Co & Retail Design Project Manager in West Malling

How will you make an impact?

As Watchfinder’s Store Design, Planning & Construction Project Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the next phase of Watchfinder’s global retail expansion. This is a foundational role within the business, responsible for helping define, build, and lead the store design and planning function as Watchfinder continues to refresh and grow its physical retail footprint internationally.

The role will lead the planning, design coordination, and delivery of retail store development projects across markets, ensuring every new opening, refurbishment, or store evolution reflects Watchfinder’s brand standards, commercial objectives, and customer experience ambitions. Working at the heart of a high‑growth and high‑visibility function, this individual will be actively involved in building the framework, processes, and ways of working that will support Watchfinder’s long‑term, sustainable retail expansion strategy.

This position offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and cross‑functional leadership teams, with responsibility for driving projects from concept through execution while balancing design quality, operational needs, timelines, and budgets. The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of project management expertise, retail design and space planning knowledge, construction coordination experience, and the ability to influence and collaborate across a global stakeholder network.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate design development from concept to construction documentation, ensuring consistency with Watchfinder’s Retail Bluebook and Brand identity.
• Manage external design specialists (design agencies, architects and other consultants).
• Collaborate with Marketing, Retail, Merchandising and Commercial Operations teams to optimize retail experience and operational efficiency.
• Drive the continuous evolution of Watchfinder’s Retail Bluebook, including retail concepts, design standards, and technical guidelines.
• Lead projects from investment validation through construction and close‑out, developing and controlling budgets, CAPEX and construction planning.
• Collaborate with internal project stream leads and ensure they have all relevant information available to deliver on their activities.
• Drive tendering, technical evaluations, commercial negotiations and contract awards for all external suppliers required on the project – e.g., Architect of Record, Millworkers, Local Consultants.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement to promote operational efficiency, value engineering and customer experience enhancement.
• Manage procurement, purchase orders, change orders and project financial reporting.
• Partner with local project architects to coordinate permitting, landlord approvals and local authority relations.
• Validate architectural proposals and shop drawings from external partners, ensuring adherence to Watchfinder’s design principles, Retail Bluebook and compliance with Richemont guidelines.
• Act as a key stakeholder with Group Procurement, Security, Real Estate, Legal and external partners throughout the project.
• Manage all construction phases, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to Watchfinder’s quality and operational sustainability standards.
• Identify risks to project and budget and establish mitigation plans.
• Lead project progress reporting across different cadences and audiences at Watchfinder.
• Coordinate maintenance and post‑opening programs, including snagging, retrofit projects and minor works.
• Create a BAU maintenance management framework and governance structure.
• Act as the primary HQ interface for all markets for boutique construction and maintenance.
• Lead other retail, design and construction related ad‑hoc improvement or exploratory projects.
• Support markets for ad‑hoc operational issues and coordinate with stakeholders in HQ to provide solutions.
• Support Commercial Operations team and CCO for any other project requests.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in Construction Project Management or a Store Design & Planning function.
• Proven track record of delivering international retail projects with a solid understanding of design, store planning and construction processes.
• Experience in managing external partners such as architects, quantity surveyors, general contractors, millworkers and other consultants.
• Strong knowledge of procurement and tender management, commercial negotiations and budget maintenance.

Technical competencies

• Exceptional problem‑solving, analytical, planning and project management skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and advanced Microsoft Office Suite knowledge.
• Professional fluency in English; French a plus.
• Strong commercial awareness, proven negotiation skills and construction cost expertise.

Soft skills

• Creative, solution‑oriented and passionate about retail environments.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, effective in multicultural teams.
• Agile, adaptable and adept at managing changing priorities and complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Strong decision‑maker with a high sense of ownership, accountability and a results‑oriented, continuous improvement mindset.
• Highly organized, proactive and capable of simultaneously managing multiple strategic projects.

Benefits

As a significant member of the Watchfinder community, you are also part of a larger family at Richemont. We strongly believe in internal development, mobility and offering various opportunities to enhance both your personal and professional development. You will have the opportunity for your voice to be heard, drive change, and make a real impact from day one. This is a fast‑growing company, going through an exciting period of change from a UK‑centric business to an international company. You will also have opportunities to gain experience and further opportunities in the future.