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Director Store Design Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Store Planner

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$110K/yr

The Store Planner is responsible for overall store design, including architectural and fixture ... Provide direct customer service to retailers as needed. Return phone calls and emails promptly ...

The Store Planner is responsible for overall store design, including architectural and fixture ... Provide direct customer service to retailers as needed. Return phone calls and emails promptly ...

The Store Planner is responsible for overall store design, including architectural and fixture ... Provide direct customer service to retailers as needed. Return phone calls and emails promptly ...

Develop schedules for direct Store Associates and Store Warehouse Personnel. Maintain inventory ... Design: put together various styles, colors, and textures Basic mathematical and computer skills ...

... · Develop schedules for direct Store Associates and Store Warehouse Personnel. · Maintain ... organized · Sense of Design: put together various styles, colors, and textures · Basic ...

... schedules for direct Store Associates and Store Warehouse Personnel. • Maintain inventory ... Design: put together various styles, colors, and textures • Basic mathematical and computer ...

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DESIGN ENGINEER, Metals Itasca, IL (onsite) Direct Hire, Pay: $70-$95K Plus annual bonus Benefits ... store display / fixture industry. * Familiarity with sheet metal, metal fabrication, aluminum ...

New

Art Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

... design program trains students in design, marketing & sales while The NIL Store (Name, Image ... Campus Ink is seeking a skilled and hands-on Art Director to execute and oversee artwork production ...

Perform product demonstrations and design kitchen layouts using 2020 CAD software * Oversee product ... direct sales management experience preferred * Strong skills in inventory control, retail ...

Art Director

Chicago, IL

$124K - $130K/yr

... design program trains students in design, marketing & sales while The NIL Store (Name, Image ... Campus Ink is seeking a skilled and hands-on Art Director to execute and oversee artwork production ...

Art Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

... design program trains students in design, marketing & sales while The NIL Store (Name, Image ... Campus Ink is seeking a skilled and hands-on Art Director to execute and oversee artwork production ...

Art Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

... content, design, experiences, and digital innovation across every consumer touchpoint-in-store ... Art direct highly conceptual campaigns and experiences across print, digital, social, experiential ...

Graphic Design/Creative Internship

Chicago, IL

$15.50 - $20.50/hr

In-store seasonal campaigns and comprehensive packaging programs for seasonal product and franchise ... Initiate concepts and work independently and/or with Design Director & Copywriters * Perform other ...

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Showing results 1-20

Director Store Design information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$27.3K

$84.6K

$118.5K

How much do director store design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director store design in Chicago, IL is $84,604.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,800.00 and $101,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director store design, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Store Design, you need expertise in retail design, project management, and a relevant degree such as architecture, interior design, or a related field. Familiarity with design software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as knowledge of building codes and LEED certification, is typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help drive innovation and manage cross-functional teams. These abilities ensure functional, brand-aligned retail spaces that enhance customer experience and business performance.

How does a director store design typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a store rollout project?

A Director of Store Design works closely with multiple departments, including merchandising, operations, visual merchandising, and construction, to ensure that new store concepts align with brand standards and business objectives. They coordinate regular meetings to gather input, address challenges, and integrate feedback from various stakeholders. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as the role often involves balancing creative vision with practical constraints like timelines and budgets. This collaborative approach ensures that store environments are both visually compelling and operationally efficient.
What are the most commonly searched types of Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL? For Director Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Director Store Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Director Store Design jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Director Store Design job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Store Design job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 32% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,604 per year, or $40.7 per hour.

$110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Ace Hardware Corporation rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 1,474 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

36th of 51 rated home improvement retailers


Job description

About This Role

The Store Planner will be responsible for leveraging data-driven analytics to consult retailers and project management teams on developing store plans that deliver maximum productivity. The Store Planner is responsible for overall store design, including architectural and fixture layouts, merchandise planning (category space allocation and category placement), lighting placement and electrical needs, and execution of signage/decor and location code plans for new stores and store projects (remodels, relocations, expansions, and consolidations). Additionally, the Store Planner will ensure execution of Ace best practices related to department and category placement (including aisle side placement and adjacencies) while incorporating market intelligence and local needs to execute optimal, consumer-centric store layouts. Store Planner will also be responsible for developing store front elevations using Photoshop to produce concept and comprehensive store elevations for our retailers and prospective retailers.

