Design Managers guide creative teams and shape products, services, and brand experiences. They connect design strategy with business goals, mentor designers, and collaborate with partners across product, engineering, marketing, and research. Explore vetted Design Manager opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.
Responsibilities vary by organization and specialty. Design Managers may set team priorities, oversee design systems and workflows, provide feedback on concepts, and ensure that work meets customer needs and quality standards. They also hire and develop talent, advocate for design in leadership discussions, and help teams deliver consistent results.
Roles may focus on product design, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), visual design, brand, or service design. Some managers lead a multidisciplinary team, while others concentrate on a particular product area or customer journey. Review each job description to understand the team's scope, reporting structure, and expectations.
Employers often seek people leadership, clear communication, strategic thinking, and a strong grasp of design principles and user-centered methods. Depending on the role, experience with prototyping, research, design systems, accessibility, and collaboration tools may be valuable. Familiarity with product development and the ability to connect design decisions to measurable outcomes can also help.
Compare opportunities by specialty, industry, location, work arrangement, and team scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs with salaries of $100,000 or more, helping experienced design leaders discover roles aligned with their skills and career goals. Explore current Design Manager openings and identify the opportunity that fits your next step.
$125K - $150K *
Pioneer the success of large-scale construction projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards. Lead diverse teams, manage client relationships, and drive strategic planning while overseeing...
2 weeks ago
Program Manager (Data Center Hardware)
$145K - $155K *
Transform customer engagements by leading a dynamic team, ensuring project success through effective management and operational oversight. Drive continuous improvement and enhance client satisfaction...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's redefining construction through innovative VDC and BIM practices. Lead project execution, manage resources, and enhance collaboration among stakeholders to drive successful project...
Today
Manager, PMO - Software Programs (Medical Device R&D)
$124K - $211K *
Lead and develop a team of project managers to drive successful delivery of software programs. Ensure adherence to governance, manage risks, and align cross-functional teams to achieve objectives with...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Growth Operations Manager
$140K - $167K *
Join a team that's redefining growth operations by architecting systems and workflows that drive our go-to-market engine. Lead initiatives, collaborate across functions, and innovate with data to enha...
1 week ago
Director, Business Operations - Products & Platforms
$160K - $195K *
Drive operational excellence and lead a high-performing team to deliver complex digital products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define strategies, manage resources, and ensure profitable...
3 weeks ago
Project Manager-Retail Bank Construction (Ground-Up/Fit-Outs)
$95K - $115K *
Drive the successful delivery of retail banking construction projects, managing multiple renovations from initiation to closeout. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to ensure quality, budget adhere...
5 days ago
$100K - $140K *
Champion the proposal process by leading submissions, coordinating resources, and ensuring strategic alignment. Drive improvements in proposal development while fostering collaboration across teams to...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Director, Software Engineering
$145K - $190K *
Lead the charge in designing and optimizing scalable data pipelines using Azure, PySpark, and Airflow. Collaborate with teams to ensure data quality and performance while mentoring engineers and drivi...
3 weeks ago
Senior Product Manager, AI Operations
$150K - $200K *
Unlock potential by transforming workflows and enhancing team capabilities through AI. Collaborate across departments to implement innovative solutions that streamline operations and drive sustained a...
Reposted 5 days ago
$170K - $220K *
Lead complex, multi-phase engagements as a Senior Delivery Manager, ensuring alignment across teams and delivering AI-driven solutions. Foster collaboration, manage risks, and drive successful outcome...
Yesterday
$178K - $367K *
Elevate organizational effectiveness by serving as a strategic partner to senior leadership, driving clarity and accountability across cross-functional initiatives, and translating complex challenges...
4 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive impactful program management by leading cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, and delivering measurable results in a dynamic environment. Collaborate effectively...
3 weeks ago
Principal Product Manager, Pro
$170K - $205K *
Unlock the potential of our Pro offering by leading product strategy and roadmap. Collaborate across teams to enhance customer experiences for short-term rental operators and HOAs, ensuring scalable s...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Take ownership of diverse projects, leading cross-functional teams to ensure successful execution, from planning to closure. Drive innovation and efficiency while managing budgets and stakeholder comm...
3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Explore a dynamic role focused on building relationships with enterprise brands, driving business growth through strategic partnerships, and leveraging AI technologies to optimize processes. Engage in...
Reposted 1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive software development excellence by leading teams, shaping technical direction, and aligning engineering practices with business goals to deliver impactful solutions and enhance user experiences...
3 weeks ago
Technical Program Manager, Data Center Operations
$120K - $145K *
Engage in comprehensive program management for data center operations, ensuring seamless transitions from construction to live operations. Shape maintainability, drive incident improvements, and enhan...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Manager, Data Solutions
$120K - $145K *
Elevate your career by leading data solutions projects that enhance pharmaceutical operations. Drive client satisfaction and operational excellence while managing cross-functional teams and ensuring c...
Yesterday
$116K - $143K *
Drive the success of Material Movement Automation projects by leading cross-functional teams, managing timelines and budgets, and ensuring operational readiness while prioritizing safety and quality a...
1 week ago
$90K - $120K *
Champion operational excellence by transforming data into actionable insights, leading cross-functional projects, and driving process improvements to enhance performance and scalability in a dynamic e...
4 weeks ago
$85K - $115K *
Shape user-centric digital experiences by collaborating with cross-functional teams to design intuitive products that enhance participant engagement and operational workflows. Drive design from concep...
1 week ago
$111K - $150K *
Lead the charge in developing impactful talent programs that enhance organizational capability. Collaborate with stakeholders to assess needs, design solutions, and implement continuous improvements t...
Yesterday
Senior Solutions Architect Operations Manager
$115K - $194K *
Empower our Solutions Architects by enhancing operational tools and workflows. Drive efficiency and effectiveness in customer engagement processes, ensuring data quality and reporting standards are me...
Reposted 1 week ago
$130K *
Shape the future of telecommunications by leading complex, large-scale projects. Drive strategic planning, manage executive communications, and ensure program success through innovative solutions and...
1 week ago
What does a Design Manager do?
A Design Manager leads designers and helps set design direction, priorities, and quality standards. The role often includes coaching and hiring, reviewing work, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and aligning design decisions with customer and business needs.
What types of Design Manager jobs are available?
Openings may include product design, UX, UI, visual, brand, or service design management. Some roles lead a broad design function; others focus on a product, team, or specific area of the customer experience.
What qualifications are commonly required for Design Manager roles?
Employers commonly look for relevant design experience, a portfolio or record of shipped work, and experience leading or mentoring people. Requirements vary, but may include expertise in a design specialty, cross-functional collaboration, and familiarity with design systems and user research.
How much do Design Managers earn?
Compensation varies by employer, location, industry, experience, and scope of responsibility. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including qualifying Design Manager opportunities.
How can I find Design Manager jobs on Ladders?
Browse Design Manager openings on Ladders and compare roles by specialty, location, work arrangement, and responsibilities. Review qualifications and compensation details in each listing to find a strong fit.