Director of Retail Design

The client seeks a Director of Retail Design to define and create a retail design and merchandising strategy for countries in support of brand image and identity in stores. The role will translate brand spatial concepts into local distribution constraints, strengthen brand visibility, and implement merchandising solutions for in-store elements such as make-up testers units, free-access setups, and POS materials aligned with local marketing plans. Key responsibilities include conceiving, developing, and overseeing flagship stores; coordinating the conception, production, delivery, and installation of local specific materials; and ensuring technical and legal compliance related to production norms. The director will recruit, develop, and manage a team, build retail design expertise and know-how, support organizational change, and monitor progress against timelines and budget while ensuring internal purchasing processes are followed. The ideal candidate typically holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant design discipline and brings extensive experience in retail design and/or merchandising, with demonstrated project management, budget management, and vendor management skills. They are expected to be able to express and interpret brand image, integrate market specificities, understand customer path and shopper experience principles, lead design strategy and innovation, and deliver high-quality, customer-centric retail concepts; strong communication, attention to detail, pragmatic execution, and the ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders are essential.