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.
$110K - $130K *
Drive innovative solutions by leveraging data analytics and strategic counsel to enhance client performance. Collaborate with high-performing teams to deliver tailored insights for transformational ev...
3 weeks ago
$250K - $500K+*
Drive innovation by collaborating with hardware teams to enhance tools, evolve compilers, and improve developer experiences, ensuring efficient and effective hardware design processes...
2 weeks ago
Manager, Strategic Content - Industries
$110K - $130K *
Lead strategic content initiatives by translating market insights into compelling narratives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop thought leadership that positions the organization as a...
Yesterday
Manager, Strategic Content - Industries
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by driving strategic content initiatives that shape industry narratives and enhance brand positioning. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create compelling, client-centric...
Yesterday
Senior M365 / Power Platform Developer
$132K - $143K *
Shape the future of digital solutions by developing innovative M365 and Power Platform applications. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance enterprise collaboration, automate processes, and levera...
Reposted 1 week ago
Product Campaign Manager — SME-C Whitespace
$94K - $224K *
Lead the charge in developing integrated marketing campaigns that drive demand and pipeline growth for mid-market clients. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to position offers effectively and op...
Today
$114K - $128K *
Lead the charge in AI-augmented product delivery, ensuring quality and flow across initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage project milestones and facilitate decision-making in a...
3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Lead the charge in optimizing Sales Development teams to enhance pipeline quality and revenue growth. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to align strategies and drive performance through effec...
5 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Discover innovative solutions as a Senior Product Manager, leading product strategy and execution for SaaS offerings. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance customer experiences and drive...
6 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic team to define product strategy and deliver innovative payment solutions. Collaborate across functions to drive customer value and business outcomes while managing the end-to-end paymen...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead a dynamic team in managing clinical research projects, ensuring compliance and quality service. Drive project success through effective communication, risk management, and stakeholder engagement...
5 days ago
$180K - $220K *
Shape the future of data engineering by architecting robust data solutions, improving analytics capabilities, and leading technical strategies across multiple domains to drive impactful business outco...
Reposted today
Sales Manager - Governance, Risk & Compliance
$212K - $345K *
Elevate sales performance by leading a dynamic team in Governance, Risk & Compliance. Drive strategic initiatives, foster collaboration, and ensure exceptional customer experiences while achieving gro...
4 weeks ago
Manager, Strategic Supply Chain 1
$109K - $159K *
Champion the strategic pricing lifecycle for global accounts, ensuring competitive pricing and alignment with market trends. Collaborate across teams to validate quotes and manage pricing integrity ac...
3 days ago
Group Product Manager (eSource Clinical Data Management)
$113K - $179K *
Drive strategic product management and governance for advanced eSource platforms, ensuring compliance and enhancing decentralized and hybrid trials. Collaborate cross-functionally to shape product vis...
Reposted today
Principal Technical Product Manager
$138K - $165K *
Elevate your career by leading complex product initiatives across technical domains. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive strategic direction into actionable plans, ensuring measurable out...
3 weeks ago
Motion Designer (Performance) - San Francisco or US Remote
$85K - $125K *
Unlock potential by transforming briefs and data insights into high-performing ads. Collaborate with creative strategists to produce engaging content that resonates with the US market while staying ah...
3 weeks ago
System Virtual Platforms Manager
$130K - $155K *
Lead the technical direction of a virtual platform team, managing development and integration of hardware models. Collaborate with global teams to enhance simulation accuracy and performance, ensuring...
Reposted 4 days ago
$87K - $108K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of water and energy utilities by leading proposal development, coordinating resources, and implementing winning strategies. Collaborate with experts to create imp...
2 weeks ago
$172K - $222K *
Pioneer innovative production techniques as you lead creative projects from concept to delivery. Collaborate with teams to explore AI-driven methods while ensuring exceptional quality across diverse f...
2 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Global Deal Desk
$125K - $150K *
Champion scalable deal operations by leading the Global Deal Desk, optimizing complex agreements across sales, finance, and legal. Drive AI integration to enhance workflows and ensure compliance while...
4 weeks ago
$108K - $130K *
Unlock your potential as you develop innovative Cloud-Native architectures for the Royal Canadian Navy, enhancing operational readiness through collaborative systems design and deployment in a dynamic...
2 days ago
$89K - $115K *
Lead the charge in coordinating equipment installation and startup across multiple sites, ensuring seamless collaboration with project managers and contractors while delivering exceptional customer ex...
4 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion innovative solutions in a dynamic startup, bridging operations and product development to enhance healthcare reimbursement processes through data-driven strategies and collaboration...
1 week ago
Senior Technical Marketing Manager, AI
$120K - $145K *
Unlock potential by driving AI security marketing initiatives, creating demos, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product visibility and adoption. Serve as the technical voice fo...
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.