Store Construction Specialist in Lancy

Reports to: Principal Real Estate Specialist

Permanent contract

EMEA HQ, Geneva, Switzerland

Hybrid mode (2 days/week home-office)

Start date: at the earliest convenience

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia Sportswear, we're as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we're proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE POSITION

To support the growth of our retail network across Europe, we are strengthening our Store Construction team at our EMEA headquarters in Geneva.

As Project Manager Store Construction, you will lead the construction, opening and refit projects for all our retail spaces: outlets, shop-in-shops, branded stores, partner stores (owned and operated by a partner), showrooms and more. You will work across both retail and wholesale business models, even though the role reports into Retail.

This is a Europe-wide role, with around 35 projects per year in different countries. That means many store openings, regular travel and a fast pace. You will work closely with our architects, external partners, mall and outlet center owners, and internal teams (Retail, Marketing, Finance).

Your mission: make sure every project is delivered on time, on budget and in line with Columbia's retail concept and standards. You will also help fine-tune our ways of working, so the team can manage its time and workload as efficiently as possible.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

• Lead projects from A to Z, from data collection (plans, photos, brief) to final handover
• Manage several projects in parallel across different countries, while keeping the big picture
• Work closely with architects to design the spaces, adjust plans in AutoCAD and make sure our partners comply with Columbia guidelines
• Request, validate and negotiate quotes to secure the best conditions with suppliers
• Track construction sites and costs rigorously, and protect opening deadlines
• Travel regularly to visit sites, meet local stakeholders and secure smooth execution
• Contribute to our key objectives: budget per m², consistency of the retail concept, and on-time delivery
• Help improve our processes so the team can work more efficiently and make the best use of its time

YOU ARE

• Experienced and autonomous, able to take ownership of complex projects and keep communication smooth with all stakeholders
• Very well organized, able to manage your own time and prioritize according to deadlines and business stakes
• A decision-maker who stays calm and makes the right call under pressure, when timelines are tight
• Comfortable juggling multiple projects and tasks at the same time without losing sight of the overall picture
• A strong communicator who adapts to different audiences: internal Retail, Finance and Marketing teams, architects, suppliers, clients, and landlords or outlet center teams
• Solution-oriented, flexible and reactive when the unexpected happens
• Ready for an intense, high-volume environment with frequent travel

YOU HAVE

• Proven experience in managing construction projects, store openings or store refits, in a multi-country scope
• Solid track record in delivering projects within deadlines, budgets and brand standards
• Excellent time and budget management skills
• Fluent English, spoken and written (mandatory, as English is our working language)
• Very good command of AutoCAD, to read and adjust technical plans accurately
• Ease with cost follow-up and budget analysis in Excel, and with collaborative tools (SharePoint, Smartsheet…)
• The ability to understand and check the technical information in construction and fit-out contracts
• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe

PERKS & BENEFITS

• Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products
• Soft mobility policy (Geneva office only)
• Health insurance allowance for employees in Switzerland
• Pilates and yoga classes on our premises, and running groups or sports activities
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning
• A monthly Learning Hour for training, discovery and learning
• Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights®…)
• DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

ABOUT THE CULTURE

• At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.
• Our "Always Be Learning" culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
• "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.

To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle:

ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS

2 If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to talk about yourself, your motivations and the role

3 Online interview with the hiring manager

4 In-person interview with the hiring manager at our Geneva headquarters, including a case study

5 Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are thrilled to extend you an offer!

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