Retail Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retail Design Manager

Company: Metcash

Location: Crestmead, QLD, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Retail Design & Operations

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: 2-5 Years (Mid-Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design and execution of innovative supermarket and convenience store concepts, driving customer experience and operational efficiency.

• Manage end-to-end retail design projects, from initial concept development through to final fit-out completion, ensuring alignment with retailer needs and company standards.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including retailers, developers, architects, engineers, and internal teams.

• Analyze store layouts and space utilization to optimize customer flow, enhance commercial outcomes, and support the success of independent retailers.

• Ensure all design and construction documentation adheres to strict compliance with internal processes, governance requirements, and relevant Australian Standards and regulations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Retail Design Manager," the description emphasizes project leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and ensuring operational efficiency and commercial outcomes. This suggests a strong operational component beyond pure design, requiring a candidate who can bridge creative vision with practical implementation and business objectives. The "Mid-Level" experience derived from the "2-5 years" AI assessment aligns well with a manager role that involves significant responsibility but may not yet require extensive strategic leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of new supermarket developments and refurbishment fit-out projects, from conceptualization to completion, ensuring outcomes meet retailer requirements, project budgets, and Metcash standards.

• Manage the review, coordination, and approval processes for retail design projects, ensuring strict compliance with internal governance, processes, and best-practice retail design principles.

• Collaborate effectively with a wide array of stakeholders, including independent retailers, property developers, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and internal departments, to create practical, innovative, and customer-centric retail solutions.

• Critically review and coordinate design and construction documentation to ensure seamless integration with approved store fit-out specifications, tenancy agreements, Australian Standards, and all applicable regulatory requirements.

• Conduct comprehensive site investigations, detailed audits, precise measure-ups/laser scan captures, and feasibility assessments, including detailed space planning analysis, to support development proposals and optimize overall store performance.

• Perform in-depth analysis of existing store layouts and space utilization patterns to identify opportunities for improving customer experience, enhancing operational efficiency, and maximizing commercial results for independent retailers.

• Provide expert design consultation and guidance on various store elements, including store planning, customer flow dynamics, equipment selection, joinery design, food preparation area layouts, and essential operational requirements throughout the entire project lifecycle.

• Present compelling design concepts, detailed feasibility studies, and strategic recommendations to retailers and key stakeholders, effectively influencing project decisions and driving successful project outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of design execution, project management, and stakeholder engagement. The emphasis on "optimizing store performance," "commercial outcomes," and "operational efficiency" points to a need for a candidate who understands the business impact of design decisions, not just aesthetic appeal. This is a key differentiator for operations-minded candidates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Tertiary qualifications in Architecture, Interior Design, or a closely related design discipline.

• Candidates with broader project leadership experience will be highly regarded. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience specifically in supermarket, convenience, or broader retail design and documentation.

• Preference for experience within a client-side, consultancy, or direct retail design environment. Required Skills:

• High-level proficiency in Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD is essential for detailed design and documentation.

• Demonstrated experience with visualization software such as Enscape, or similar, to present design concepts effectively.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, effectively balancing competing priorities, strict deadlines, and diverse stakeholder expectations.

• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship management skills, with a demonstrated capacity to influence outcomes and cultivate trusted partnerships.

• Experience collaborating effectively with a broad range of parties including retailers, developers, architects, consultants, councils, builders, and internal stakeholders to successfully deliver retail projects.

• A collaborative and solutions-focused mindset.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management skills. Preferred Skills:

• Revit family creation experience is considered advantageous.

• Demonstrated understanding of supermarket design methodologies, Australian Standards, NCC building regulations, and critical food safety requirements.

• Experience conducting site investigations, detailed audits, measure-ups/laser scan captures, and feasibility assessments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD proficiency, along with visualization software experience, is critical. The emphasis on "client-side, consultancy, or retail design environment" suggests a need for practical application and understanding of project lifecycles within a commercial context. The "broader project leadership experience" preferred indicates a potential pathway for candidates with strong project management skills who may not have a pure design background but can demonstrate equivalent capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of retail design projects, specifically highlighting supermarket and convenience store developments and refurbishments.

• Detailed documentation examples demonstrating the full project lifecycle from concept ideation, schematic design, detailed design, through to construction documentation.

• Evidence of user-centric design principles applied to enhance customer experience, flow, and store functionality.

• Case studies illustrating how design decisions contributed to improved operational efficiency, commercial outcomes, or retailer success.

• Visualizations (renderings, walkthroughs) that effectively communicate design intent and spatial planning. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design processes were managed, including workflow methodologies for concept development, design reviews, and stakeholder approvals.

• Documentation illustrating collaboration and coordination processes with external consultants (architects, engineers) and internal teams.

• Evidence of adherence to regulatory compliance, Australian Standards, and building codes within design documentation.

• Materials demonstrating feasibility assessments, site investigations, and space planning analysis methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Manager" role in design, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical experience and project leadership. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating not just design skills but also project management capabilities, stakeholder communication, and the ability to translate design into tangible business results for retailers. This goes beyond a purely creative portfolio to one that showcases operational impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Retail Design Manager with 2-5 years of experience in Queensland, Australia, a competitive salary range would typically fall between AUD $90,000 - $130,000 per annum. This estimate considers the mid-level experience, the specialized nature of retail design within the supermarket sector, and the cost of living in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Benefits:

• Extra Leave: 5th week of annual leave, 2 well-being days, 1 volunteer day.

• Career Growth: Access to tailored development programs and endless learning opportunities.

• Parental Leave: 16 weeks of gender-neutral paid leave for primary carers.

• Inclusive Culture: Recognized as a Bronze Employer for LGBTQ Inclusion.

• Neutral Pay Gap: Gender pay gap is under 5% (WGEA 2024–2025).

• Mental Health: Gold accreditation by Mental Health Australia.

• Flexibility: Accredited as a Flex Ready and Family Friendly Workplace. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered as per the company's accredited Flexible Workplace policies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for similar roles in Australia. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are highly attractive, particularly the emphasis on well-being, flexibility, and inclusive culture, which are key considerations for many professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail Distribution, Wholesale, Food & Beverage, Hardware. Metcash is a significant player in Australia's wholesale distribution and marketing sector, supporting a vast network of independent retailers.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 1,000 employees, based on typical Metcash company size). This indicates a structured environment with established processes and a broad reach.

Founded: Metcash has a long history, founded in 1927, signifying stability and deep industry experience.

Team Structure:

• The Retail Design Manager will likely be part of a broader Property, Store Development, or Retail Operations team.

• This role involves significant cross-functional collaboration with marketing, operations, procurement, construction, and IT departments.

• Direct reporting line would likely be to a Head of Retail Design, Director of Property, or a Senior Operations Manager within the relevant pillar (e.g., Food).

**Methodology