Visual Merchandising and Store Design | VMSD.com

Chico's FAS, Inc. through its brands -- Chico's, White House | Black Market, Soma Intimates, and Boston Proper -- is a women's specialty retailer offering sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, lingerie, and complementary accessories. Chico's FAS helps women look as great as they feel by delivering amazing personal service and by offering unique products, all within a warm and inviting boutique atmosphere. All or our brands share the same focus on creating lifelong relationships with customers, offering them high quality merchandise and amazing personal service.

Our Store Design group is working on several very exciting initiatives. In addition to the opening of 175+ stores anticipated in 2012, we are also working on a new store design concept for multiple brands. To support our significant growth and expansion, we have several new and exciting career opportunities in this area at the Designer and Manager levels. These are exciting times for us, and we are looking for great talent to join The Most Amazing Place to Work, Learn, and Grow.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The Manager Store Design will partner with the Store Design team to help define overall design and implementation needs for the Brand. This position will work closely with management groups of Visual Merchandising, Marketing, and Store Operations to execute site specific store designs and Brand needs that will support the Brand in achieving strategic goals.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Collaborates directly with the Brand executives on store design needs that will support the division in achieving strategic goals on time and within budget.
• Partners with Design Director to assist with development and interpretation of the overall design direction for the Brand to outside consultants and vendors. Responsible for assisting in the over all concept development and implementation, color direction, fixture design, material selection, functionality and capacity for store programs.
• Evolves the implementation process and create design standards, and master drawing templates and details for construction documents.
• Implements a successful communication process that informs the various disciplines of design directives and changes. Defines and documents the typical requirements for all design components for the Brand
• Ensures Store Designers and Coordinators adhere to Brand design and specification implementation correctly. Conducts plan reviews to ensure that all approved design intentions are fully executed.
• Ensures accuracy and consistency of the architectural plans as it relates to the Brand design criteria.
• Interacts with Real Estate/Legal on Design related leasing issues. Works with Landlords and Developers on site specific issues.
• Ensures proper implementation of store design with Construction Team and General Contractors as well as with Purchasing Team. Collaborates closely supporting all needs of each department
• Ensures design timelines and budgets are met.
• Responsible for fixture design and development as well as sourcing and value engineering recommendations. Works with Purchasing and vendors on prototype development and samples.
• Responsible for presentations to various leaders of the brand as well as Landlords and developers.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Bachelors Degree in Interior Design, Industrial Design, or Architecture required
2. 7+ years experience in Retail Design, previous experience required in developing retail design concepts and interiors, preparing presentation drawings, interior plans and details, and researching fixture, furniture and equipment options.
3. Excellent 3D rendering skills, Sketch Up required
4. Ability to hand sketch and proficient with AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite applications
5. Ability to work effectively with a collaborative team environment
6. Ability to comp0lete tasks with accuracy and with strong attention to details
7. Ability to consistently meet deadlines, completing tasks as previously defined
8. Ability to work with integrity, trust and commitment, setting a high standard for others
9. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely; both verbally and in writing the English language
10. Possess strong decision making skills

At Chico’s FAS, we value our Customers, Integrity, Respect, Vibrant Spirit, and High Performance. Our associates demonstrate our core values day in and day out. If you would be interested in exploring opportunities with our incredible organization, please contact me at karen.kahle@chicos.com or feel free to forward this message on within your retail network. You may also visit our career site at http://jobs.chicos.com.