Improving the store model is pillar of Ace's long-term retail strategy and developing the most productive and consumer-centric store layouts for our retailers is a key element of this pillar.

  • Scope: Store planner will have ownership over any store planning and design needs for new stores, remodels or conversions.

  • Leadership/Mentorship: Store planners are responsible for mentoring junior team members and leading through special projects as defined by Dept Manager.

What You'll Do:

  • Maximize retailer sales and profitability for Ace Retailers by building highly productive, consumer-relevant store plans that align with defined category strategies and best practices for layout and design. Independently manage all aspects of store plan recommendations, from analytics to consultation, execution and maintenance.

  • Consistently execute store planning/design and merchandising principles, namely department and category placement, aisle leadoffs, and adjacencies to drive retail performance. Identify shopper behavior and market changes that challenge or suggest modifications to store planning best practices and recommend to leadership to continue to drive improvement of store planning strategies and execution.

  • Provide consultation and insights to Project Manager and Retailer to develop store plan strategy, ensure sales/sf and gp/sf improvement and gain alignment to recommendations.

  • Leverage JDA Floor Planning and CKB to consistently to uphold high Floor Plan integrity and accuracy of floor plans. Lead discussions and influence cross-functional teams to accept recommendations.

  • Quickly become an expert or super-user in Ace Best Practices and JDA applications, acting as a mentor and trainer for new and less tenured team members.

  • Take leadership role in collaboration with multiple departments (e.g. Category Management, Visual Merchandising, Space Planning, Field Operations) ensure that programs that are new or involving footage changes and/or fixture changes or are "retail ready," aligned with overall best practices and communicated fully to field team.

  • Lead remodel, departmental and new store plan planning sessions cross-functionally by helping to identify key opportunities across the store with additional focus on providing macro space analysis and store design expertise that can help shape further evolution of our store model.

  • Proactively monitor category KPI's to track performance of completed remodels, track trends and identify opportunities make changes to adjacencies, space recommendations and category placement. Independently act on results and influence cross-functional and interdepartmental teams with recommendations.

  • Provide direct customer service to retailers as needed. Return phone calls and emails promptly exhibiting the willingness and expertise to answer questions and resolve issues as presented.

  • Identify and execute (with management support) potential special projects that will add value to the department or company.

What You Need To Succeed:

  • Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 3 years of experience in architectural design and retail merchandise planning

  • Demonstrated understanding of interior retail/fixture design, electrical & lighting configuration, ADA requirements, building codes, & exterior design

  • Demonstrated understanding of retail industry trends, consumer purchase behavior, and basic merchandising techniques

  • Demonstrated innovative and forward-thinking enhancements to the design process

  • Desire to lead and progress a team to drive efficiency and minimize lead time in projects

  • Quality focused and detail-oriented

  • Creative and inspiring design strength

  • Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines

  • Experience managing and coordinating with external consultants, including architectural, interior and others.

  • Ability to connect cross-functionally and influence others

  • Strong written/verbal communication skills with an aptitude for influencing and selling

  • Ability to work and think independently

#LI-JK1

Compensation Details:

$88400 - $110700 per year

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

  • Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)

  • Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation

  • Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability - up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents

  • 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire

  • Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions

  • Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It's a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities - and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation

  • Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review

  • We know the work environment matters. That's why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales

  • We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!

  • Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more

  • Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off

  • Adoption cost reimbursement

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events

  • Identity theft protection

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.

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We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

Disclaimer

The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.

Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.

This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.


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About Ace Hardware

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Ace Hardware is a renowned company in the retail sector, headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, US. Dating back to its foundation in 1924 by a group of businessmen, the company has grown from a single store in Chicago to a global hardware cooperative consisting of more than 5,000 stores in over 60 countries. It operates in the home improvement sector and specializes in hardware, home goods, local niche services, and select specialty retailers. As prevalent in its motto "The Helpful Place", Ace Hardware's mission is to provide customers with high-quality hardware products while delivering exemplary customer service.

Industry

Retail, hardware, plumbing and hvac wholesalers and construction materials wholesalers

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Oak Brook, IL, US