Senior Project Manager – Retail Projects (Client-Side)

POP MART (09992.HK), founded in 2010, is a leading global company in the trend culture and entertainment industry. Centered around IP, POP MART has built a comprehensive platform for creative incubation and IP operation, empowering global creators while delivering exciting products, services, and immersive entertainment experiences to consumers.

POP MART identifies and nurtures emerging artists and designers worldwide, creating popular character IPs through a well-established IP development and operation system. Its portfolio includes iconic IPs such as MOLLY, SKULLPANDA, DIMOO, THE MONSTERS, and Hirono. By launching art toys and derivative products based on these IPs, POP MART continues to lead trends in consumer culture. POP MART operates over 500 physical stores and more than 2,300 Robo Shops across 30+ countries and regions. Through multiple cross-border e-commerce platforms, the company has reached audiences in over 90 countries and regions, bringing joy to young consumers around the world.

POP MART has built a comprehensive IP commercialization ecosystem that spans multiple industries, deepening emotional bonds between fans and IPs while exploring broader opportunities for value realization. In September 2023, POP MART opened POP LAND in Beijing Chaoyang Park — the first immersive IP-themed park in the art toy industry. The company has also expanded the global reach of its IPs through licensing, co-branding with well-known brands, and organizing art toy expos and IP-themed exhibitions in various international markets. To further enrich its IP content and narrative, POP MART is actively developing original animation projects, enhancing both the depth and reach of its creative universe.

For more information, please visit and our LinkedIn Career page.

Job Overview

Location: Canary Wharf, London

Job type: Full time Permanent

Sector: High-End Retail / Retail Fit-Out & Construction

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to join our client-side project team in London. The role will take senior responsibility for the planning, design, procurement, construction, fit-out and successful delivery of high-quality retail projects from initial feasibility and concept through to handover and store opening.

In addition to directly managing key projects, the Senior Project Manager will provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to Project Managers and other project team members, coordinate external consultants, contractors and vendors, and support the Head of Construction in establishing effective project delivery, procurement and cost strategies.

Acting as a senior client representative, the role will work closely with internal stakeholders, international HQ teams, landlords, consultants, contractors, suppliers and procurement resources to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to the required standards of design, quality, programme, cost and operational readiness.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical and project delivery capability with commercial judgement, leadership skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, team members and external partners in a fast-paced international retail environment.

What You Will Achieve

Lead the delivery of multiple retail construction and fit-out projects from feasibility and concept design through tender, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover and store opening.

Take direct responsibility for key, high-value or technically complex projects while providing oversight and support across other projects managed by the team.

Establish project execution strategies, programmes, budgets, procurement plans, governance requirements and key milestones.

Ensure projects are appropriately resourced and responsibilities are clearly allocated across internal teams, consultants, contractors and vendors.

Review project progress across the portfolio and identify emerging programme, cost, quality, procurement and technical risks.

Lead key project, design, commercial and construction meetings and ensure decisions and actions are implemented effectively.

Provide clear and concise project reporting to the Head of Construction and other senior stakeholders.

Manage, coordinate and support a small team of Project Managers, project coordinators and/or other construction team members.

Allocate projects and responsibilities based on workload, project complexity and team capability.

Provide day-to-day guidance, technical support and escalation management to team members.

Review project plans, budgets, programmes, procurement activities and key deliverables prepared by the team.

Establish consistent project management standards, reporting procedures, documentation and governance across projects.

Support the professional development of team members through coaching, knowledge sharing and regular performance feedback.

Foster a collaborative, accountable and solution-oriented working culture across the internal team and external project partners.

Design & Technical Management

Oversee the development and coordination of architectural, interior, structural, MEP and specialist design packages.

Review and challenge drawings, specifications, samples, mock-ups and technical submissions to ensure compliance with approved design intent, client standards and project requirements.

Ensure effective coordination between architectural works, MEP services, bespoke furniture, joinery, lighting, AV, security, signage and specialist systems.

Ensure buildability, maintenance, operational requirements, cost efficiency and programme implications are considered throughout the design process.

Lead resolution of significant design and technical issues and coordinate appropriate solutions between consultants, contractors and vendors.

Manage design changes and ensure cost, programme, procurement and operational implications are understood before approval.

Construction, Quality & Handover

Represent the client during construction and fit-out and provide senior oversight of site delivery.

Regularly inspect projects to monitor progress, workmanship, quality and compliance with approved drawings, specifications and agreed standards.

Challenge contractors and suppliers where quality, tolerances, workmanship or installation standards do not meet project requirements.

Lead the resolution and escalation of significant site, technical and delivery issues.

Oversee testing, commissioning, snagging, defects management and project close-out.

Ensure handover documentation, statutory approvals, O&M information, warranties and compliance records are complete before final acceptance.

Coordinate with FM, Operations and other internal stakeholders to ensure a structured transition from construction completion to operational store opening.

Work with the Head of Construction and commercial/procurement resources to develop and implement project and portfolio-level cost strategies.

Establish, review and control project budgets from feasibility through final account.

Develop appropriate cost benchmarks using historical project data, market information and completed-project learnings.

Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and value engineering while protecting design intent, quality, operational performance and programme.

Review project cost plans, tender returns, contractor quotations, variations, change requests and commercial recommendations.

Monitor committed, forecast and final costs and proactively identify potential budget pressures.

Challenge consultants, contractors and suppliers on pricing, scope gaps, exclusions and commercial assumptions.

Ensure variations and changes are properly assessed, documented, negotiated and approved before implementation wherever practicable.

