Store Construction & Design Specialist (Mandarin Required)

Teso Life•New York, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for developing internal storefront designs, space layouts, and shelving plans for new stores using provided base drawings, field measurements, and company standards. The specialist will coordinate with the Merchandising Department, incorporate business-side requirements, and work with licensed drafters/architects to prepare official permit drawings. A key part of the role involves placing and tracking shelving orders with suppliers in China, managing production, shipping, delivery, and resolving any exceptions. This position does not replace the responsibilities of licensed local professionals for code-compliant design, professional stamping, or government permit submission.

Requirements

Associate degree or higher in architectural drafting, interior design, environmental design, construction management, or related fields preferred.
At least 2 years in retail space planning, architectural/interior drafting, shelving, or commercial project design implementation.
Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar software.
Experience with retail floor plans.
Knowledge of shelving/display fixtures.
Ability to interpret basic architectural and MEP drawings.
Experience with BOM and quantity takeoffs.
Proficiency in Excel.
Experience with revision control.
Experience with supplier production/logistics tracking.
Good Chinese and English communication skills.
Spatial reasoning ability.
Dimensional/quantity accuracy.
Attention to detail.
Ability to manage multi-project scheduling.
Strong communication skills.
Risk awareness.
Version discipline.
Accountability.
Learning agility.
Ability to coordinate across different time zones.

Nice To Haves

Shelving purchasing, production, or cross-border order tracking experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Receive and verify new-store base plans, site measurements, photographs/videos, landlord standards, floor area, address, column grid, doors/windows, entrances/exits, existing MEP conditions, and other project materials.
Check drawing scale, critical dimensions, ceiling heights, columns/walls/doors, back-of-house conditions, and known constraints; request additional field measurements or escalate missing/conflicting information.
Create project IDs, drafting schedules, revision numbers, and document directories.
Identify and vet locally licensed drafters, architects, or engineers with retail project experience for Construction Manager approval.
Confirm storefront renovation requirements and design direction with the Construction Manager and communicate these to the drafter.
Prepare internal layouts according to company store formats and construction standards, planning customer flow, aisles, category areas, shelving, displays, checkout, entrances, and back-of-house areas.
Define shelving and equipment types, dimensions, quantities, spacing, orientation, and placement.
Transfer approved layouts and site information to licensed local designers and coordinate design milestones.
Check architectural, MEP, fire, and life-safety permit drawings produced by local designers against confirmed business layouts and functional requirements.
Submit preliminary shelving layouts to Merchandising for confirmation of category zones, shelving counts, and display locations.
Revise layouts based on Merchandising feedback and maintain approval records.
Define locations and quantities of checkout counters, stockroom shelving, equipment, power/data points, and other operating needs.
Compile final internal layouts, shelving/equipment schedules, and functional requirements into a handoff package for Construction Manager review.
Release controlled design materials to licensed local designers for formal permit drawings and applications after manager approval.
Support the Construction Specialist in design coordination with local contractors, clarifying requirements and re-confirming changes.
Track landlord reviews, government submissions, plan review comments, and drawing revisions to coordinate permit applications.
Identify and coordinate permit-expediting resources to address approval delays.
Coordinate layout, code, and construction conflicts raised by local designers.
Capture lessons learned and improve standardized layout templates, shelving modules, and handoff packages.
Prepare shelving BOM/purchase lists from approved drawings.
Confirm standard models, packaging, lead times, quotations, transportation, and delivery requirements with designated suppliers in China.
Place formal shelving orders after Merchandising confirmation and Construction Manager approval.
Track shelving production in China, quality inspections, packaging, dispatch, shipping, and expected store delivery.
Provide the Construction Specialist with delivery schedules and receiving requirements.
Assist with receipt checks for quantities, specifications, colors, damage, and missing parts; document exceptions.
Drive resolution of supplier issues such as replacement parts, rework, exchanges, returns, or credits.
Control changes to designs, record reasons, dates, approvers, and applicability.
Ensure current versions of drawings are used by all parties and archive superseded versions.
Maintain libraries of standard shelving drawings, store layout templates, checkout/stockroom modules, BOM pricing, and supplier specifications.
Attend weekly construction meetings and report on drafting, approvals, production, shipping, and exceptions.