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.
DC Design Manager for Region (AMER), DCDE - AMER, Design Manager East team
$116K - $160K *
Grow your career with a dynamic team driving innovative data center designs. Lead multidisciplinary projects, influence stakeholders, and enhance design delivery while ensuring quality and efficiency...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead and mentor a team of designers while providing technical expertise and training. Collaborate with project managers to ensure quality and efficiency in design work, and represent the firm in profe...
2 weeks ago
$57K - $107K *
Optimize design processes by collaborating with teams to create innovative tooling solutions that meet customer specifications while ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining motion design by blending creativity with technology. You'll conceptualize and animate engaging content while developing reusable systems that enhance workflow efficiency...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in creating dynamic motion graphics and reusable systems, enhancing brand narratives through innovative design and automation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-q...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your motion design expertise by creating impactful animations and scalable systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality marketing content while integrating innovati...
3 weeks ago
Chief of Staff to Managing Director
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by partnering with leadership to drive strategic initiatives, streamline operations, and enhance cross-functional collaboration. This role is pivotal in ensuring effective project man...
1 week ago
$101K - $151K *
Transform customer experiences by designing motion-forward visuals that enhance storytelling and accessibility across digital platforms, ensuring cohesive and engaging interactions throughout the prod...
Reposted 1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Empower a dynamic team of product designers as you shape strategic vision and drive design-led transformation. Collaborate across functions to create cohesive, user-centered experiences that elevate p...
3 weeks ago
Project Manager - Construction
$117K - $158K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering successful construction projects from planning to closeout. Manage budgets, schedules, and resources while ensuring safety and quality standards are met thro...
4 days ago
Project Manager- Strategic Projects
$88K - $105K *
Unlock potential by leading complex, cross-functional projects from planning to closeout. Drive accountability, manage risks, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives while fostering collaborati...
Reposted yesterday
$80K - $95K *
Join us in leading on-site project delivery, ensuring successful execution and coordination of construction activities across multiple locations. Drive performance, manage teams, and uphold safety sta...
2 weeks ago
Architectural Project Manager of Retail
$88K - $105K *
Unlock potential by leading multiple projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring client satisfaction through effective management of budgets, schedules, and communications. Drive project success with s...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join our team to lead multidisciplinary design for complex data center projects. You'll manage all phases from planning to execution, ensuring quality and client satisfaction while mentoring emerging...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Manager Design and Engineering
$108K - $130K *
Transform engineering excellence by leading quality assurance, vendor management, and strategic oversight for design and engineering teams across multiple states, ensuring compliance and driving conti...
Yesterday
$200K - $230K *
Help us drive creative excellence and operational effectiveness while leading a talented design team. You'll shape innovative design approaches, build client relationships, and ensure impactful outcom...
1 week ago
$200K - $230K *
Shape creative excellence and operational effectiveness by leading a design team, fostering innovation, and building strong client relationships to drive agency growth and deliver impactful design sol...
1 week ago
$160K - $205K *
Shape the future of design by leading innovative, human-centered strategies that drive business outcomes and enhance user experiences through creativity and technology integration...
Reposted 1 week ago
$160K - $205K *
Champion innovative design solutions that drive business growth and enhance user experiences. Lead a talented team in creating human-centered designs, leveraging AI and technology to transform complex...
Reposted 1 week ago
$160K - $205K *
Shape innovative design strategies that drive business outcomes and enhance user experiences. Lead a team in creating human-centered solutions, leveraging AI and technology to transform complex challe...
Reposted 1 week ago
$160K - $205K *
Lead the charge in transforming design into a strategic business driver, blending creativity with technology to create intuitive, human-centered experiences that drive engagement and loyalty across co...
Reposted 1 week ago
$160K - $205K *
Elevate your career by leading innovative design strategies that merge creativity with technology. Drive human-centered experiences and mentor a talented team while shaping the future of digital trans...
1 week ago
$130K - $165K *
Join a dynamic team to manage high-impact substation projects, overseeing scope, budget, and schedules while coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams and ensuring client satisfaction in a flex...
Reposted today
$135K - $175K *
Shape the future of engineering projects by leading a talented team. Drive high-quality solutions from concept to completion while managing budgets and schedules. Your expertise will foster collaborat...
1 week ago
$130K - $175K *
Champion high-profile Mission Critical Data Center projects, collaborating with diverse teams to manage contracts, schedules, and budgets while ensuring client satisfaction from planning through const...
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.