Store Design Senior Manager
Van Cleef & Arpels — Tokyo: Store Design Senior Manager to lead luxury boutique design and global rollouts.
Overview
Van Cleef & Arpels is a storied high-jewelry maison renowned for artisanal savoir-faire, poetic design and exquisite craftsmanship. As part of the luxury goods ecosystem, the brand operates a global network of boutiques and ateliers and is recognized for meticulous attention to materiality, finish and client experience.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end store design and boutique renovation programmes, from concept development through to handover and post‑occupancy review.
- Translate Maison brand guidelines into architectural and interior solutions that preserve heritage codes while evolving the retail experience.
- Manage multidisciplinary teams and external consultants — architects, interior designers, MEP engineers and contractors — across multiple markets.
- Prepare and review technical drawings, specifications (FF&E, finishes, lighting), construction documentation and packaging for production.
- Control project budgets, procurement processes and cost-to-complete reporting to ensure fiscal discipline and value engineering where required.
- Own project schedules and on-site delivery, coordinating permitting, site supervision, quality control and defect rectification.
- Establish and enforce global store design standards, materials libraries and installation protocols to ensure consistency across boutiques.
- Drive vendor selection and performance management, including bids, contracts, fabrication oversight and shipment logistics.
- Advocate for sustainability and material stewardship in design decisions, specifying durable and repairable solutions appropriate to high-jewelry retail.
Qualifications
- Professional degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a closely related discipline.
- Compelling portfolio demonstrating luxury retail, boutique or hospitality projects with clear evidence of technical and aesthetic rigour.
- Proven leadership in managing multi-site rollouts and complex fit-outs, with capacity to coordinate cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong financial acumen in project budgeting, tendering and cost control for high-value store projects.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for client presentations, executive reporting and supplier negotiations.
Skills
Experience
Approximately 8+ years in architecture or interior design with a minimum of 3 years leading luxury retail or boutique store design programmes; demonstrable track record of managing international fit‑outs and multi‑disciplinary teams.
Education
Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field.
Culture
The Maison values artisanal excellence, discretion and an obsessive attention to detail; employees work in a collaborative, atelier-like environment where craft and creativity are privileged. Teams are expected to balance the brand's heritage aesthetics with a continual pursuit of refined, client-focused retail experiences.