Sephora Manager, Store Design
- Location
- San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Compensation
- $135,660–170,000/year
- Posted
- Jun 12, 2026
About Sephora
Sephora is a global prestige beauty leader, renowned for redefining the retail experience through creativity, inclusivity, and expert service. Founded in France and now part of LVMH, the company brings together an exceptional portfolio of beauty brands with a distinctive culture of discovery and innovation. As an employer, Sephora offers a dynamic, customer-centered environment where talent is encouraged to learn, experiment, and grow across retail, digital, merchandising, operations, and corporate functions. Its teams are united by a passion for beauty, entrepreneurship, and belonging, making Sephora a compelling workplace for professionals seeking impact within a fast-moving international brand.
Manager, Store Design at Sephora in San Francisco, CA. Lead retail design strategy with $135,660–$170,000 base salary.
Role & Responsibilities
- Coach, lead, and inspire a high-performing team of Store Designers, providing guidance through design challenges, layouts, and storefront design while fostering a culture of collaboration and growth
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Real Estate, Retail Operations, Merchandising, and Property Development throughout all stages of store design to ensure seamless project delivery
- Develop project scope of work, including review of codes, tenant criteria, merchandise requirements, and all relevant design elements to be incorporated into each project
- Oversee quality control in partnership with third-party architecture firms, ensuring all drawings meet Sephora's design standards, are accurate throughout the project lifecycle, and support on-schedule construction
- Lead design implementation from construction documentation through permitting, expertly communicating Sephora's brand point of view to external partners, landlords, and building officials
- Provide input and feedback on store design tools, including templates, design guidelines, ideal plans, feasibility studies, and high-level gut checks
- Navigate high-profile and complex projects, including special initiatives such as time studies and prototype/template standards development
- Drive process evolution by introducing best-in-class industry practices and leading new process development as needed
- Contribute fresh industry insights to continuously improve the delivery of on-brand, beautiful, functional, and cost-effective store designs
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture with related experience in Retail Architecture or Retail Design
- 7+ years of experience in Retail Architecture, Retail Design, or a related field
- 5+ years of direct people leadership and managing high-performing design teams
- High proficiency in AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Strong architectural design skills, including floor plans, interior elevations, storefront design, and construction documentation
- Exceptional project management skills with ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
- Budget management proficiency with ability to oversee project budgets while balancing cost, quality, and schedule
Skills
Experience
7+ years of experience in Retail Architecture, Retail Design, or a related field, combined with 5+ years of direct people leadership managing high-performing design teams.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Architecture with related experience in Retail Architecture or Retail Design.
Workplace
The role is situated in San Francisco, California, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 135,660 to USD 170,000 per annum.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability and life insurance fully covered; 401k with 4% match; FSA and HSA programs; Student Debt Retirement plan; PTO and flexible work arrangements; protected leave; access to training, development, and tuition reimbursement; 30% discount on merchandise and services; free mental health and financial coaching resources with 24/7 access; volunteer and donation matching.
Culture
Sephora fosters a dynamic, inclusive workplace where creativity, curiosity, and a passion for beauty are encouraged at every level. As an employer, it is distinguished by its focus on empowerment, continuous learning, and a collaborative retail culture that celebrates individuality and client-centric innovation.
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 Sephora, 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 «Retail Design Manager», «Store Design Lead», «Design Operations Manager», «Retail Architecture 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.