Store Development Manager Jobs in Newark, NY (NOW HIRING)

Company Overview: MacKenzie-Childs is a leading home furnishings retail company known for its unique design, high-quality products and exceptional customer service. We specialize in offering a wide range of kitchen, entertaining, decor and furniture items that cater to various styles and preferences, ensuring our customers find exactly what they need to make their homes joyful and stylish.

Position Summary:

MacKenzie-Childs is seeking an experienced Freelance Project Manager to lead the execution of a high-profile branded environment initiative from concept through completion. This individual will serve as the central project management lead, driving schedules, coordinating crossfunctional teams, managing external partners, and ensuring the successful delivery of a complex, design-driven project. The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, and experienced managing multiple workstreams simultaneously. They excel at bringing together creative, operational, and technical teams while maintaining project momentum, identifying risks early, and ensuring all deliverables are completed on schedule and within budget. This role requires a strategic project leader who is comfortable driving accountability across stakeholders, and overseeing every phase of project execution.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: (Additional duties may be assigned)

Project Leadership & Governance

• Lead all phases of the project from concept approval through final installation and postlaunch review.
• Develop and maintain the master project schedule, including milestones, dependencies, critical paths, and key deliverables.
• Establish project governance, meeting cadence, communication plans, and reporting structures.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional project meetings and ensure timely follow-up on action items
• Prepare status reports highlighting progress, risks, budget impacts, and upcoming milestones
• Proactively identify schedule risks, resource constraints, and execution challenges while developing mitigation strategies.
• Drive accountability across internal teams, consultants, vendors, and external partners.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the primary project management lead coordinating activities across multiple business functions, including: Visual Merchandising / Store Development, Creative Marketing, Product Development, Retail Operations, Finance, External consultants and fabrication partners
• Ensure all project dependencies are clearly identified, communicated, and actively managed throughout the project lifecycle.

Budget & Vendor Management

• Track project budgets, commitments, purchase orders, and forecasted expenditures.
• Coordinate vendor selection, bid reviews, production schedules, and contractual deliverables.
• Manage relationships with fabricators, manufacturers, installers, consultants, and service providers.
• Monitor project expenditures and escalate budget variances or schedule impacts as needed.
• Maintain detailed project documentation, contracts, change orders, and financial tracking.

Design & Construction Coordination

• Coordinate design development milestones and stakeholder review sessions. Manage project documentation including drawings, floor plans, specifications, and production packages.
• Ensure timely approvals throughout design, fabrication, and installation phases.
• Coordinate production schedules with fabrication partners and installation teams.
• Support permitting, compliance, and site readiness activities as required.
• Oversee installation sequencing and punch-list completion to ensure project quality standards are achieved.

Procurement & Production Management

• Coordinate procurement schedules for fixtures, furniture, graphics, finishes, and custom production elements.
• Track manufacturing timelines and shipping schedules.
• Manage production reviews and quality control throughout fabrication.
• Ensure all project components arrive on schedule and are installation-ready.

Communication & Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive project documentation and meeting notes.
• Develop weekly project status reports for executive leadership.
• Monitor project health through schedule tracking, issue logs, and risk registers.
• Provide clear communication across all stakeholders to ensure alignment and timely decision-making.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Education and Experience:

• 7+ years of project management experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven experience managing projects involving design, fabrication, construction, or branded environments.

Special Requirements:

• No travel requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of project scheduling methodologies, critical path management, budgeting, and resource planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple vendors and consultants simultaneously.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.
• Ability to anticipate risks, solve problems proactively, and adapt to evolving project requirements.
• Proficiency with project management software (Monday.com, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Equipment Used:

• Computer, telephone, printer, photocopier, and scanner.
• Computer Software: NetSuite or other ERP; Microsoft Office 365: Outlook, Word, and Excel. Adobe Acrobat, Figma
•  Project Management System: Monday.com

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Ability to perform work on a computer for extended periods, including frequent use of a keyboard, mouse, and video conferencing platforms.
• Ability to communicate effectively through written, verbal, and virtual communication methods.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain attention to detail and accuracy while handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems, and exercise sound judgment independently.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, remote environment.
• Ability to remain seated or stand in a stationary position for prolonged periods, with the ability to move about as needed during the workday.
• Ability to lift or move up to 10 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies or equipment), if applicable.

Environmental Conditions:

• Work is performed primarily in a remote home office or other approved remote workspace.
• Requires a reliable high-speed internet connection and a workspace that supports productivity, confidentiality, and virtual collaboration.
•  Frequent use of computers, monitors, telephones, and other standard office equipment.
• Regular participation in virtual meetings using video conferencing technology.
• Minimal exposure to environmental hazards; typical home or office environment.
• May require occasional flexibility in work hours to accommodate meetings across time zones, if applicable.

Salary Range: $65/hr

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401K Retirement Savings + Company Match
• Paid Vacation, PTO and Holidays
• Company sponsored life insurance and LTD
• Health Savings Account + Company Match
• Generous Employee Discount
• Verizon Discount
• Referral Bonus Program
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement

MacKenzie-Childs is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.