Alaïa Retail Architect & Store Planning Project Manager
- Location
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Apr 22, 2026
About Alaïa
Alaia is an independent Paris-based fashion maison renowned for sculptural couture, meticulous craftsmanship and refined boutique environments. The brand maintains a close collaboration between creative ateliers and technical teams to deliver highly crafted garments and distinctive retail spaces that reflect its artisanal DNA.
Alaia — Retail Architect & Store Planning Project Manager in Paris. Lead boutique architecture, technical documentation and store rollouts for the Maison.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end architectural and store planning projects for flagship stores and retail rollouts, ensuring alignment with brand identity and commercial objectives.
- Produce and approve technical design documentation: concept sketches, schematic and detailed drawings, construction documents, schedules, and specifications.
- Manage tender processes, select and coordinate external consultants, contractors and FF&E suppliers, and negotiate contracts to meet quality, budget and timeline targets.
- Establish and control project budgets, monitor cost-to-complete and implement value-engineering while preserving design intent.
- Develop detailed site surveys, feasibility studies and spatial programming, and advise on store adjacencies, circulation and merchandising zones.
- Oversee construction sites and fit-outs: coordinate site meetings, quality control, technical problem solving and final commissioning.
- Ensure compliance with local building codes, accessibility and safety regulations, and obtain necessary permits and approvals.
- Interface with retail operations, visual merchandising, procurement and store development teams to guarantee operational readiness and seamless handover.
Qualifications
- Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture or equivalent technical qualification; professional accreditation preferred.
- Proven record of managing retail architecture or fit-out projects from concept through completion for luxury brands.
- Strong project and budget management capabilities with evidence of delivering on-time and within budget.
- Thorough knowledge of construction methods, materials and building regulations applicable to Paris and international markets.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills for managing multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
Skills
Experience
Typically requires 5+ years of progressive experience in retail architecture, store planning or construction project management, ideally within luxury fashion or premium retail rollouts and with experience in international flagship projects.
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or equivalent professional qualification.
Workplace
This position is based in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Culture
Alaia cultivates an atelier-like environment that values precision, discretion and artistic integrity. Teams operate collaboratively across creative and technical disciplines, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and excellence in every customer-facing detail.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Alaïa, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Store Planning Project Manager», «Retail Design Project Manager», «Retail Store Architect», «Store Development Manager», «Retail Rollout Project Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.