Principal, Experience Strategist - Retail Space Designer (Sam's Club)

Position Summary

The Principal Retail Space Designer is a senior‑most individual contributor responsible for defining and driving the future of Sam’s Club physical environments at scale. Building on deep expertise in retail space design, this role expands beyond execution into enterprise‑level influence—shaping long‑term experience strategy, design systems, and next‑generation club formats. This role blends user centered design and architecture/interior design excellence with systems thinking, experiential storytelling, and business strategy.

As a key leader within Club Transformation, the Principal Designer will lead the design of new clubs and large‑scale remodel programs—ensuring environments are emotionally resonant, operationally efficient, and future‑ready. You will operate at the intersection of design, business, and technology—translating evolving member expectations into scalable spatial solutions that integrate physical and digital experiences.

Responsibilities

• Experience Vision & Strategy: Define and drive the long‑term vision for in‑club experiences, translating business goals, member insights, and operational needs into scalable formats and future‑ready environments.
• Human‑Centered Design & Insight: Ground all design work in a deep understanding of member and associate needs, synthesizing research and data into clear insights, problem definitions, and high‑impact opportunities.
• End‑to‑End Spatial Design Leadership: Lead the design of high‑impact club environments from concept through execution, creating cohesive experiences that blend physical space with digital and omnichannel journeys.
• Design Systems & Standards: Establish and evolve scalable design systems—including layouts, fixtures, flow, and signage—that ensure consistency while enabling flexibility across clubs.
• Enterprise Influence & Alignment: Partner with senior leaders and influence executive stakeholders to align on experience strategy, investment decisions, and cross‑functional priorities.
• Program Leadership & Delivery: Oversee large‑scale initiatives including new builds, remodels, and prototypes—ensuring design intent, feasibility, and business objectives are achieved.
• Insight‑Driven Optimization: Define success metrics and continuously refine spatial experiences using data, research, and in‑club insights.
• Team & Design Leadership: Mentor and elevate senior designers while fostering strong cross‑functional collaboration and high design standards.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field
• 12–15+ years of experience in retail store design
• Proven track record leading large‑scale programs from concept to execution
• Strong portfolio demonstrating systems thinking and built work at scale
• Deep expertise in retail space planning and customer behavior
• Strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience defining store formats at enterprise scale
• Strong capability in synthesis and sense‑making of user research findings
• Omnichannel retail experience
• Sustainability and LEED knowledge
• Exposure to emerging technologies

Impact

You will shape how millions of members experience Sam’s Club and influence how the organization frames problems, makes decisions, and delivers future‑ready retail experiences at scale.

Benefits

• Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage
• Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company‑paid life insurance
• Paid time off benefits include PTO, parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting
• Other benefits include short‑term and long‑term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more
• Live Better U is a company‑paid education benefit program for full‑time and part‑time associates in Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor’s degrees, including English Language Learning and short‑form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms. For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.

Salary

The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 – $220,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include Regional Pay Zone (RPZ) based on location.

Minimum Qualifications

• Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in design, business, or related area and 12 years’ progressive experience in experience strategy, UX, or service design with demonstrable enterprise and industry impact.
• Option 2: 15 years’ experience leading large‑scale experience transformation initiatives.

Primary Location

2101 Se Simple Savings Dr, Bentonville, AR 72712-4304, United States of America

Drug‑Free Workplace

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

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