliminary and final layouts for each location
• Understand interaction and impact of business factors: how adjacencies, sight lines, and in store environment impact customer ease of navigation and sales
• Effectively use project management software to pull and interpret reports
• Analyze and articulate key differentiators between Advance Auto Parts and other retailers
• Validate the flow, space design, fixture optimization of all plans

Process (10%)

• Adhere to project timelines and deliverable milestones.
• Effectively follow prototypical standards, department guidelines and best practices in the design and preparation of plans.
• Maintain consistency and accuracy among project deliverables.
• Understand and adhere to new store and reset store checklist milestones.
• Assist in field change requests on a project as needed.
• Coordinate the NSO prototype change process, facilitate cross functional teams in the criteria creation, maintenance, and cost tracking of design changes.

Communication and Partner Relationships (15%)

• Submission of plans to Architectural Designer, Sign Coordinator, Visual Merchandising, Market Availability, Inventory Management, Operations, Commercial PMO Team, and other appropriate teams for review, collaboration, and necessary approvals.
• Partner with Visual in the development and implementation of prototypical layout options.
• Coordination with the Store Set-up teams as may be required during store fixturing and merchandising.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with strategic partners across the organization.
• Support Advance Auto Parts stores by clearly articulating floor plans accurately and responding to store specific project issues.
• Coordinate plan revisions and addenda with internal Regional Architectural Designers, External Architects and Construction Managers.
• Establish and develop cross-functional relationships with (SP&D, Architectural Designers, External Architects, Sign Coordinator, Market Availability, Inventory Management, Real Estate Managers/Directors, Lease/Asset Administration, Risk Management, PMO, Store Set-Up, Construction Managers/Senior Managers, and Visual) teams.
• Be a vocal, strategic partner to the Real Estate Managers, Construction Managers and Visual teams through team meetings and floor planning process.

Quality Assurance (25%)

• Utilize guidelines effectively with attention to project code requirements.
• Monitor and manage the quality and accuracy of all plans
• Validate the flow, space design, fixture optimization of all plans
• Monitor adherence to prototypical standards
• Manage the documentation process for as-built project plans
• Manage the documentation process for up-fits and expansion project plans

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Familiarity with project management systems and document management platforms.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, construction, and merchandising drawings.
• Knowledge of retail floor planning, fixture utilization, space optimization, and prototype standards.
• Understanding of customer shopping behaviors, traffic flow, adjacencies, and merchandising presentation principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance operational, inventory, and customer experience requirements.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organization and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships and influence cross-functional partners.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.

Certifications, Experience, and Education

• Certifications: None required
• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in retail store planning, space planning, planning, architectural design or related field
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in interior design, architecture, retail merchandising or related field; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Location & Work Availability

This position is Hybrid (4 days in office, 1 day remote), based at our corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Benefits Summary

We believe in supporting our Team Members and those they love through comprehensive health & wellness benefits.

Company Overview

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of January 3, 2026, Advance operated 4,305 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also served 809 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. As of October 5, 2024, Advance operated 4,781 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,125 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, customer services and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal state or local protected class. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.