This role supports Loblaw Companies Limited by developing thoughtful design strategies that strengthen national brand consistency and solve complex design challenges. The Store Design team helps shape the customer experience, elevate brand standards, and deliver solutions that align with budget, schedule, operational, and business requirements.

The Design Manager works closely with design colleagues, leadership, and cross-functional partners to develop and deliver creative, practical, and brand-aligned design solutions.

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

Store Design

• Lead the development of store designs from initial concept through detailed design, ensuring alignment with Loblaw Companies Limited's overall design strategy.
• Develop design solutions for a variety of real estate formats, including mixed-use developments, freestanding buildings, façades, existing store renovations, shop-in-shops, kiosks, and alternative retail formats.
• Create innovative, relevant, and practical design solutions that respond to evolving timelines, project priorities, and workload demands while meeting aesthetic, operational, and business requirements.
• Apply and share advanced knowledge of materials, construction methods, architectural detailing, interior fit-outs, millwork, graphic design, lighting, acoustics, and industry best practices.
• Lead the preparation and delivery of visual design packages, sketches, design-intent drawings, graphic standards, signage key plans, fixture details, material specifications, and schedules that clearly communicate the design direction to peers, leadership, cross-functional partners, construction teams, and external consultants.
• Continuously assess the effectiveness of current designs and prototypes to ensure they meet business needs. Collaborate with business partners and internal stakeholders to identify and implement opportunities that improve efficiency, functionality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve design and execution challenges through clear verbal, written, and on-site communication.

Design Leadership and Collaboration

• Champion design excellence across Loblaw Companies Limited by leading design reviews and providing clear, actionable feedback that strengthens brand consistency, customer experience, functionality, and overall design quality.
• Foster a strong design culture through research, knowledge sharing, and awareness of emerging retail trends, materials, technologies, and industry best practices.
• Build strong relationships with business units, leadership, and cross-functional partners to ensure design strategies align with brand, operational, customer, and business objectives.
• Lead market tours, site visits, design workshops, and presentations, clearly communicating design concepts and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• A collaborative, proactive, and forward-thinking professional who can anticipate needs, connect insights across teams and projects, independently develop practical solutions, and present recommendations clearly and confidently.

Project Development and Delivery

• Assess project scope, opportunities, and risks through the review of surveys, real estate documentation, landlord requirements, existing conditions, budgets, schedules, and project briefs.
• Deliver practical and innovative design solutions that balance brand standards, customer experience, operational requirements, accessibility, sustainability, constructability, schedule, and budget.
• Identify and resolve design, cost, procurement, schedule, and execution challenges while leading value-engineering initiatives that protect the approved design intent.
• Design and develop fixtures, millwork, signage, and other store elements, and review shop drawings, samples, mock-ups, substitutions, and prototypes for compliance with Loblaw standards and specifications.
• Maintain and continuously improve design standards, prototype packages, drawing templates, material specifications, and guidelines to support consistency across banners and store formats.
• Support projects through construction by coordinating document reviews, responding to RFIs, resolving site conditions, and ensuring the approved design intent is maintained.
• Evaluate completed projects and prototypes using operational feedback, customer insights, and lessons learned to improve future store designs, standards, and delivery processes.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Summary of Experience

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in retail and hospitality interior and architectural design, gained through design consultancies, development organizations, or similar environments.
• Proven experience developing interior and architectural design concepts for projects of varying scale, scope, and complexity.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with decision-making authority and accountability, including managing design teams, direct reports, project budgets, and external consultants.
• A bachelor's degree, or equivalent qualification, in interior design, architecture, or a related discipline from a recognized educational institution.

General skills should include direct experience in:

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office is preferred.
• Familiarity with Bluebeam, Autodesk Construction Cloud, BIM 360, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms is an asset.
• Experience producing and managing design and construction documents.
• Experience coordinating architectural, interior design, graphics, MEP, and other consultants.
• Strong visual, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines.
• Ability to translate design objectives into innovative store environments.
• Knowledge of building codes, health regulations, and industry trends.
• Strong understanding of colour, composition, graphics, materials, and design principles.
• Strong 3D visualization skills.
• Knowledge of architectural detailing, specifications, and millwork construction.
• Ability to travel up to 35% within Canada and internationally.
• Valid driver's licence and access to a personal vehicle required.

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars - Environment, Sourcing and Community - and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values - Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence - guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits - these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada's Top Employers, Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Canada's Greenest Employers & Canada's Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

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