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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$142K - $213K *

Drive project success by leading cross-functional teams in delivering complex customer-facing projects. Foster collaboration, ensure profitability, and mentor project managers to enhance operational e...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$142K - $213K *

Join our dynamic team to lead complex Power Systems projects, ensuring success through collaboration and strategic execution. Drive operational excellence while mentoring project managers and enhancin...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$77K - $135K *

Lead the execution of construction projects, ensuring safety, budget, and schedule compliance while collaborating with diverse stakeholders across North America. Manage multiple projects from design t...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$160K - $220K *

Champion integrated scheduling across cross-functional teams, driving alignment and ensuring on-time delivery in a dynamic NPI manufacturing environment. Leverage strong project management skills to d...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$125K - $140K *

Take ownership of project management for real estate initiatives, guiding projects from conception to completion. Collaborate with clients to develop plans, manage resources, and ensure quality delive...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

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

$85K - $95K *

Elevate your career by leading impactful paid social campaigns that drive growth. Utilize your strategic vision and expertise to mentor a high-performing team while delivering exceptional results for...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Lead the charge in driving impactful paid social campaigns, leveraging strategic insights and team mentorship to exceed client expectations while ensuring flawless execution and performance optimizati...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Unlock your potential by leading impactful paid social campaigns, driving growth through strategic vision and execution. Mentor a high-performing team while delivering exceptional results and insights...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Drive growth by leading impactful paid social campaigns, leveraging your expertise in strategy, audience targeting, and performance analysis to exceed client expectations while mentoring a high-perfor...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Champion high-impact paid social campaigns, driving growth through strategic vision and execution. Lead a talented team, optimize performance, and deliver exceptional results while mentoring members a...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Elevate your career by leading impactful paid social campaigns that drive growth. Utilize your strategic vision and expertise to mentor a high-performing team, optimize client budgets, and deliver exc...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Drive impactful paid social campaigns by leading strategy, execution, and team mentorship. Utilize advanced analytics and creative testing to optimize performance and exceed client expectations while...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Unlock potential by leading impactful paid social campaigns that drive growth. Leverage your strategic vision and expertise to mentor a high-performing team, optimize client budgets, and deliver excep...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$85K - $95K *

Shape the future of paid social by leading impactful campaigns, mentoring talent, and driving strategic growth. Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver exceptional results and optimize performance ac...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$100K - $140K *

Design and optimize retail display solutions, ensuring functionality, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness. Lead engineering efforts from concept to production across diverse retail sectors, driv...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$100K - $115K *

Drive project success by managing scope, resources, and timelines while ensuring client satisfaction and adherence to quality standards. Collaborate with teams to deliver security solutions on time an...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $120K *

Oversee project portfolios worth $5-$15 million, leading teams through all phases from planning to execution. Drive performance, manage resources, and ensure successful project completion while foster...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $120K *

Drive project success by overseeing scope, timeline, and budget while ensuring effective communication and collaboration among teams and clients. Lead project execution, manage resources, and maintain...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$80K - $100K *

Join a team that's dedicated to managing multiple fire protection projects, ensuring successful execution and completion while coordinating with various trades and maintaining budget estimates...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$100K - $120K *

Elevate project outcomes by leading cross-functional teams, managing resources, and ensuring client satisfaction. Drive project planning, execution, and compliance while mitigating risks and maintaini...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$88K - $105K *

Unlock potential by leading project teams to deliver defense solutions on time and within budget. Collaborate across functions, manage schedules, and communicate effectively to ensure mission success...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$70K - $96K *

Join a team that's driving innovation by managing key operational processes for licensing, ensuring compliance and efficiency through collaboration with cross-functional groups, enabling product and d...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$66K - $110K *

Join a dynamic team as you manage customer experiences and coordinate project flows. Drive efficiency in inventory management and quality control while fostering relationships with clients and vendors...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading retail construction projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to brand standards. Collaborate with design and operations teams to create engaging consumer environmen...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Lead the execution of retail construction projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to brand standards. Collaborate with design and operations teams to create engaging consumer environments whi...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 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.