Retail Store Development Project Lead (Atlanta, GA)

Our Customer is an American multinational beverage corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Their many interests include the manufacturing, retailing, and marketing of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. They are passionate about beverages around the world, with around 200 brands and 700,000+ employees across the company and bottling partners. They take deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in their company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. They believe their culture is one of the reasons their company continues to thrive after 130+ years.

We are looking for a Retail Store Development Project Lead on a contract basis to help support our Customer's business needs. This role is onsite in Atlanta, GA.

This role is responsible for leading the project management of the design construction and opening of new store concepts. The role will oversee the operations of the concept once opened. The role works as part of the Licensing & Retail (L&R) team in collaboration with the brand teams and the design and operating agency.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and directional guidance on any active engagements and key deliverables, lead proposal efforts, conduct major briefings, and manage the overall client relationship through frequent, direct client engagement.
• Direct the completion of project-specific tasks within estimated time frames and budget constraints.
• Reviews work products for completeness and adherence to applicable regulations and customer requirements.
• Serve as project manager for the proof-of-concept experiential store.
• With L&R functional leaders and local OU team leaders (strategy merchandising design PACS SRA technical and brand marketing) lead the overall project workstream planning and detailed timeline. Direct workstream leads and lean in to workstream project plan to develop strategy and action items when needed.
• Develop and monitor the project budget and ongoing P&L in conjunction with Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and finance team.
• Lead relationship with agency that manages design construction consumer experience flow instore visual merchandising supply chain and ongoing operations of the store.
• Responsible for developing with local Marketing PACS Legal and IMCR teams the marketing activations plan end to end consumer experience PR and all eventualities documented plan.
• With agency lead the logistics of merchandise sourcing of F&B suppliers onboarding of labor and the opening and continuing operations of the store.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including local OU bottler merchandising marketing IT and operating agency to open stores and continually enhance the in-store consumer experience.
• Continually review and analyze store layout sales reports and traffic patterns to optimize sales.
• In conjunction with agency and local brand team lead the store opening events the ongoing activation of marketing events and experiential activations.
• Lead weekly project meetings and store result meetings including the development of a store analysis package to leadership.
• With local agency continually analyze and improve the beverage bar experience and troubleshoot operational challenges.
• Keep abreast of market trends and competitor offerings to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Ensure agency is complying with all local state and federal laws and regulations.

Skills and Qualifications:

• BS/BA required; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years Experience: Leading complex projects across global regions, retail store development and operations , agency management, retail metrics and P&L planning, merchandise experience, F&B experience, and Global brand retail concepting
• Experience using insights from consumer data industry trend and qualitative and quantitative research to drive results.-
• Capability to manage medium or large multi-task projects of high complexity.
• Strong problem-solving skills including general analytical capabilities understanding of retail store development and operations supply chain requirements business modeling and operational requirements.
• Solid knowledge of product retail metrics P&L responsibility and retail store operations; food and beverage strongly preferred.
• Experience with global brand activations and international store development
• Cross functional collaborative team leadership
• Excellent project management capabilities with large complex and global projects
• Good collaboration and relationship-building skills
• Effective communication skills (written oral and presentation) with cross functional partners agencies and executive leadership
• High-level of flexibility and ability to self-manage including tolerance for last minute changes.
• Ability to thrive in a team environment.
• High attention to accuracy and detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Successful performance record

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.