Job Description

The Design and Production Manager coordinates execution of the design engineering and physical production pipeline for Store Environment, translating design intent into fabrication-ready specifications and delivering finished environments across four regional shops. This role directly manages design engineers and guides the day-to-day priorities, timelines, and work of environmental designers to keep design projects aligned with production schedules. Formal people-management responsibilities for environmental designers (including performance reviews, compensation, career development, and creative direction) remain with the Senior Director. This role is accountable for keeping design and production execution moving day to day.

The ideal candidate brings strong production and project-coordination skills, can effectively direct design work in a matrixed structure, and has (or is developing) the technical depth to make sound engineering and fabrication decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead, coach, and formally manage design engineers, including performance management and career development.
• Guide day-to-day work assignments, priorities, and first-line feedback for environmental designers in partnership with the Senior Director, who retains formal reporting authority.
• Own production feasibility, engineering specifications, and fabrication readiness across design and production projects.
• Oversee production delivery across four regional shops, assigning office-based engineers to shop work as priorities require.
• Keep design projects on schedule and aligned with production timelines, escalating creative-direction conflicts to the Senior Director as needed.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for engineering constraints and material or fabrication decisions.
• Partner with the Regional Production Shop Manager, Senior Manager of Graphic Design & Signage, and Senior Manager of Beauty Design to align project timelines and shared resources.
• Own workflows, tools, and processes that support efficient engineering execution and design-project tracking.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers a variety of communication methods that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Has Courage: Steps up to address difficult issues by saying what needs to be said.
• Develops People: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Decision Quality: Makes sound and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Production & Fabrication Management — understands engineering feasibility, materials, and fabrication processes well enough to make or validate production decisions.
• Cross-Functional Coordination — sequences design and production work across multiple concurrent projects and stakeholders.
• Influence Without Full Authority — directs work through a matrixed structure and partners closely with the Senior Director on priorities and escalations.
• Multi-Site Resource Planning — partners with the Regional Production Shop Manager to allocate engineering resources across four regional shops as project priorities shift.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, design, project management, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of experience in production management, design engineering, or project management, ideally within retail environments or physical production.
• Demonstrated experience managing people and coordinating cross-functional design and production work.
• Strong project-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and sequence work across multiple concurrent projects and stakeholders.
• Comfort operating in a matrixed structure, including guiding day-to-day work for team members who do not formally report to this role.
• Working knowledge of fabrication methods, materials, and engineering feasibility considerations for retail environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to partner across design, production, and store operations teams.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities across four regional shops.
• Strong problem-solving skills to resolve engineering and production constraints under time pressure.
• Sound judgment to determine when to resolve issues directly and when to escalate to the Senior Director.

Pay Range Details

The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations. 
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We’ve got you covered…

Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

A few more important points...

The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.

For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.

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