Project Lead - Architect

Chanel is a world leader in creating, manufacturing and distributing luxury products, including Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewelry and Watches. Founded by Gabrielle Chanel in 1910, the House remains dedicated to quality craftsmanship and offering high-end creations. At present, Chanel employs more than 32,000 people worldwide.

As an independent company, its core values are grounded in:

• Exceptional creation and client experience
• Nurturing human potential
• Having a positive impact – on people, the environment, and communities around the world.

As part of this, the House promotes arts, culture, and creativity, while investing significantly in key areas including research & development, sustainability, and innovation.

Project lead – Architect

Core of the Job

1. Participate in Design Development of Projects

• Creative Leadership
  Lead the conceptualization of design ideas to ensure they reflect the CHANEL’S aesthetic. Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to develop innovative design solutions for retail spaces and product packaging.
• Brand Consistency
  Ensure that designs meet functional requirements while maintaining the brand’s sophisticated and exclusive identity. Adapt concepts for different markets while keeping the CHANEL’s image intact.
• Design Execution
  Oversee the creation of initial sketches, renderings, and prototypes, ensuring the design vision is accurately translated into physical spaces and products.

2. Liaison with Regional Architects

• Coordination
  • Communication with Regional Architects & Customization: Maintain effective communication with regional architects to adapt designs to local preferences, regulations, and cultural nuances while preserving CHANEL’s global vision and standards.
  • Balancing Local Needs with Global Standards: Work with local teams to ensure design adjustments comply with regulations while aligning with CHANEL’s high standards, ensuring consistency in design across markets.

• Project Alignment
  • Timelines & Milestones: Collaborate with regional teams to set clear project timelines, ensuring deadlines are met across different markets.
  • Design Adjustments & Seamless Execution: Oversee design changes, ensuring compliance with local codes, and ensure smooth project execution across regions while aligning with overall objectives.

• Brand Integrity
  • Preserving CHANEL’s Aesthetic & Consistency: Provide guidance to ensure regional adaptations maintain CHANEL’s identity, preserving luxury, elegance, and timeless appeal across all locations.
  • Quality Control & Brand Integrity: Ensure modifications adhere to CHANEL’s commitment to high-quality materials, finishes, and design excellence, preserving the integrity of the brand globally.

3. Improvise Design Drawings as Per Local Regulations

• Compliance
  • Adapting to Local Regulations: Modify design drawings to comply with local building codes, zoning laws, and safety standards, ensuring all regional requirements are met without delay.
  • Preserving Aesthetic Integrity: Ensure that the necessary changes for compliance do not compromise CHANEL’s signature luxury, aesthetic, and brand appeal, preserving its unique identity.

• Seamless Adaptation
  • Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with legal, construction, and project teams to incorporate local regulations into the design process, ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintaining Design Vision: Ensure that any necessary modifications are in line with the original design intent, preserving the CHANEL's identity and ensuring that adaptations do not disrupt the aesthetic flow.

• Design Preservation
  • Respecting the Original Concept: Modify designs to accommodate local laws and regulations, while maintaining the integrity of the original design concept and CHANEL's luxurious vision.
  • Upholding CHANEL’s Standards: Ensure all adjustments adhere to CHANEL’s high standards of quality, craftsmanship, and elegance, safeguarding the brand’s timeless appeal.

4.Scale of Projects

• Diverse Project Scope As an Architect for CHANEL, you will be responsible for managing a wide range of projects, from smaller-scale spaces like gondolas (display units or showcases) and linear areas (narrow, customized store spaces) to large, stand-alone boutique locations.
• Local & Travel Retail Markets Your role will encompass both local market boutiques, which serve specific cities or regions, and Travel Retail (TR) stores, such as those found in airports and duty-free shops. You will ensure that all projects align with the CHANEL's high standards while catering to diverse market needs.

5. Evaluate/Validate Construction Drawings and Documents

• Accuracy
  Review construction drawings to ensure alignment with approved designs and technical specifications.
• Quality Control
  Validate integration of structural, electrical, and mechanical systems while ensuring high-quality standards.
• Risk Mitigation
  Work with the project team to ensure complete, accurate documentation to minimize errors and delays.

