At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative design projects and create outstanding retail environments at Selfridges.
- Company: Join the iconic Selfridges team, known for its creativity and excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture that values creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of retail design while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Strong design skills, leadership experience, and a passion for retail innovation.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
A bit about the job
To drive and deliver world class environments in all Selfridges' stores through innovative strategic planning and highly professional design management, creating outstanding and innovative environments and experiences. To manage internal communication both internally, and with external consultants while keeping key stakeholders up to date. The Senior Design Manager will be a role model and ambassador for living the Selfridges values which will help in the management and development of their team. The Senior Design Manager will lead and drive change to continue to evolve Selfridges unique retail environments.
Scope
- Informing, developing and implementing the Strategic Masterplans and the associated Design Guidelines
- Ensuring the effective Design Management of all projects through the entire design, development and delivery process
- Managing project requests from B&M taking them through feasibility studies where appropriate
- Overseeing the development and maintenance of digital drawing data for all Selfridges' sites
- Effectively managing the internal and external design teams
- Oversee and responsibility for the design delivery of categories dependent on scale, and manage team workflow and allocation
- Manage and lead the Design Managers and Coordinators, through motivating, inspiring and mentoring the team
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Design Planning- Work with the Lead Design Manager and Design Planning teams to aid in developing and delivering strategic retail Masterplan briefs and feasibilities for all stores
- Lead presentations up to Exec level to drive decision making and support in unlocking change for future projects
- Produce planning and delivery sequence and timeline
- Assist in producing high level budget cost to support capital planning
- Monitor competitors, and carry out industry research
- Manage collation and production of strategic design guidelines, compartment design guidelines, project specific design guidelines and creation of temporary guidelines for refresh projects ensuring alignment throughout
- Manage projects up to complex flagship brands with full strip out and build
- Manage relevant design team members, with strong leadership and ownership skills
- Lead for a number of high profile category projects, managing directly key category projects, with allocated projects delegated to design team
- Run and lead a Masterplan scale project with full project team, and multiple business stakeholders
- Coordinate production of retail briefs for all projects and ensure alignment with proposed plans
- Lead brand design briefings as required, chaired by Project Manager
- Manage the approval of brand shopfit projects through concept and detailed design stages:
- Manage business feedback and approval
- Presentation of proposals to the Board for approval
- Ensure projects adhere to Selfridges' Masterplan and Store Guidelines
- Ensure timely and sufficient design information is passed to Project Managers for the delivery phase
- Work closely with the project management team to ensure design integrity is maintained at each stage of the design and delivery process
- Participate in post-project reviews and design analysis
- Manage creative consultants to ensure design solutions are developed in line with agreed cost parameters and project programmes
- Ensure designs meet or exceed defined quality standards and compliance with requirements of legislation and/or external authorities
- Ensure internal design approvals and financial sanctions are obtained at appropriate stages
- Encourage design innovation and creativity.
- First point of contact for B&M on all new project requests
- Carry out design feasibility studies with support from the delivery team (when appropriate)
- Manage the planning and feasibility process for upcoming strategic projects, taking them to business approval, producing planning layouts, budget cost and draft timeline (with support from the delivery team)
- Support shortlisting of architects for strategic projects (with Head/Lead Design, creative team) and provide supporting information for the briefing
- Ability to lead design direction to drive and influence decision making
- Work with the Lead Design Manager and Head of Design to manage, develop and coordinate the internal design team and their day to day workload
- Monitor the performance and progress of the design team
- Create and effectively lead internal and external consultant teams
- Manage change and potential conflict
- Establish a communication plan for the design stage of projects
- Demonstrate ability to manage and lead multiple stakeholders across a range of business functions
- Encourage and promote an understanding of the Selfridges brand values amongst external consultants
- Demonstrates senior leadership behaviours within the design team, and across the business
A bit about you
- Strategic design vision and planning
- Strong and flexible design skillset with excellent project planning
- Expert understanding of the retail and design landscape.