Support financial forecasting, cash-flow planning and portfolio-level capital expenditure reporting.

Review completed projects against approved budgets and capture cost lessons learned to improve future project planning.

Develop procurement strategies appropriate to project programme, complexity, geography, cost and risk.

Work closely with internal and external procurement resources to establish procurement schedules aligned with the overall construction programme.

Lead or support tendering, bid evaluation, contractor and supplier selection and commercial negotiations.

Identify critical and long‑lead procurement packages and establish mitigation strategies to protect project delivery.

Manage key relationships with contractors, consultants, international vendors, specialist suppliers and nominated suppliers.

Establish clear scopes of work, deliverables, responsibilities and performance expectations for external partners.

Monitor vendor performance across quality, cost, programme, responsiveness and delivery reliability.

Support the development of preferred supplier and contractor relationships where this provides improved quality, commercial value and delivery consistency.

Coordinate overseas procurement, production, logistics and delivery requirements with HQ teams and international vendors.

Support strategic sourcing initiatives and identify opportunities for consolidation, standardisation and improved commercial terms across multiple projects.

Establish and review master project programmes and ensure appropriate integration of design, procurement, approvals, construction, commissioning and opening activities.

Identify critical‑path activities, long‑lead items, dependencies and potential programme constraints.

Challenge contractors and consultants on programme assumptions, sequencing and recovery plans.

Maintain oversight of project risk and issue registers and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are implemented.

Escalate significant programme, commercial, technical, quality or delivery risks to the Head of Construction with clear options and recommendations.

Support contingency planning and recovery strategies where projects are at risk of delay.

Stakeholder & International Coordination

Act as a senior point of contact between the London project team, international HQ teams, consultants, contractors, procurement teams and vendors across multiple countries.

Coordinate effectively across different cultures, languages, working practices and time zones.

Proactively manage overseas design approvals, procurement decisions, technical information and vendor deliverables to ensure alignment with project programmes.

Manage landlord, shopping centre, statutory authority and other third‑party requirements where applicable.

Coordinate with Retail Operations, FM, Visual Merchandising, IT, Security and other internal teams to ensure opening requirements are incorporated into project delivery.

Maintain effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders and communicate key decisions, risks and actions clearly.

Process Improvement & Project Governance

Support the Head of Construction in developing and continuously improving project delivery standards, processes, templates and governance.

Establish consistent approaches to project reporting, cost control, procurement, change management, risk management, quality control and handover.

Conduct post-project reviews and ensure lessons learned are captured and applied to future projects.

Identify opportunities to improve delivery efficiency, shorten programmes, reduce unnecessary cost and strengthen project quality.

Support the development of standard specifications, technical requirements and preferred solutions for recurring retail construction elements.

Contribute to forward planning for the retail expansion programme, including resource, consultant, contractor and supply‑chain requirements.

What You Will Need

• Experience in project management, construction, retail fit-out or a related discipline, including significant responsibility for end‑to‑end project delivery.
• Strong experience in a client‑side Project Manager or Senior Project Manager role.
• Proven experience delivering multiple high‑quality retail projects in London and/or internationally.
• Previous experience managing or mentoring Project Managers, coordinators or other project team members.
• Strong knowledge of construction, fit‑out, bespoke joinery, furniture, finishes and MEP coordination.
• Good understanding of UK construction practices, Building Regulations, CDM requirements and health & safety.
• Strong ability to read, review and challenge architectural, MEP and technical drawings.
• Strong understanding of construction quality, installation tolerances and workmanship standards.
• Proven experience managing multiple consultants, contractors, specialist suppliers and international vendors.
• Strong commercial awareness with practical experience of budget management, procurement strategy, tendering, variations, value engineering and cost control.
• Ability to understand the relationship between design decisions, procurement strategy, construction methodology, programme and overall project cost.
• Strong leadership, organisational, communication, negotiation and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and maintain effective oversight without losing attention to critical details.
• Ability to make informed decisions, resolve complex problems and provide clear recommendations under demanding programme conditions.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced international organisation and coordinating teams and vendors across different countries and time zones.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Professional accreditation such as RICS, CIOB, APM or equivalent would be advantageous.
• Experience within luxury fashion, jewellery, beauty, department stores, premium hospitality or other high‑quality retail environments would be highly desirable.
• Experience delivering projects in listed buildings, existing buildings, shopping centres and operational retail environments would be advantageous.
• Experience with international sourcing, bespoke manufacturing, furniture/joinery procurement and overseas vendors would be highly desirable.
• Experience contributing to multi‑project capital planning, procurement strategy and cost benchmarking would be an advantage.
• Leadership & Accountability – Able to lead projects and people, establish clear ownership and drive delivery through internal and external teams.
• Commercial & Cost Awareness – Strong understanding of project economics, procurement, cost drivers and opportunities to improve value without compromising required quality.
• Technical Capability – Able to critically assess design and construction information and lead the resolution of complex technical and site issues.
• Strategic Procurement – Able to look beyond individual purchases and develop procurement approaches that balance cost, programme, quality and supplier‑chain risk.
• Programme Focus – Strong understanding of project sequencing, dependencies and critical‑path management, particularly where fixed store‑opening dates must be achieved.
• Stakeholder Management – Confident working with senior management, HQ teams, landlords, consultants, contractors and international vendors.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making – Able to assess complex situations quickly, identify practical options and make clear recommendations.
• Quality & Detail – Maintains high standards of design execution, workmanship and project close‑out while retaining oversight of the wider commercial and programme objectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, POP MART does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, colour, creed, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or because of any other status or condition protected by applicable local law.

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