VM Environmental Designer Principal- Seattle, WA

Job Description

Job Summary

The Principal Environmental Designer is a highly skilled, visionary leader responsible for setting the creative direction and strategic vision for environmental design across Nordstrom stores. This role drives innovation in store environments, and experiential design, ensuring alignment with brand identity and business objectives. The Principal Environmental Designer single handedly manages and executes over 500 projects annually that vary in scope, complexity, and detail. This designer works to ensure the delivery of high-quality design solutions that align with business objectives and environmental considerations.

In addition to leading cross-functional collaboration, mentoring design teams, and influencing executive stakeholders, the Principal Designer partners closely with the Nordstrom Merchandising Group (NMG) and Nordstrom Leadership to co-develop compelling visual and departmental concepts. This includes translating seasonal strategies and brand narratives into immersive in-store experiences that resonate with customers and support business goals. This role demands a keen ability to synthesize input from multiple stakeholders, define a clear creative direction, and lead the design process from concept to execution. As the Principal Designer, they not only transform ideas into tangible designs but also effectively communicate the Nordstrom vision to secure brand alignment and approval for new projects. Their leadership ensures consistency, innovation, and excellence across every customer touchpoint.

 Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the creative vision for large-scale environmental design initiatives, including store concepts, Scaled Events, and brand activations.
• Partner with senior leadership across Visual Merchandising, Brand Creative, Marketing, and Store Operations to align design strategies with business goals.
• Oversee the development of design systems, standards, and scalable solutions that ensure consistency across all physical and digital environments.
• Guide and mentor a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Present design strategies and concepts to executive stakeholders and external partners, articulating the business impact and customer value.
• Lead innovation in materials, sustainability, and production methods to enhance design quality and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and approve high-impact design proposals, prototypes, and final executions to ensure alignment with brand and customer expectations.
• Collaborate with VM Engineers and Project Managers to ensure feasibility, budget alignment, and timely delivery of projects.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies to inform future-forward design thinking.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Strategic Mindset: Is aware of how own work connects to the broader organization's strategy. Understands what actions to take to help the organization reach its goals.

Drives Vision: Takes steps to advance the organization’s vision and ensures that own efforts align with the team's goals and priorities. Operates with a clear sense of purpose that gives meaning to everyday activities. Ensures clear connections between day-today actions and the organization’s overall vision.

Communicates Effectively: Tailors communication content and style to the needs of others.Takes steps to ensure effective

communication between individuals and teams.Pays attention to others’ input and perspectives; ask questions and summarizes input to confirm understanding.

Builds Trust: Demonstrates dependability and builds an organization with a reputation for living up to its commitments. Gains others' trust and respect by showing consistency between what is said and what is done.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Environmental Design, Architecture, Industrial Design, or related field.
• 8–10+ years of experience in retail design, visual merchandising, or experiential design, with a strong portfolio of leadership in large-scale projects.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of 3D spatial design, materials, fabrication methods, and retail environments.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, CAD, and other 3D modeling/rendering tools.
• Strong knowledge of Nordstrom’s brand, customer, and retail landscape preferred.
• Experience with sustainability practices and scalable design systems is a plus.

Pay Range Details

The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations. 
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

$93,500.00 - $155,000.00 Annual

 

 

We’ve got you covered…

Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

   

This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://careers.nordstrom.com/pdfs/Ben_Overview_17-19.pdf

 

A few more important points...

The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.

For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.

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Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.

 

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