- Innovative, forward thinking, but with highly commercial approach - able to develop and implement new ideas in cost effective ways
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal and relationship skills
- Coaching style of management and the ability to motivate others
- Strong negotiator and influencer
- Resilience and ability to work under pressure on many diverse projects
- In depth knowledge of CAD and other design related packages
- Experienced designer with passion for retail and innovation
- Self-motivated leader
- Ability to inspire and manage a team
- Ability to manage and solve complex challenges
- Excellent decision maker often under time pressure
- Excellent presentation skills
Senior Design Manager (Maternity Cover) in London employer: Selfridges
Selfridges is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, where creativity and strategic thinking are at the forefront of delivering world-class retail environments. Employees benefit from a supportive atmosphere that encourages professional growth through mentorship and leadership opportunities, all while being part of a renowned brand that values excellence and collaboration. Located in a dynamic retail setting, team members enjoy the unique advantage of working on high-profile projects that shape the future of retail design.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Design Manager (Maternity Cover) in London
✨Get your portfolio ready!
When applying for that temporary architecture gig, make sure your portfolio is top-notch. Showcase your best projects, even if they were just uni assignments or side hustles. Include visuals and a brief description to show your design process and creativity.
✨Tap into local architecture events
Check out local architecture exhibitions, talks, and meetups. These events are brilliant for networking and you never know who might be looking for temporary help or just has a contact that could lead you to the right opportunity. Plus, it's a great way to stay updated on trends in the field!
✨Leverage temporary recruitment agencies
Consider registering with recruitment agencies that specialise in architecture roles. They often have access to temporary positions that aren’t advertised elsewhere. It's an easy way to find that next role without much fuss, plus they can help you polish your approach!
✨Show up where the architects are
Join online architecture forums or social media groups where professionals share opportunities. Engaging with these communities not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to job leads and collaborations. Don't underestimate the power of a simple message introducing yourself!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Design Manager (Maternity Cover) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Aesthetics:In the architecture game, your portfolio is your best friend. Make sure it showcases a range of your projects, highlighting both your design skills and technical ability. Don't just list what you've done – tell a story behind your designs, and show us how you think spatially!
Emphasise Collaborative Projects:Since this is a temporary role, showing you can work well with others is key. Highlight any collaborative projects in your CV or cover letter. Let us see how you’ve contributed in team settings – we want to know that you can hit the ground running alongside our crew at Selfridges.
Tailor Your Application for the Short Term:For temporary gigs, focus on your flexibility and how quickly you adapt to new environments. In your cover letter, mention your eagerness to learn and contribute immediately. We want to see that you’re ready to bring your skills to Selfridges without needing a long onboarding process!
Stay Up-to-Date with Trends:Architecture is constantly evolving, so make sure your application reflects your awareness of current design trends, software tools, and sustainable practices. Mention any relevant certifications or courses you've taken recently – it shows that you're serious about staying on top of your game for that temporary role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Selfridges
✨Showcase Your Creative Portfolio
When interviewing for a temporary role in architecture, it’s crucial that we bring along a strong portfolio that highlights our best projects. Make sure to include a variety of work that showcases your design skills, technical drawings, and even any 3D models or visualisations. This will help the interviewers at Selfridges see your creative process and your ability to tackle different challenges in architectural design.
✨Brush Up on Software Skills
Be prepared to answer questions about architectural software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp, since many firms, including Selfridges, heavily rely on these tools. If possible, brush up on your skills with quick tutorials beforehand, and be ready to discuss how you used these tools in past projects. This shows that you’re not just a pretty face but also technically savvy!
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability
Temporary roles often require us to jump into projects mid-flow, so highlight experiences where you've quickly adapted to new teams or changing project scopes. Talk about your problem-solving strategies and how you handle unexpected challenges — this will show Selfridges that you can seamlessly integrate into their ongoing work without missing a beat.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and design choices in real-time. Practice answers where you explain how you would approach specific architectural challenges or collaborate with different stakeholders. This will not only demonstrate our thought process but also show how we can contribute meaningfully to the team at Selfridges from day one.
