Project Manager — Luxury Retail Architecture

ML Projects is hiring a Project Manager to lead luxury retail fitouts from RIBA Stage 2 through handover. Projects run £350k to £2m+, for brands including Hermès, Givenchy, Canada Goose, ON Running, New Balance, and Foot Locker, across the UK and Europe.

The role

You will run multiple concurrent projects as the primary client contact, from design development through to store opening. The scope covers design coordination, statutory approvals, procurement, construction delivery, handover, and commissioning.

You will chair project and site meetings, appoint and manage specialist consultants (MEP, structural, fire, acoustic), prepare Bills of Quantities, and run tender processes, track expenditure against CAPEX, and lead an internal team of two or three designers and coordinators.

The role sits at the point where design intent, budget, and programme have to be held together. When they conflict, you surface the conflict and the cost of each option — you do not resolve it silently.

What you will do

• Manage the full project lifecycle, RIBA Stages 2–7, from design development to handover.
• Serve as primary client contact for luxury brand representatives, property teams, and retail operations.
• Handle Building Control submissions and liaise with Approved Inspectors.
• Manage Licence to Alter applications with landlords and freeholders.
• Coordinate CDM compliance — F10 notifications, Construction Phase Plans, Health and Safety Files.
• Prepare BOQs, run tenders, appoint specialist consultants, and administer contracts.
• Track project expenditure against CAPEX budgets, flagging variations and maintaining forecasts.
• Lead internal design and coordination team members; mentor Project Coordinators.
• Manage handover including snagging, O&M documentation, commissioning certificates, and consent to trade.