Director of Store Development

Director Of Store Development

Cozy Earth, recognized as the #299 fastest-growing company on the Inc. 5000 list, is at the forefront of home luxury and apparel. Our mission is to transform everyday comfort with our incredibly soft, temperature-regulating bedding, sleepwear, loungewear, and bath products. As the only brand to earn a spot on "Oprah's Favorite Things" for seven years in a row across five different categories, we pride ourselves on exceptional quality and innovation.

We're excited to expand our team with a Director Of Store Development who will play a pivotal role in bringing the Cozy Earth brand to life in the physical world. As we accelerate our retail expansion, this leader will own the end-to-end process of getting our stores built: beautifully, on time, and on budget. This role serves as the connective tissue between creative vision and real-world execution.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the full store development lifecycle including design, architecture, permitting, construction, remodels, refreshes and new store openings, ensuring each project is delivered on time and within budget.
• Establish and maintain brand standards for all physical retail locations, partnering closely with internal teams to ensure every store reflects the Cozy Earth brand and customer experience.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Retail, Finance, Creative, and external vendors to align on project scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Partner with the VP of Retail and external real estate partners on site surveys, due diligence, lease exhibits, and evaluating new store opportunities to support informed real estate decisions.
• Build scalable processes, project timelines, and vendor relationships to support rapid fleet growth and repeatable store execution.
• Develop and manage project budgets, identify value engineering opportunities, and track spend across all active projects.
• Own relationships with general contractors, architects, engineers, fixture vendors, and other development partners; negotiate contracts and hold vendors accountable to timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Manage procurement of fixtures, furniture, lighting, millwork, and finish packages, balancing quality, lead times and cost efficiencies.
• Review architectural drawings, construction documents, and fixture plans to ensure alignment with brand standards, operational requirements, ADA compliance, and local building codes.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently while overseeing capital improvements, remodels, and refresh initiatives for existing stores and other company properties.
• Partner with Retail Operations and Visual Merchandising to ensure successful store openings and seamless transition from construction to operations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all construction and development activity, providing regular project updates, risk assessments and budget reporting to senior leadership while cultivating strategic relationships with architects, general contractors, design consultants, fixture manufacturers, and other key partners to support scalable national expansion.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in retail store development, construction management, architecture or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Real Estate, Engineering, Interior Design, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Experience leading retail projects including new stores, remodels and refreshes from design through opening, ideally within a specialty, premium or lifestyle brand environment.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator with the ability to effectively partner with Retail, Finance, Creative, Operations and external vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, negotiate contracts, and hold external partners accountable to timelines, quality standards and deliverables.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; proficiency with project management and construction software platforms.
• Working knowledge of permitting processes, landlord coordination, local building codes, and ADA compliance requirements across multiple markets.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, high-growth environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present project updates, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and build scalable processes.
• Ability to travel to store sites as needed to support site selection, surveys, active construction and new store openings.
• Experience with luxury, premium, or lifestyle brands preferred.

Why Join Cozy Earth?

Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you healthy.

Future Planning: 401K plan to secure your financial future.

Work-Life Balance: Flexible PTO to ensure you have the time you need for rest and relaxation.

Wellness Perks: Monthly self-care benefit to support your overall well-being.

Exclusive Discounts: Access generous discounts on all our products.

Cozy Earth is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.