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Title: Director of Store Design

Category: Real Estate & Development

EmploymentType: Full-Time

LocationType: corporate

JobLocation: New York, New York 10003

JobSummary: The Director of Store Design leads the creative development of the company’s store environments — translating brand vision and customer strategy into functional, inspiring spaces. This role serves as the bridge between strategic design direction (set by the VP of Store Design) and day-to-day execution through Store Planners. The Director ensures that every new store, remodel, and refresh embodies the brand’s aesthetic, operational efficiency, and commercial intent.

An employee in this position can expect an annual starting rate between $150,000 - $175,000 depending on experience, seniority, geographic locations, and other factors permitted by law.

WhatYouDo:

• Oversee, lead and mentor the Store Planners, providing creative direction, technical oversight, and professional development.

• Translate company strategy and the VP’s design vision into actionable design guidelines and store planning standards.

• Establish efficient processes for drawing reviews, approvals, and communication between design, construction, and merchandising.

• Foster a collaborative team culture that values innovation, consistency, and excellence in execution.

• Manage workflow and prioritization for Store Planners supporting multiple concurrent projects.

• Oversee the process for development of all store layouts and fixture plans to ensure alignment with brand identity and operational flow.

• Assist in collaboration with Visual Merchandising, Real Estate, Facilities and Construction to ensure that store layouts optimize sales performance and customer experience.

• Participate in the maintenance and evolution of store prototypes, ensuring consistency while adapting to new store sizes, locations, and concepts.

• Assist in the review and approval of drawing packages, ensuring design integrity, feasibility, and adherence to company standards.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in store layouts, materials, and customer flow.

• Integrate sustainable design principles and new technologies into the planning process.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure the Store Design function operates as a strategic partner, not just a production team.

• Liaise with external architects and vendors as needed to support prototype evolution or specialty projects.

• Manage the schedule and deliverables for all layout production, ensuring milestones are met to support construction timelines.

• Maintain detailed documentation, including drawing standards, adjacency matrixes, and fixture databases.

• Partner with Finance, Construction and Procurement to monitor design-related costs and value-engineering opportunities.

• Establish a feedback loop from store openings to inform continuous design improvement.

Knowledge&Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in interior design, architecture or engineering (structural or civil) along with 5+ years of experience in retail design, or store planning.

• 5+ years in a leadership or management role is required.

• Proven expertise in space planning, fixture design, and retail prototype development.

• Ability to read and interpret existing condition plans inclusive of previous tenant as built drawings and base building plans.

• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD; Revit and visualization software experience preferred.

• Excellent collaboration skills and ability to manage cross-functional stakeholders.

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to balance creative vision with operational and financial realities.

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time to visit new and existing stores.

EeoStatement: Barnes & Noble is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition as defined by applicable law, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, hairstyle, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.