Manager, Store Communications

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country’s largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®. This role supports Loblaw Companies Limited by developing thoughtful design strategies that strengthen national brand consistency and solve complex design challenges. The Store Design team helps shape the customer experience, elevate brand standards, and deliver solutions that align with budget, schedule, operational, and business requirements. The Design Manager works closely with design colleagues, leadership, and cross‑functional partners to develop and deliver creative, practical, and brand‑aligned design solutions. Store Design Lead the development of store designs from initial concept through detailed design, ensuring alignment with Loblaw Companies Limited’s overall design strategy. Develop design solutions for a variety of real estate formats, including mixed‑use developments, freestanding buildings, façades, existing store renovations, shop‑in‑shops, kiosks, and alternative retail formats. Create innovative, relevant, and practical design solutions that respond to evolving timelines, project priorities, and workload demands while meeting aesthetic, operational, and business requirements. Apply and share advanced knowledge of materials, construction methods, architectural detailing, interior fit‑outs, millwork, graphic design, lighting, acoustics, and industry best practices. Lead the preparation and delivery of visual design packages, sketches, design‑intent drawings, graphic standards, signage key plans, fixture details, material specifications, and schedules that clearly communicate the design direction to peers, leadership, cross‑functional partners, construction teams, and external consultants. Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve design and execution challenges through clear verbal, written, and on‑site communication. Design Leadership and Collaboration Champion design excellence across Loblaw Companies Limited by leading design reviews and providing clear, actionable feedback that strengthens brand consistency, customer experience, functionality, and overall design quality. Foster a strong design culture through research, knowledge sharing, and awareness of emerging retail trends, materials, technologies, and industry best practices. Build strong relationships with business units, leadership, and cross‑functional partners to ensure design strategies align with brand, operational, customer, and business objectives. Lead market tours, site visits, design workshops, and presentations, clearly communicating design concepts and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders. A collaborative, proactive, and forward‑thinking professional who can anticipate needs, connect insights across teams and projects, independently develop practical solutions, and present recommendations clearly and confidently. Project Development and Delivery Assess project scope, opportunities, and risks through the review of surveys, real estate documentation, landlord requirements, existing conditions, budgets, schedules, and project briefs. Deliver practical and innovative design solutions that balance brand standards, customer experience, operational requirements, accessibility, sustainability, constructability, schedule, and budget. Identify and resolve design, cost, procurement, schedule, and execution challenges while leading value‑engineering initiatives that protect the approved design intent. Design and develop fixtures, millwork, signage, and other store elements, and review shop drawings, samples, mock‑ups, substitutions, and prototypes for compliance with Loblaw standards and specifications. Maintain and continuously improve design standards, prototype packages, drawing templates, material specifications, and guidelines to support consistency across banners and store formats. Support projects through construction by coordinating document reviews, responding to RFIs, resolving site conditions, and ensuring the approved design intent is maintained. Evaluate completed projects and prototypes using operational feedback, customer insights, and lessons learned to improve future store designs, standards, and delivery processes. A minimum of eight years of professional experience in retail and hospitality interior and architectural design, gained through design consultancies, development organizations, or similar environments. Proven experience developing interior and architectural design concepts for projects of varying scale, scope, and complexity. Demonstrated leadership experience with decision‑making authority and accountability, including managing design