6. Evaluate Drawings for Millwork, Animation, Trade Podium for Production

• Design Review
  Assess millwork, animation, and trade podium designs to ensure they align with the CHANEL’s high standards.
• Production Feasibility
  Collaborate with production teams to ensure that designs are manufacturable within the set timeframes and budget.
• Quality Assurance
  Monitor production to ensure that design elements are executed to specification and meet the CHANEL’s standards.

7. Participate in Rolling Out and Evaluating Tender Processes

• Tender Preparation
  Lead the creation of tender documents, ensuring that they reflect project requirements and CHANEL’s standards.
• Vendor Selection
  Manage the bid evaluation process, ensuring contractors meet CHANEL’s expectations for craftsmanship and quality.
• Contract Oversight
  Collaborate with legal teams to ensure contracts align with the project scope and brand values.

8. Liaison with Vendors/Suppliers

• Material Sourcing
  Cultivate relationships with high-end vendors and suppliers to source premium materials that meet CHANEL’s standards.
• Timely Delivery
  Ensure that materials are delivered on time to meet project schedules while maintaining quality.
• Supply Chain Management
  Resolve any supply chain issues promptly, ensuring minimal impact on project timelines.

9. Liaison with Project Consultants

• Consultant Coordination
  Collaborate with external consultants (e.g., engineers, interior designers) to ensure alignment with design and technical requirements.
• Feedback Integration
  Incorporate consultant input into the design process, ensuring all aspects work together seamlessly.
• Deliverable Monitoring
  Monitor consultants’ work to ensure it adheres to the project timeline, scope, and quality standards.

• Design Proficiency
  • Expert Use of AutoCAD: Utilize AutoCAD software to create detailed and accurate architectural drawings, ensuring precise technical plans that align with both design intent and regulatory requirements.
  • Technical Accuracy and Detailing: Ensure all drawings are highly detailed, capturing every element of the design and offering clear technical specifications. This includes floor plans, elevations, and other critical documents that facilitate accurate construction and project execution.
• 3D Modeling

• Use SketchUp & ArchiCAD: Use SketchUp to develop 3D models and renderings to visualize design concepts, and incorporate ArchiCAD for enhanced 3D modeling, BIM integration, and precision in architectural designs.

  
  
• Presentation Tools

• Leverage Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop: Use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for creating visuals, mood boards, and presentations that align with the CHANEL’s identity.

  
  

• Sustainable Design Practices: As Project Lead Architect, you will integrate sustainability into store designs, including coordinating the LEED certification process for stand-alone boutique (SAB) projects.
• Collaboration with Consultants: Work with approved consultants to ensure projects meet LEED standards for energy efficiency and environmental impact, aligning with the brand’s commitment to eco-friendly design.

What you can bring to the team

• A degree in architecture from an accredited university is required.

• Certifications in project management (PMP) or specialized architectural fields are a plus.
• Proven experience working on high-end, luxury projects and experience in leading cross-functional teams, overseeing complex design and construction projects.
• familiarity with local building codes, zoning laws, and safety regulations. A portfolio that showcases experience with luxury retail environments, high-end product design, or similar architectural projects.
• Challenge-oriented, Empathy & Problem-solving Skills

• You are proactive, organized, rigorous with a good management of priorities.
• Team spirit
• Ease with Microsoft tools AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop tools.
• Fluency in English

Chanel is dedicated to creating the conditions for people to perform at their best, building on their strengths and enabling them to benefit from new opportunities. It offers a unique working environment where people are given time to understand the brand, and the business, and develop their personal motivations. This means everyone can grow, continue to be inspired, and feel included, now and in the future. The company fosters true collaboration and respect for all, grounded in the belief that diversity is essential to the success of the organization and its people.

Chanel remains committed to rewarding people competitively, as well as offering initiatives such as well-being programs, learning and development opportunities, and parental leave for all parents globally.