Manager - Retail Design Pre Development - American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Position Title: Manager - Retail Design - Pre Development - Aerie Inc.
Reports To: Sr. Director - Retail Design, Aerie Inc.
Get to Know the Role:
The Manager of Retail Design - Pre Development evaluates the viability of potential retail locations proposed by the Real Estate team. In this role, you will lead the creation of architectural feasibility studies, signage and storefront explorations and space plans to determine site suitability for the Aerie and Offline by Aerie brands. As a key cross-functional collaborator, you will leverage your professional judgment to navigate ambiguity, understand the unique nuances of complex spaces, and apply creative problem-solving to address challenging site conditions before project approval.
To view this job and apply, click here.
What You’ll Do:
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the primary design liaison between Real Estate, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, and external Landlords during the pre-development phase.
Site Feasibility & Due Diligence: Evaluate proposed real estate opportunities, using your judgment to analyze as-builts, existing conditions, Google Earth data, local signage codes, and mall tenant criteria. Identify potential life-safety, ADA, building code, or structural challenges that could impact budget, schedule, or design integrity.
Design Adaptation: Adapt current prototype designs to atypical spaces, understanding the architectural nuances of each property to develop innovative layout solutions that meet merchandising requirements while maintaining brand standards.
