Explore Design Manager Jobs

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.

What Does a Design Manager Do?

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.

Common Design Manager Specialties

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.

Skills Employers Look For

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.

Find Your Next Design Leadership Role

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.

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$110K - $130K *

Optimize technical execution for live, virtual, and hybrid events, ensuring seamless collaboration with teams and vendors. Drive client success through innovative solutions while managing budgets and...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Drive impactful event experiences by leading technical strategy and execution. Collaborate with clients and teams to ensure seamless production from concept to completion, while mentoring staff and op...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Transform the design engineering landscape by leading a talented team, ensuring high-quality project delivery, and collaborating across departments to meet strategic goals and customer needs in a dyna...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Join our team to support clinical studies by managing site activities, ensuring compliance, and fostering relationships with site staff. Your role will enhance patient recruitment and streamline logis...

Raleigh, NCRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $165K *

Pioneer operational excellence in Design leadership, managing workflows, prioritizing projects, and developing talent. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance Design integration in AI-driven product...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $140K *

Champion seamless execution of digital and AI solutions, managing cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact products. Drive quality, optimize processes, and ensure accountability across diverse en...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$95K - $115K *

Take ownership of plant operations by leading maintenance teams to optimize production, manage budgets, and drive technical talent development while ensuring safety and compliance in a dynamic manufac...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $225K *

Lead the charge in integrating Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) within a high-profile construction program, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to ensure efficient design, production, an...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$80K - $90K *

Transform creative project delivery by independently managing multiple initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives, and driving stakeholder engagement from intake to final execution...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$147K - $167K *

Unlock potential by guiding enterprise customers through AI-powered workflow transitions, aligning stakeholders, and driving impactful outcomes across high-value workflows with structured engagements...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$147K - $167K *

Join a team that's transforming enterprise workflows by guiding customers through AI-powered transitions. Leverage your expertise in process design and stakeholder alignment to drive impactful outcome...

California, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$88K - $105K *

Unlock potential by managing clinical trial project setups and amendments. Collaborate with teams to ensure client requirements are met, while serving as a subject matter expert to enhance process eff...

Johnson City, TNRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Drive the successful delivery of multiple projects, leading teams to ensure scope, schedule, and budget adherence while managing client expectations and project health throughout the lifecycle...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$160K - $220K *

Transform project delivery by managing complex capital projects, ensuring integration across teams, and driving performance to meet objectives. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance governance and...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $130K *

Unlock potential by leading BIM coordination and integration for diverse institutional projects. Collaborate across disciplines to ensure design intent and constructability, enhancing project delivery...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$130K - $150K *

Join a team that's redefining creative excellence, leading innovative projects and inspiring diverse storytelling across brands. Drive impactful execution while mentoring emerging talent in a collabor...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$85K - $100K *

Lead a diverse team in managing site design projects, ensuring on-time, budget-compliant completion while delivering high-quality engineering solutions and fostering collaboration with clients and sta...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$113K - $141K *

Shape the future of mobility by building a dynamic brand identity for CMT.AI. Lead the creation of a comprehensive design system, drive adoption across teams, and integrate AI tools to enhance product...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Pioneer client implementation success by managing projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring quality deliverables. Leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency and communication while driving consistency a...

Calgary, ABIn-Person

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$108K - $130K *

Lead innovative data center projects, overseeing design and execution from concept to completion. Collaborate with global teams to deliver high-quality solutions while managing client relationships an...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$120K - $145K *

Elevate your career by leading innovative data center projects, managing design teams, and ensuring high-quality delivery for global clients. This role offers flexibility and the chance to collaborate...

Phoenix, AZRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$88K - $141K *

Innovate with a team that builds scalable data solutions, enhances decision-making, and drives impactful enterprise products. Lead technical initiatives while mentoring engineers and improving systems...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Engage as a senior contractor lead, ensuring operational excellence and compliance while managing high-complexity projects. Provide strategic guidance and maintain key relationships with stakeholders...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $110K *

Pioneer operational excellence by managing sprints, ticket hygiene, and cross-functional initiatives. Enhance team effectiveness through process improvements while ensuring impactful delivery of produ...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's redefining product design by leading innovative AI-driven solutions across diverse industries. Shape cohesive user experiences and empower a talented design team to create scalable...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Design Manager do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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.