ABOUT THE ROLE

As Retail Optimisation Project Manager at SPCA, you’ll lead improvements across our national Op Shop network, combining project management, floor layout design and hands-on merchandising to increase sales and make better use of existing retail space. This is an opportunity to shape how our stores look, feel and perform while helping generate vital funds for animal welfare across Aotearoa.

You’ll bring experience delivering retail projects, designing effective store layouts and implementing changes on the shop floor. Your ability to gain store managers’ buy-in, introduce consistent merchandising processes and train teams to maintain them will be central to your success.

Role: Retail Optimisation Project Manager
Location: Auckland, with regular national travel across SPCA’s Op Shop network
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday–Sunday roster. Flexibility required, with working days varying depending on project requirements.

Based in Auckland, you’ll work closely with the Chief Retail Officer, Retail Regional Managers and store teams throughout New Zealand. Regular store visits will allow you to assess opportunities, lead practical improvements and coach teams to deliver a consistent approach to merchandising.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading store optimisation projects from initial assessment and floor layout design through to implementation and review.
Designing practical floor plans that improve category placement, fixture positioning, customer flow and sales per square metre.
Using sales and category data to identify underperforming space and prioritise improvements.
Developing project plans with clear scope, timelines, budgets, resource requirements and measures of success.
Personally carrying out store set-up and layout changes, including moving, assembling and installing fixtures and fittings, positioning stock and creating displays.
Coordinating procurement, suppliers and trades where specialist support is required.
Developing and rolling out consistent merchandising standards, processes and procedures across the national network.
Building store managers’ buy-in to shared ways of working, addressing concerns and reinforcing agreed expectations alongside Retail Regional Managers.
Training and coaching store managers and teams to apply merchandising principles, interpret performance and maintain improvements.
Creating straightforward floor plans, visual guides, checklists and routines that staff and volunteers can follow.
Measuring results after implementation, refining layouts and sharing successful approaches across stores.

You’ll deliver at least one store optimisation project each month, alongside a minimum of 10 days per month providing in-store optimisation and visual merchandising support. National travel and regular physical involvement in store implementation are key requirements of the role.

ABOUT YOU

You bring a combination of retail project management, floor layout design and practical merchandising experience. You’ve taken responsibility for planning and delivering store improvements, including personally completing the on-floor work.

Your background may include retail optimisation, store design, store development or merchandising project management across multiple locations.

You'll have:

Proven retail project management experience, with ownership of scope, timelines, budgets, resources and delivery across competing priorities.
Demonstrated floor layout design experience, including developing floor plans and determining how categories, fixtures and circulation space should be arranged.
Direct, hands-on experience setting up fixtures and fittings, including personally moving, assembling and installing them during store relays or fit-outs.
Strong visual merchandising skills and an understanding of how presentation, category placement and customer flow influence sales.
The ability to interpret sales data, translate findings into layout changes and measure commercial results.
Experience introducing merchandising standards and consistent processes across multiple stores.
Experience training and coaching retail teams to understand and maintain agreed standards.
Resourcefulness and sound commercial judgement, including reusing fixtures and delivering improvements within limited budgets.
Confidence using Microsoft 365, including Excel, and a full New Zealand driver’s licence.

You’ll be comfortable taking ownership nationally while working alongside teams in individual stores. You’ll value their local knowledge and help them apply shared retail principles within different spaces and an ever-changing range of donated stock.

SPCA PURRRKS

To support you in your role and beyond, we offer:

Company car, petrol card and laptop.
Paid birthday leave, because your special day deserves to be yours!
Exclusive employee discounts and benefits, including annual flu vaccinations and retail offers.
Access to 24/7 confidential wellness support.
Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
The opportunity to contribute to a collaborative, purpose-driven organisation working towards better outcomes for animals.

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re an experienced retail project professional who wants to use your skills to make a meaningful difference for animals and communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Click Apply Now to submit your application, where you can complete a few screening questions and upload your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant retail project experience and interest in the role.

To find out more about the role, click here to view the position description.

We value diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All candidates must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.