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.
$80K - $100K *
Join a team that's redefining market expansion by managing and optimizing field sales programs. Drive recruitment, training, and process improvements to ensure success in newly launched markets across...
1 week ago
Director of Business Development
$125K - $150K *
Drive growth by building relationships and exceeding sales quotas through effective prospecting and discovery calls. Join a dynamic team focused on revolutionizing the energy industry with innovative...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Unlock potential by designing and optimizing cloud-based data platforms, ensuring scalability and performance across relational, NoSQL, and vector databases while collaborating with AI and engineering...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Manager, Data Systems, AIMS
$500K+*
Lead the charge in building robust data systems that enhance personalization and optimize product experiences. Drive strategic direction for large-scale data pipelines while developing a high-performi...
Yesterday
$83K - $104K *
Empower healthcare professionals by promoting innovative medical solutions. Build lasting relationships, drive sales growth, and enhance market presence through strategic engagement and education in a...
3 days ago
$110K - $125K *
Elevate product strategy and delivery by leading a multidisciplinary team to ensure alignment with stakeholder needs and mission-critical outcomes in a fully remote environment...
2 weeks ago
$140K - $165K *
Drive the development and continuous improvement of a unified Quality Management System across global manufacturing sites, ensuring compliance, scalability, and alignment with ISO standards while coll...
6 days ago
$90K - $120K *
Transform operational excellence in service tools and supplies by leading cross-functional teams to enhance performance, compliance, and customer satisfaction while managing budgets and driving contin...
4 days ago
Principal Experience Strategist
$120K - $145K *
Drive user-centered design initiatives by leading research, mapping journeys, and prototyping solutions. Collaborate with teams to validate usability and outcomes while maintaining design practices an...
3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Transform the furniture retail landscape by driving channel expansion and managing partnerships with dealers across the U.S. Bring your expertise in sales and negotiation to unlock market growth oppor...
Reposted 1 week ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead MEP and commissioning activities, ensuring project success through strategic oversight, collaboration, and a focus on quality and safety. Drive operational readiness and deliver reliable systems...
Yesterday
Associate Director - Link Strategy
$100K - $150K *
Elevate customer engagement by driving product adoption and success with emerging Biotech accounts. Collaborate with stakeholders to define strategies, execute plans, and enhance market positioning of...
Reposted 1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Lead the development and execution of capture strategies, enhancing business growth through market analysis, proposal management, and cross-functional collaboration. Drive organizational success by ex...
Reposted 1 week ago
Anthropic GTM Director 2026 - US
$150K - $180K *
Lead the charge in building and scaling commercial strategies for AI solutions, fostering partnerships, and driving revenue growth through innovative GTM plans and relationship management in a dynamic...
2 weeks ago
Forward Deployed Engineer - MEP Design
$99K - $123K *
Unlock potential by transforming design priorities into actionable AI solutions, enhancing workflows and tools for MEP engineering teams. Collaborate closely with design leaders to drive efficiency an...
2 days ago
$160K - $180K *
Lead the development of AI governance solutions, transforming research into market-ready products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure customer-focused outcomes and drive product success...
1 week ago
$85K - $115K *
Elevate your career by leading software product lifecycles in clinical genetics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, oversee development, and innovate solutions that enhanc...
2 days ago
Information Management Engineer
$95K - $115K *
Transform data management by ensuring accuracy and quality in metadata entry and publishing. Collaborate with developers and analyze information across systems to enhance reporting efficiency and cust...
2 weeks ago
$88K - $105K *
Lead product marketing initiatives by crafting compelling messaging and strategies that drive customer engagement and adoption. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment and measure performan...
Reposted 1 week ago
Project Manager II - Education AI
$80K - $95K *
Join a team that empowers healthcare innovation by managing cross-functional projects. Utilize project management tools and methodologies to enhance education operations and improve patient care while...
Reposted yesterday
$135K - $222K *
Lead strategic growth in the Energy sector by identifying and securing new construction opportunities while enhancing client relationships and collaborating with internal teams to achieve business obj...
2 days ago
Remote Construction Program Manager
$133K - $200K *
Champion the delivery of advanced manufacturing capabilities by leading cross-functional teams, managing project lifecycles, and ensuring alignment with customer and stakeholder expectations for succe...
1 week ago
$64K - $104K *
Manage configuration baselines for a multinational SATCOM program, ensuring integrity across hardware, software, and documentation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support lifecycle managem...
1 week ago
Senior Technical Product Marketing Manager
$180K - $200K *
Optimize product messaging and content for AI and cybersecurity, translating complex technical insights into compelling narratives. Collaborate with teams to enhance customer understanding and drive e...
6 days ago
$80K - $95K *
Champion cross-functional projects to enhance operational efficiency and achieve organizational goals. Lead initiatives from planning to completion, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget wh...
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.