JOB TITLE: Manager, Planning & Design - Retail Development
ABOUT THE NORTH ATLANTIC GROUP OF COMPANIES
The North Atlantic Group of Companies is a diverse and growing, province-wide leader in retail gas and convenience, residential, commercial, and wholesale fuels. For over 30 years, we’ve built our reputation on quality products, extraordinary service, and support for local communities. With our people first approach, North Atlantic looks for dynamic individuals who take initiative and who are committed to fostering a strong team environment. We want people who are known for their positive attitude, genuine communications, and personal drive.
As we advance our business for the future, North Atlantic is driven to developing efficient and green energy solutions aligned to the needs of the world in which we live. Committed to sustainable and responsible business practices, we’re driving industry forward, supporting new skills and new jobs for this ever-evolving landscape.
For more information about the North Atlantic Group of Companies, please visit www.northatlantic.ca
Position Overview
The Manager, Planning & Design - Retail Development is responsible for leading national planning, design, consultant coordination, and permitting strategy for retail fuel, convenience, Quick-Service Restaurant, and property development initiatives across Canada, across the retail fuel and convenience business operated by North Sun Energy, a limited partnership between North Atlantic and Petro-Canada.
This role supports North Sun Energy’s executive growth strategies by translating business objectives, brand standards, operational requirements, and partner requirements into scalable, construction-ready development solutions for new builds, redevelopments, restaurant integrations, and fuel station property enhancements.
Working closely with Development, Operations, Marketing, Construction, executive leadership, external consultants, restaurant partners, landlords, municipalities, and regulatory authorities, the Manager serves as the organization’s primary internal lead for national retail planning and design. The role oversees projects from early site feasibility and concept planning through design development, permitting, tender support, and construction coordination, ensuring projects are practical, brand-aligned, code-compliant, commercially viable, and executable across multiple regions throughout Canada.
Duties and Responsibilities:
▪ Lead planning and design activities for a national portfolio of retail fuel, convenience, Quick-Service Restaurant, and property development projects across Canada.
▪ Support executive growth strategies by assessing site development opportunities, redevelopment concepts, restaurant integration potential, and property enhancement options.
▪ Coordinate national architectural, mechanical, electrical, civil, signage, foodservice, environmental, and permitting consultants to deliver complete, coordinated, and construction-ready project packages.
▪ Lead the planning and design integration of national restaurant partners into existing and new fuel station properties, including building additions, drive-throughs, foodservice layouts, service connections, customer flow, parking, and operational adjacencies.
▪ Evaluate site feasibility, development constraints, zoning requirements, municipal approval pathways, servicing requirements, traffic circulation, parking, and constructability for projects in multiple Canadian jurisdictions.
▪ Develop scalable retail development standards, prototype layouts, design guidelines, and planning tools that support repeatable execution across the national network.
▪ Prepare and present concept plans, development options, business-case visuals, and planning recommendations to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
▪ Act as the primary planning and design lead with municipalities, regulatory agencies, utility providers, landlords, restaurant partners, consultants, and contractors throughout the development process.
▪ Ensure all designs account for national and provincial code requirements, accessibility standards, petroleum/fuel infrastructure requirements, restaurant operational needs, and municipal permitting conditions.
▪ Maintain awareness of retail fuel, convenience, quick-service restaurant, EV charging, car wash, and mixed-use property development trends across Canada.
▪ Provide direction to internal and external design resources, establish design priorities, review key deliverables, resolve design conflicts, and ensure project teams receive timely, practical and brand-aligned design guidance.
▪ Optimize site configurations, including traffic circulation, parking layouts, fuel tank placement, fuel island placement, EV charging integration, car wash locations and customer access.
▪ Develop conceptual designs for convenience stores, fuel canopies, quick-service restaurant additions, drive-throughs, car washes, and associated support facilities.
▪ Create and coordinate 2D drawings, 3D models, renderings, and visual presentations to communicate design concepts and support project planning, approvals, and stakeholder engagement.
▪ Create interior layouts that support merchandising, food service operations, coffee programs, customer circulation, checkout areas, refrigeration and equipment placement, storage optimization, and an enhanced customer experience.
▪ Review consultant submissions to ensure accuracy, completeness, constructability, regulatory compliance, and alignment with North Sun Energy standards.
▪ Coordinate development permits, building permits, municipal submissions, consultant responses, drawing revisions, and regulatory approvals to support timely project advancement.
▪ Provide ongoing support to contractors, consultants, and project teams by responding to design-related inquiries and coordinating required revisions throughout project execution.
▪ Collaborate with Development, Operations, Marketing, Construction teams, and external consultants to ensure coordinated, practical, and brand-aligned design solutions throughout all phases of project delivery.
▪ Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in retail, fuel, and convenience store design and development.
▪ Other duties as required.
Qualifications:
▪ Degree or Diploma in Architectural Engineering Technology or related field.
▪ 8+ years of progressive experience in commercial retail development, planning, architectural design, or construction coordination.
▪ Demonstrated experience managing architectural, mechanical, electrical, civil, signage, foodservice, environmental, and permitting consultants across multiple provinces.
▪ Experience supporting multi-site retail development, fuel/convenience store development, Quick-Service Restaurant integration, or similar national rollout programs.
▪ Strong working knowledge of municipal approvals, development permits, building permits, zoning, site planning, accessibility, and code requirements across Canada.
▪ Experience preparing executive-level presentations, concept packages, site feasibility assessments, and development recommendations.
▪ Ability to review and interpret development proposals, site plans, surveys, design drawings, maps, and other related documents.
▪ Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD is required.
▪ Proficiency in SketchUP, SolidWorks, Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite, and design visualization/rendering tools.
▪ Strong understanding of commercial building design, space planning, and retail environments.
▪ Familiarity with commercial construction methods, permitting requirements, and development approvals.
▪ Exceptional problem solving and communication skills.
▪ Ability to foster effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
▪ Sound analytical thinking, planning, prioritization, and execution skills.
▪ Enthusiastic, self-starter with the ability to work as a team, and take initiative to contribute to the company’s overall success.
North Sun Energy is committed to Employment Equity. Accommodations during the recruitment process are available upon request for candidates with disabilities.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package which include Health and Dental, Wellness Program Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Life Insurance Company Pension Plan with employer contribution Employee and Family Assistance Program Free on-site parking Employee engagement activities
If you are a highly motivated team player, have the qualifications, and are prepared to meet the challenges as outlined, apply by submitting your resume and cover letter to to [email protected] by September 16, 2026.
ABOUT NORTH SUN ENERGY
North Sun Energy is a co-ownership business between North Atlantic and Petro-Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI. With more than 110 gas stations and convenience stores across the three provinces (some under the Petro-Canada brand and some under the North Atlantic brand), this collaboration enhances Petro-Canada’s national coast-to-coast network and extends North Atlantic’s presence into Nova Scotia and PEI. Customers across the region now benefit from an expanded range of loyalty rewards, including Petro-Canada’s Petro-Points™ program, Triangle Rewards® and North Atlantic’s Yay! ™ Rewards program, in addition to experiencing the celebrated Orangestore convenience store brand located at many of the sites.
North Sun Energy is focused on optimizing long term value and growth through strategic development initiatives, expansion efforts, and enhanced customer experiences.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
