Manager Retail Experience Design

At Wild Birds Unlimited, our mission is simple yet profound: We bring people and nature together, and we do it with excellence. As an established leader in specialty retail, we aren't just selling birdseed, we are building communities of nature lovers and supporting local franchise owners across North America.What makes us truly unique? We are proud employee-owners. When you join our Franchise Support Center team, you aren't just an employee; you are an owner contributing to and sharing in our collective growth through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). We are seeking a visionary, collaborative, and highly structured Manager of Retail Experience Design to lead the evolution of our in-store customer experience.The OpportunityAs the Manager of Retail Experience Design, you will be the strategic architect and steward of the physical Wild Birds Unlimited store environment. Grounded in our mission, you will ensure every retail space reflects our core brand values, engages the modern consumer, and drives store profitability.In this role, you will own the physical store environment—including layout, fixture systems, customer flow, and signage. You will serve as the primary creative and technical consultant for our independent franchise store owners as they build, remodel, and reimagine their spaces. Because you’ll manage key supplier relationships and optimize build-out efficiencies with an "owner’s mentality," your fiscal responsibility will directly impact system-wide performance and enhance our shared ESOP value.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Design & Brand VisionDevelop and maintain a forward-looking vision for the WBU in-store experience, blending modern specialty retail trends and consumer analytics with our beloved brand standards.Translate design concepts into scalable standards, templates, and tools, keeping our WBU Store Design Standards guide acting as a dynamic, living document.Stay ahead of the curve by researching and pitching innovations in sustainability, retail technology, and customer experience.2. Store Planning & Technical DesignPersonally produce highly accurate, scaled 3D renderings, customized floor plans, and planograms for new stores and remodels using SketchUp, AutoCAD, or specialized design software.Lead conceptual design for new formats and major remodels, overseeing space planning, lighting, A/V, and material selections.Maintain a physical and digital "Model Store" layout to test and showcase visual strategies before system-wide rollout.3. Franchisee Support & Consultative PartnershipServe as the primary subject matter expert and empathetic consultant for franchise store owners navigating the design, permitting, and construction process.Actively troubleshoot site-specific structural challenges, unique building layouts, and local zoning laws that conflict with standard WBU design templates.Build trust and buy-in by delivering user-friendly handbooks, clear guides, and engaging presentations at franchise leadership conferences.4. Vendor Management & Fiscal Stewardship (ESOP Alignment)Negotiate and implement buying programs with preferred vendors for fixtures, exterior signage, flooring, and lighting to ensure extreme cost-efficiency for our franchisees.Manage supplier relationships with an owner’s mentality, actively identifying cost-saving opportunities and sustainable materials that protect margins.Partner seamlessly across internal departments (Product, Marketing, Operations) to ensure physical layouts beautifully support corporate merchandising strategies and product launches.Education & Experience:Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field (or 5–8 years of direct retail store design/architectural experience).Software: High proficiency in CAD software and SketchUp is required, alongside standard corporate tools like Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and project management systems (experience with Asana is a major plus!).Experience Focus:5+ years preferred in retail store design, with a proven track record of taking a concept from initial vision through final physical implementation.Strong background in specialty retail environments and space planning.Experience managing supplier relationships and purchasing programs.Experience with visual merchandising or working within a franchise system is highly preferred.This is a full-time position based in our Carmel, IN office. As an Employee-Owned Company, we believe in rewarding the people who make our mission possible. We offer:Competitive salary - $95,000 - $98,00/yr to start401(k) with company match.Employee Stock Option PlanComprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Disability insurance.Liberal vacation, personal, sick, and holiday leave.A generous discount on store merchandise so you can share in the joy of bird feeding!Join Our FlockIf you are someone who wants to own your future while helping us bring nature into more backyards, we want to hear from you. Wild Birds Unlimited is an Equal Opportunity Employer. You can apply with a cover letter and resume to garcial@wbu.com