Design Manager

About the role

The Manager, Design & Planning at Holt Renfrew leads the design and planning phases of store projects, overseeing design, scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation and vendor management while ensuring compliance with quality standards.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure delivery of Store Design & Planning programs, covering design, planning, scheduling, resource allocation, budget management and vendor coordination.
• Finalize building designs, define renovation scopes and prepare tender requirements.
• Identify and mitigate design and construction risks that could lead to disputes or claims.
• Provide strategic and creative input, including visual‑merchandising expertise to maximize sales potential through storytelling and impactful displays.
• Produce 3‑D visualisations using Sketchup and independently present design programmes to the executive team.
• Lead the design of at least one store and a strategic programme, developing creative briefs and supporting business cases.
• Maintain evergreen store footprints, guidelines and performance standards for external vendor pitches.
• Guide stores on municipal, regional and provincial building code compliance (e.g., waste, fire and safety regulations).
• Develop, implement and report on design schedules, approval meetings and analytics to support target‑setting and operational audits.
• Design in‑house concepts, relays and upgrades for renovations and oversee large‑scale projects from concept to execution.

Required profile

• Proven ability to lead multi‑disciplinary design projects from concept through delivery.
• Strong strategic thinking and creative problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities, especially to senior executives.
• Knowledge of municipal, regional and provincial building regulations.
• Experience working collaboratively with cross‑functional stakeholder teams.

Required skills

• Sketchup for 3‑D visualisation.
• 3‑D visualisation techniques.
• Visual‑merchandising expertise.
• Project scheduling and budget management.
• Vendor and stakeholder management.

What we offer

• Competitive total compensation.
• Generous employee discount.
• Pension plan.
• Health and dental benefits.
• Tuition assistance.
• Continuous learning and development opportunities.