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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$240K *

Lead and innovate in design excellence, mentoring a multidisciplined team to create immersive brand experiences that push boundaries while ensuring strategic alignment and operational efficiency in de...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$100K - $120K *

Lead a Design team to build exceptional environmental graphic design solutions, ensuring high standards, effective workflows, and nurturing talent. Shape the team’s output through strong leadership an...

Reposted 4 days ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of user experiences by leading the design system operations across digital platforms. Drive governance, collaboration, and innovation to create cohesive, high-quality customer journey...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$80K - $95K *

Join a team that's dedicated to crafting intuitive UX designs for complex products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate user needs into engaging experiences, enhancing usability from...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Champion a high-performing engineering team, guiding their growth while actively contributing to software development. Collaborate across functions to align goals and foster an inclusive culture, driv...

Columbus, OHRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of software development by leading a talented group of engineers. You'll foster a culture of growth, drive AI-first practices, and ensure high-quality delivery wh...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$75K - $95K *

Lead the charge in managing creative projects from inception to delivery, ensuring seamless collaboration between clients and teams. Drive timelines, budgets, and quality while fostering strong relati...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$115K - $135K *

Drive project success by managing HVAC initiatives from planning to execution, ensuring quality, safety, and client satisfaction while fostering teamwork and accountability across all levels...

3 weeks ago

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

$108K - $130K *

Lead the charge in architectural design projects, overseeing teams to deliver innovative, high-quality environments that enhance guest experiences across various platforms, ensuring alignment with bus...

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$88K - $105K *

Empower growth by leading complex projects in the HVAC industry. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure client satisfaction and drive success in a new market. Your expertise will shape our presence...

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$175K - $185K *

Lead our design team to elevate brand narratives through innovative storytelling, trend leadership, and creative excellence. Collaborate cross-functionally to inspire and drive strategic initiatives t...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$88K - $100K *

Lead the charge in managing cross-functional projects for M&A and real estate initiatives, ensuring operational efficiency and accountability while supporting strategic corporate development efforts...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$175K - $192K *

Elevate project outcomes by leading technical design processes and documentation. Collaborate with architects and construction teams to ensure quality standards and client satisfaction throughout all...

3 weeks ago

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

$85K - $102K *

Manage capital projects in Electric Utilities from initiation to closeout, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, assisting in schedule development, and coordinating construction co...

Reposted 2 days ago

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

$100K - $120K *

Take ownership of strategic marketing initiatives that drive growth by transforming market intelligence into actionable plans. Collaborate across teams to assess opportunities, develop value propositi...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$95K - $115K *

Drive project success by overseeing all phases from initiation to completion, ensuring quality, safety, and budget adherence. Lead teams, manage client relationships, and implement strategic goals to...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $190K *

Transform water management solutions by leading design teams in municipal projects. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success while enhancing client relationships and driving strategic g...

3 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$150K - $190K *

Engage in leading project delivery for water and wastewater initiatives, collaborating with teams to achieve client objectives while driving strategic growth in West Florida's municipal markets. Foste...

3 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$150K - $190K *

Lead and manage project delivery in the municipal water sector, collaborating with teams to achieve client objectives. Drive strategic growth initiatives while ensuring quality and compliance in water...

3 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$90K - $111K *

Lead the charge in driving successful mortgage-focused projects by coordinating cross-functional teams, applying Agile methodologies, and ensuring alignment with business objectives to promote operati...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$170K - $190K *

Drive innovative design solutions for complex data center projects, leading cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with industry standards and project goals while managing timelines and budgets ef...

2 days ago

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

$125K - $155K *

Innovate product strategy and execution, bridging cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions that align with customer needs and organizational goals throughout the product lifecycle...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $165K *

Transform project delivery by leading AI-enabled workflows in electrical engineering automation. Oversee planning, coordination, and execution across multiple projects, ensuring quality and efficiency...

Markham, ONIn-Person

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$98K - $164K *

Transform electrical engineering workflows by leading AI-driven automation projects. Manage multiple scopes, ensuring timely delivery and quality outputs while collaborating with cross-functional team...

Markham, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $165K *

Champion the transformation of electrical engineering workflows through AI, leading project planning and execution while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance efficiency, quality, and t...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

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.