Design Manager - Senior

About the Role

As a Gensler Design Manager, you will combine creativity and technical knowledge with business skills to help guide our clients. You have experience in the design and execution of commercial developments, and you have developed communication and team‑building skills with which you have managed successful built work. In this role, you will have opportunities to evolve your existing strengths in design and technical coordination while also increasing your growth in management of client relationships.

Based in our Oakland office, you will join a team serving clients in Commercial Development, Research & Laboratory Space, Higher Education and Corporate Headquarters. Through our close partnership with our clients, we are able to leverage design to achieve livable cities, reductions in global warming potential, and an engaging work experience for occupants of our projects. For this Design Manager position, we are in a strategic search for emerging leadership.

Your experience and market presence will create opportunities to collaborate with principals of the firm in guiding your career towards further leadership roles.

• Lead and manage design teams through conceptual development and technical execution, including programming client needs, diagramming and modeling conceptual strategies, developing conceptual designs into technical studies, and construction documentation.
• Engage directly with clients in the development of contracts, scheduling of the design process, preparation of consultant RFPs, and coordination with client stakeholders to assure approvals.
• Manage client, team and project coordination, including full documentation coordination with engineering and specialty consultants.
• Support communication between project team, clients, vendors, contractors, consultants, and building and permitting officials.
• Provide design support and documentation during completion and execution of design concepts.

• Professional degree in Architecture, demonstrated with a rigorous portfolio.
• Approximately 8+ years of relevant architectural experience, with a strong background designing multiple building typologies, including Type I and Type II construction.
• A portfolio of successful built work prior to undertaking a project management role, demonstrating your point‑of‑view in either conceptual design or technical execution.
• Expertise in delegation of an array of digital design tools appropriate to various stages of the design process.
• Proficient and confident in public‑speaking, and in moderating large teams of consultants, contractors, and clients.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Graphic design awareness suitable for art direction of client presentations.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships across the firm, with clients, and with other key constituents.

The base salary is estimated between $120,000 and $135,000, plus bonuses and benefits, and is contingent on relevant experience. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k), profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice‑annual bonus opportunities. We also offer reimbursement for certain professional licenses, tuition for eligible programs, and provide licensure and professional development support.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affordable Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state, or local law. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.