Co & Retail Design Project Manager

Since Watchfinder & Co. was first founded in 2002

It has grown to become the premier resource from which to buy and sell premium pre-owned watches. With thousands of watches available from more than 50 brands, including Rolex, Omega, IWC and more, plus boutiques across the UK and a manufacturer certified service centre, Watchfinder has established itself as the top pre-owned watch specialist.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT?

As Watchfinder’s Store Design, Planning & Construction Project Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the next phase of Watchfinder’s global retail expansion. This is a foundational role within the business, responsible for helping define, build, and lead the store design and planning function as Watchfinder continues to refresh and grow its physical retail footprint internationally.

The role will lead the planning, design coordination, and delivery of retail store development projects across markets, ensuring every new opening, refurbishment, or store evolution reflects Watchfinder’s brand standards, commercial objectives, and customer experience ambitions. Working at the heart of a high-growth and high-visibility function, this individual will be actively involved in building the framework, processes, and ways of working that will support Watchfinder’s long-term, sustainable retail expansion strategy.

This position offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and cross-functional leadership teams, with responsibility for driving projects from concept through execution while balancing design quality, operational needs, timelines, and budgets. The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of project management expertise, retail design and space planning knowledge, construction coordination experience, and the ability to influence and collaborate across a global stakeholder network.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Store Design and Bluebook Management

• Coordinate design development from concept to construction documentation, ensuring consistency with Watchfinder’s Retail Bluebook and Brand identity.
• Manage external design specialists (Design agencies, architects and other consultants).
• Collaborate with Marketing, Retail, Merchandising and Commercial Operations teams to optimize retail experience and operational efficiency.
• Drive the continuous evolution of Watchfinder’s Retail Bluebook including retail concepts, design standards, and technical guidelines.

Budgeting, Planning & Construction Project Management

• Lead projects from investment validation through construction and close-out, developing and controlling budgets, CAPEX and construction planning.
• Collaborate with internal project stream leads and ensure they have all relevant information available to deliver on their activities.
• Drive tendering, technical evaluations / levelling, commercial negotiations, and contract awards for all external suppliers required on the project – eg. Architect of Record, Millworkers, Local Consultants etc.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement to promote operational efficiency, value engineering and customer experience enhancement.
• Manage procurement, Purchase Orders, Change Orders, and project financial reporting.
• Partner with local project architects to coordinate permitting, landlord approvals, and local authority relations.
• Validate architectural proposals and shop drawings from external partners, ensuring adherence with Watchfinder’s design principles, Retail Bluebook and compliance with Richemont guidelines.
• Act as a key stakeholder with Group Procurement, Security, Real Estate, Legal, and external partners throughout the project.
• Manage all construction phases, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to Watchfinder’s quality and operational sustainability standards.
• Identify risks to project & budget and associated mitigation plans.
• Lead project progress reporting across different cadences and audiences at Watchfinder.