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.
Architectural Project Manager - Manufacturing/Industrial
$95K - $115K *
Elevate project execution by leading teams through design and delivery phases, ensuring quality and client satisfaction while managing schedules and budgets effectively. Foster strong client relations...
2 weeks ago
Architectural Project Manager - Manufacturing/Industrial
$80K - $110K *
Lead the charge in managing architectural projects, ensuring quality and client satisfaction through all phases of design and delivery. Collaborate with teams to uphold standards while driving project...
2 weeks ago
Architectural Project Manager - Manufacturing/Industrial
$80K - $110K *
Lead project teams through all phases of design and delivery, ensuring quality and client satisfaction. Manage schedules, budgets, and communications while fostering strong relationships and upholding...
2 weeks ago
Architectural Project Manager - Manufacturing/Industrial
$80K - $110K *
Lead project teams through all phases of design and delivery, ensuring quality and client satisfaction. Manage schedules, budgets, and communications while fostering strong client relationships in a d...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Architectural Project Manager - Manufacturing/Industrial
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's redefining architectural project management by leading diverse teams through all phases of design and delivery. Focus on client relationships, project execution, and maintaining hig...
2 weeks ago
Central Document Control Manager
$52K - $200K *
Drive the modernization of document control and records management across global semiconductor construction projects, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and security in documentation processes while col...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Manage all phases of architecture projects from design to execution, ensuring client satisfaction and team collaboration. Engage with clients and stakeholders while contributing to mentoring and busin...
Reposted 2 days ago
Project Manager - Institutional
$95K - $115K *
Lead the charge in delivering complex healthcare construction projects, ensuring safety, budget adherence, and compliance. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care while managi...
Reposted 1 week ago
$60K - $120K *
Join a team that's dedicated to designing innovative Fire Protection Systems. Utilize AutoCAD and HydraCAD to create layouts, perform hydraulic calculations, and ensure project success through collabo...
2 weeks ago
$130K - $160K *
Lead the charge in optimizing plant operations, ensuring safety, quality, and productivity. Drive continuous improvement initiatives while fostering a high-performing team culture. Collaborate cross-f...
Reposted 1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Manage a diverse portfolio of retrofit projects at a multi-building data center, ensuring effective communication and coordination across teams to optimize project delivery and adherence to standards...
2 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Drive project success by managing custom fixture manufacturing from sales to delivery. Ensure quality, timeliness, and customer satisfaction while fostering strong relationships and leading cross-func...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Drive project success by managing custom fixture manufacturing from sales to delivery. Collaborate with teams to ensure quality, timeliness, and customer satisfaction while fostering strong relationsh...
4 weeks ago
$75K - $109K *
Champion innovative BIM strategies, ensuring model quality and consistency across projects. Lead training initiatives, manage digital assets, and drive technology adoption to enhance collaboration and...
2 weeks ago
$75K - $109K *
Transform project delivery by leading BIM strategies, ensuring quality and innovation across teams. Drive efficiency through training, mentoring, and technology initiatives while maintaining high stan...
2 weeks ago
Electrical Manager (Engineering Specialist)
$104K - $156K *
Optimize electrical design and execution for large-scale industrial projects, ensuring compliance with standards and fostering innovation. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver safe, efficient, and h...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Electrical Manager (Engineering Specialist)
$104K - $156K *
Drive electrical design excellence for large-scale industrial projects. Lead cross-functional teams to ensure compliance, safety, and innovation while managing timelines and stakeholder relationships...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform the design landscape by leading architectural innovation and project delivery for data centers, ensuring superior performance and operational excellence across the Americas through collabora...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Product Manager, Portfolio Optimization
$95K - $115K *
Elevate product performance by optimizing assortment, pricing, and inventory. Leverage data insights to drive revenue and enhance customer experience while leading cross-functional initiatives for con...
2 weeks ago
Product Manager, Portfolio Optimization
$95K - $115K *
Unlock potential by optimizing product performance across channels. Drive revenue and margin through data-driven insights, lifecycle management, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance customer...
2 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Drive materials management excellence by overseeing inventory, quality, and delivery processes. Collaborate with operations to optimize production plans and ensure compliance with industry standards w...
3 weeks ago
$115K - $183K *
Lead the charge in delivering complex projects and programs, collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals and optimize resources while fostering project management excellence a...
2 weeks ago
$115K - $183K *
Lead the execution of complex projects and programs, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize resources, enhance stakeholder engagement, and dr...
2 weeks ago
$115K - $183K *
Drive your career with impactful leadership in project management, overseeing complex programs and portfolios. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals, optimize resources, a...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Lead the charge in delivering industrial electrical projects, combining project management and customer engagement. Collaborate with teams to ensure safe, efficient execution while building strong cli...
4 weeks 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.