Director, Design and Construction (Hybrid, Seattle)

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ideal Director, Design and Construction will contribute to the vision and strategy for store design and construction of new Rack stores, remodels, and selected projects across the off-price fleet. This leader is a proven change agent with deep, hands-on construction experience — ideally in big box retail — who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and demonstrates excellence in managing multiple concurrent rollouts with agility, cost discipline, and precision. This role demands a dynamic people leader who builds strong relationships, navigates difficult conversations with confidence, and balances strategic decision-making with hands-on execution to drive business and team outcomes — all of which are a regular part of day-to-day construction management. The Director will drive speed to market and cost efficiencies across the Rack portfolio, bringing a rollout mindset and a relentless focus on execution and accountability. This role requires a strong ability to lead and navigate cross-functional partnerships, including internal teams, third-party vendors, and external consultants. The Director will be responsible for managing down the pyramid, ensuring alignment and execution across all levels of the organization. Travel is expected to support project oversight and stakeholder engagement. This position reports to the Vice President of Real Estate and Store Development for Nordstrom.

Requirements

Deep, demonstrated construction experience with a track record of delivering large-scale retail or big box projects.
Experience at a direct competitor or comparable retailer strongly preferred.
Proven rollout expertise — experience managing high-volume, multi-location construction programs on time and on budget.
Candidates must have substantial hands-on construction delivery experience.
Change agent with the ability to build new processes, challenge the status quo, and drive organizational improvement.
Strong financial acumen — cost-conscious decision-making is core to this role.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; able to influence at all levels and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
Demonstrated ability to make difficult decisions and lead challenging conversations with contractors, vendors, and internal partners.
Ability to travel as required to support project oversight across the Rack fleet.

Responsibilities

Partner effectively with key executive leaders, internal and external stakeholders, and end users to understand needs, anticipate future business changes, and proactively build strategies that influence and lead cross-functional teams and third-party partners in delivering high-impact results aligned with business goals.
Lead rollout delivery across the Nordstrom Rack fleet — managing multiple concurrent projects with a consistent, scalable, and cost-conscious approach.
Identify and establish goals and develop strategies for the project management team while overseeing the creation, implementation, and ongoing management of department processes to support Rack Store Design and construction objectives and meet the needs of the off-price business
Develop and evolve standardized project management tools — encompassing goals, scope, timelines, and task documentation — to ensure milestone progress while driving speed to market, cost optimization, and budget adherence across all projects
Build and lead project teams, including external contractors, consultants, and vendors, providing clear roles and responsibilities through all phases of the project lifecycle.
Manage and communicate information about project status and changes in strategy, initiatives, standards, priorities, and resource allocation.
Partner with Rack and Store Design Finance teams to develop, document, and refine construction estimates while managing and reporting on budgets to drive efficiencies; establish Rack construction standards and best practices through contractor, vendor, and supplier relationships to consistently meet quality, time, and cost expectations