Store Designer - Burnaby, BC

Term: This is a contract role with a term of up to approximately 15-months.

Location: This hybrid role requires 3 days on-site at our Burnaby, BC office and 2 days remote per week.

Welcome to Specsavers – where we’re not just about eyecare and eyewear, but changing lives through better sight. Ranked the 5th Best Workplace™ in Canada and 12th globally by Great Place to Work®, we’re proud of our optometrist-owned model that makes high-quality, eyecare and eyewear accessible to all Canadians.

Founded 40 years ago in the UK by visionary husband and wife optometry duo Doug and Mary Perkins, Specsavers has remained privately owned since day one. Today, we are a $7.8 billion global business with over 45,000 colleagues across more than 2,700 retail optical locations.

In Canada, our support office is based in Burnaby, BC. Since entering the market in 2021, we’ve been scaling rapidly, now with over 270 locations nationwide. With advanced clinical equipment and a wide range of affordable, high-quality eyewear, we’re transforming the way Canadians experience eyecare.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a values-driven organization, join us as we continue to grow. Together, we can change lives through better sight.

What You’ll Do

The Store Designer – Canada is responsible for delivering functional, cost-effective, and operationally aligned store designs that support Specsavers’ growth strategy and business performance across the Canadian market.

Acting as the in-market design lead, the role translates global brand standards, operational models, and clinical requirements into locally informed, practical, and buildable store solutions that reflect the realities of the Canadian retail environment.

Working in close partnership with Business Development, Construction, Central Operations, and external partners and vendors, the role strengthens local design expertise, continuity, and knowledge retention. This enhances execution quality, reduces reliance on remote or external design resources, and mitigates operational and succession risk.

The role also represents Canada within relevant global forums, ensuring Canadian market requirements and insights are reflected in the ongoing evolution of the global store environment and design standards.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead end to end store design for new stores, refits, and relocations across Canada

- Develop layouts that optimise customer journey, operational efficiency, and clinical delivery

- Ensure all designs meet Specsavers brand standards while reflecting Canadian market, building, and trading conditions

- Minimise rework, waste, and unnecessary cost through practical, build ready design solutions

- Translate global store environment principles into locally appropriate Canadian solutions

- Provide real time, in market insight to Store Development and Construction teams during feasibility, design, and build phases

- Review and sign off architectural and design drawings prior to permit submission to reduce on site risk and cost escalation

- Develop bespoke design solutions where standard formats cannot be applied

- Act as the primary design expert for Canada, embedding local knowledge and best practice

- Maintain and evolve Canadian design and technical documentation to support consistent execution

- Support sustainable growth by reducing dependency on remote design resources and single points of failure

- Enable effective collaboration across Store Development, Operations, Clinical, and external partners

What We’re Looking For

- Approximately 5+ years’ experience in retail store design, layout planning or archtectural environments

- Strong experience working with architects, shopfitters, and construction teams

- Demonstrated capability using Revit or AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp w/Enscape, and rendering tools.

- Commercial mindset with a strong understanding of cost, efficiency, and operational impact

- Proven experience leading and managing high-profile, multiple, and different phases design projects

- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

- Willingness to travel within Canada and internationally as required

- Experience in healthcare, optical, or customer centric retail environments (desirable)

- Familiarity with Canadian building codes, permitting, or landlord requirements (desirable)

- Practical, solution oriented problem solver

- Highly organised with strong attention to detail

- Confident communicator who can influence and gain buy in

- Comfortable operating independently while collaborating cross functionally

- Resilient under pressure with the ability to deliver to deadlines

- Strong judgement and understanding of what good looks like

- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Smartsheets and other project management tools

Compensation: $110,000 - $130,000 base salary, plus quarterly bonus, profit sharing, and benefits. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience

Speccies’ Benefits

- 4 weeks of vacation and 1 paid volunteer day per year

- 1 extra paid day off plus an eyecare voucher to celebrate your birthday.

- Health and dental benefits, RRSP matching and a Healthcare Spending Account active from your first day.

- Mental health and wellbeing support, including $3,000 annually for practitioner care and access to our Employee Assistance Program.

- Quarterly bonuses, based on your performance.

- Annual Profit Share program to recognize your part in Specsavers’ success.

- Free parking, access to the building gym, and a fully stocked kitchen with snacks and coffee/tea.

- On‑site wellness offerings in-office, including RMT and yoga sessions.

- Team and company social events, including holiday and annual celebrations.

Behaviours We Value

- Collaborative : We work together as one Specsavers to deliver on our purpose

- Curious : We question, explore , and seek out diverse perspectives to develop our knowledge and understanding

- Courageous : We challenge the status quo, we experiment with good ideas, and we are brave, bold , and fast in our decision making

- Compassionate : We care, support , and help each other

- Commercial : We treat money wisely and make decisions that are good for our customers, our partners, our people and for the long term

We hope that in applying with us, you value these things as well!

Our Hybrid Work Model

Experience the best of both worlds. At Specsavers, we embrace a hybrid approach that balances in-office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. We come together in office three days a week to connect, innovate, and keep our culture thriving.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Specsavers, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work environment and enables us to achieve our goals. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you believe you can contribute to our mission and vision, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value the unique skills and perspectives each individual brings to our team.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting us at [email protected] . We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.

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