Store Design Manager

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hiring a full-time Store Design Manager to join our Store Development team! This is a great opportunity for an experienced individual to work closely with the growing team at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as the company embarks on its next stage of major growth. The ideal candidate is someone who is experienced in designing multiple retail locations in the food and beverage industry.

Our Store Design Manager will report directly to our Concept Design Manager. While we are based out of Brooklyn, NY, this role has the opportunity to be completely remote or hybrid anywhere in the United States.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design highly influential projects that impact the Van Leeuwen brand experience through schematic design, operational adjacencies/efficiencies, seating & décor plans, and design development documents
• Direct the organization's architectural and engineering construction projects to ensure that delegated projects are completed on time, to specification, and within budget
• Partner with operations team to determine project program needs and to develop and prioritize architectural and engineering scopes of work based upon these program requirements
• Assist in coordinating project kick-off items (Survey, Due Diligence, etc.), aligning development strategy with understanding of existing conditions and comments as it pertains to recommended improvements prior to leasehold acquisition of properties
• Assist in providing design communication to key project players (ie. Real Estate partners/committee, Architect of Record, MEP Engineer(s), General Contractors and other internal + external consultants)– with clear and consistent direction regarding overall goals/objectives, Design/Operational Standards, site conditions, scheduling and budgets particular to each project
• Provide design support including creation of project 2D schematic plans/Test-Fits, 3D SketchUp models/renderings, while managing communication and follow-up between meetings to move each project to conclusion as identified in work plans and documents
• Assist in the review of all schematic, design development and final construction drawings to ensure the company is building cost effective retail and outlet stores
• Assist in the procurement, management, delivery and installation oversight as it pertains to key Store Development elements; functioning as liaison for all vendors involved
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with external suppliers & vendors: millwork, signage, tile, lighting, and specialty vendors
• Identifies opportunities for construction cost savings through more efficient and/or bulk procurement, vendor selection, and/or materials selection
• Attend relevant trade shows & conferences to identify new & leading materials to support the design evolution of our brand

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• At least 3-5 years of experience in a similar role; restaurant design experience strongly preferred
• Bachelor's Degree in architecture, interior design, or similar field
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop) and Excel; experience with G Suite (Google Drive, Docs, etc.) is a plus.
• A passion for brand design & ice cream
• A positive attitude and willingness to work as part of a team, with the ability to manage independent workload
• A desire to learn, grow, and develop professionally
• Very strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to multitask
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Availability to travel (travel expectation is less than 20%)

PERKS + BENEFITS

• Employee Scoop Card (Enjoy Ice Cream from any of our scoop shops nationwide)
• Medical, Dental + Vision Insurance with 70% Employer Contribution
• 401k with up to 4% Employer Match
• Cell Phone Reimbursement Plan
• Wellness Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Time Off - 3 Weeks / 120 Hours Total
• Paid Sick Time
• Yearly Performance Reviews