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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$126K - $223K *

Transform user experiences by leading a dynamic UX design team, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring high-quality, user-centered digital solutions across multiple platforms. Collaborate with cr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$126K - $223K *

Elevate user experiences by leading a UX design team to create intuitive, user-centered digital solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define strategy, oversee design execution, and dri...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$126K - $223K *

Shape user-centered digital experiences by leading a dynamic UX design team. Drive strategic direction, oversee design execution, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to deliver cohesive, in...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$126K - $223K *

Lead a UX design team to create user-centered digital experiences. Drive strategic direction, oversee design execution, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive and accessible so...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $110K *

Transform creative visions into reality by leading design projects, mentoring teams, and collaborating with clients. Drive strategic branding initiatives while ensuring high-quality deliverables in a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$134K - $179K *

Shape the future of energy infrastructure by leading a dynamic design team. Oversee multidisciplinary projects, ensuring high-quality, code-compliant designs for complex environments like healthcare c...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$134K - $179K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of energy infrastructure by leading multidisciplinary design efforts for complex projects. Drive innovation and ensure high-quality, code-compliant designs while...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$140K - $150K *

Lead the charge in design execution, coordinating teams to deliver high-quality outputs on time. This hands-on role requires strong organizational skills and a focus on reducing risks and ensuring ali...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Lead the charge in managing electrical construction projects, ensuring safe, on-time, and on-budget delivery while fostering strong client relationships and mentoring junior staff. Drive competitive e...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$95K - $115K *

Deliver impactful electrical construction projects by managing all phases, from estimating to execution. Lead cross-functional teams, ensure client satisfaction, and uphold safety standards while driv...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in managing complex ERP implementation projects, ensuring alignment between customer needs and internal resources. Drive project success through effective communication, risk managemen...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$161K - $242K *

Champion project success by leading design and construction phases with multidisciplinary teams. Deliver results through effective risk management, strategy optimization, and stakeholder engagement in...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$125K - $175K *

Join a team that's dedicated to delivering a high-profile ICI project, ensuring seamless design coordination and technical excellence from concept through construction within a Design-Build or P3 envi...

Mississauga, ONIn-Person

2 weeks ago

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

$100K - $120K *

Partner with us to lead multifamily development projects, managing due diligence, design, and construction phases while ensuring profitability and compliance with regulations. Collaborate with interna...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$120K - $185K *

Lead and inspire engineering teams to deliver high-quality electrical designs, ensuring compliance and efficiency across diverse projects. Drive innovation and continuous improvement while mentoring t...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $185K *

Transform the future of engineering design by leading diverse teams to deliver high-quality electrical engineering solutions. Drive project success through strategic oversight, mentoring, and adherenc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$84K - $178K *

Drive your career with a strategic creative leadership role that blends hands-on design with mentorship. Collaborate on integrated campaigns, elevate brand storytelling, and lead a team to deliver com...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$88K - $105K *

Lead a dynamic design team to create innovative product ensembles from concept to completion, drive project coordination, and ensure products meet market trends while maintaining organizational excell...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Lead integrated media strategies, optimizing paid social campaigns across platforms. Drive client growth through data-driven insights, budget management, and innovative testing. Collaborate with teams...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$135K *

Drive innovative supply chain solutions by leading cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and engaging with customers to achieve sales growth and operational excellence in a dynamic enviro...

Milton, ONIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$90K - $110K *

Transform your career by leading engineering projects that optimize hydropower facilities across New York. Collaborate with diverse teams, manage budgets, and ensure compliance while enhancing operati...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $110K *

Join us to optimize hydropower facilities across New York State by managing engineering projects, ensuring compliance, and enhancing operational performance through effective collaboration and strateg...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $110K *

Join us to lead engineering projects optimizing hydropower facilities across New York. You'll manage design, construction, and budgets while ensuring compliance and performance improvements in a colla...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $110K *

Optimize engineering activities for hydropower facilities, managing projects from design to commissioning. Collaborate with teams, oversee budgets, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory sta...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$160K - $200K *

Unlock potential by designing intuitive user experiences for AI-driven creative tools. Collaborate with engineers and researchers to transform complex AI capabilities into seamless, engaging products...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.