Retail Development Project Manager

Job Summary

The Retail Development Project Manager leads NAPA retail implementation projects, including remodels, relocations, building expansions, new construction, and market optimization initiatives. As part of the Retail Implementation team, this role manages project scope, schedules, budgets, and cross-functional coordination to deliver store projects on time and within approved budgets. The Project Manager organizes set-up teams, directs the workflow of set-up coordinators, and oversees compliance with NAPA’s safety program during store set-up.

Responsibilities

• Define and document project scope, objectives, deliverables, and acceptance criteria with key stakeholders. Manage changes to scope, schedule, and cost by evaluating impacts, recommending trade-offs, and securing required approvals and change orders before implementing changes.
• Review store plans with the Store Planning department to verify fixture placement and confirm that business services and equipment, including commercial counters, hydraulic hoses, paint rooms, clutch grinders, brake lathes, and exhaust products, are accounted for in the drawings.
• Lead multi-store implementation, remodel, relocation, and market optimization programs concurrently, driving projects from planning and procurement through construction, execution, and final turnover.
• Oversee procurement of materials, equipment, and services required for project implementation, including material handling equipment, waste removal, fixtures, graphics, labor, paint, signage, window tinting, parking lot repairs, wiring, and electrical work.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Operations, Construction, Real Estate, IT, Merchandising, Supply Chain, procurement, field teams, and external vendors.
• Develop and manage integrated project schedules, statements of work, milestones, estimates, budgets, and communication plans. Track actual and committed costs against approved budgets, apply cost controls, forecast costs at completion, manage project risks, and implement corrective actions to address cost or schedule variances.
• Take ownership of the work performed in stores and be financially accountable for it, including reviewing contractor and vendor quotes, invoices, and change orders, verifying that work is completed as scoped before payment is approved, and ensuring in-store spending stays within approved budgets.
• Manage dependencies and resource needs across multiple concurrent projects and locations. Manage multiple contractors, vendors, and third-party logistics (3PL) partners across different geographic markets, align them to critical milestones, and escalate competing priorities that require leadership decisions.
• Monitor construction activities and conduct site visits and field audits to verify progress, site readiness, execution quality, safety compliance, and punch-list completion. Resolve site-specific challenges while maintaining consistency across the broader portfolio of projects.
• Maintain timely project updates in the project management portal and provide leadership and key stakeholders with status reports covering milestone performance, risks, and issues. Recommend recovery actions and trade-offs, escalate decisions requiring leadership approval, and track agreed actions through resolution.
• Identify opportunities to improve project processes, execution efficiency, and store launch readiness.
• Coordinate store operations, fixtures, equipment, and deliveries, including working with distribution center management to schedule delivery of sales area and stockroom merchandise in alignment with project milestones and site readiness.
• Oversee safety for all on-site workers during the set-up phase. Ensure workers are properly trained in safe work practices, including lifting techniques, ladder safety, and extension cord use.
• Complete project closeout documentation, including end-of-job reports and as-built plans, and confirm completion of the final walk-through.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field preferred.
• 7-10+ years of overall project management experience, with 3-5 years of direct experience in retail construction, remodels, store implementation, or facilities projects.
• 7+ years managing multiple projects or locations simultaneously in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing contractors, vendors, and third-party logistics (3PL) partners.
• Experience with project budgets, cost controls, estimates, change orders, schedules, and risk management.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills, including the ability to coordinate field teams, store operations, procurement, construction, and corporate stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools.
• Ability to travel up to 75% as required to support project execution and store openings.
• Previous retail experience with store set-up, planograms, store fixtures, or construction projects preferred.
• Working knowledge of safety requirements preferred.
• Ability to prioritize competing deadlines, manage time effectively, and develop creative solutions to project challenges.

Physical Demands / Working Environment

• Work is performed in a store environment and may involve exposure to noise, dust, fumes, or temperature changes.
• Work in stores requires being on your feet for most of the day.

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About Us

Since 1928, GPC has set the standards for performance and value for our customers and our stakeholders. Today, we’re proud to say we’re the largest global auto parts network and a leading industrial parts distributor, one that offers rewarding careers that combine small company feel with a global scale. Our strengths are in the relationships we build and the value we deliver by merging local expertise with a global force.