Project Design Manager

Project Design Manager

The Design Manager is a client-facing design leader responsible for guiding the strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement of a national retail rollout program. This role partners closely with the client to translate business objectives, real estate strategies, and operational requirements into scalable, code-compliant design solutions that align with established brand standards and prototype guidelines. The Design Manager oversees and develops a team of designers, providing direction, quality control, mentorship, and resource planning to ensure consistent delivery across a high-volume portfolio of projects.

The Design Manager is a client-facing design leader responsible for guiding the strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement of a national retail rollout program. This role partners closely with the client to translate business objectives, real estate strategies, and operational requirements into scalable, code-compliant design solutions that align with established brand standards and prototype guidelines. The Design Manager oversees and develops a team of designers, providing direction, quality control, mentorship, and resource planning to ensure consistent delivery across a high-volume portfolio of projects.

• Design Program Management
  • Real Estate Type Strategy: Manage design direction across the client’s different real estate types, ensuring each solution supports the intended business function, user experience, and operational requirements.
  • Design Standards Governance: Maintain and evolve design standards, prototype guidelines, and planning criteria to drive consistency while allowing flexibility for site-specific needs.
  • Program Alignment: Coordinate design requirements across multiple project types, ensuring scope, schedule, documentation, and deliverables remain aligned with client priorities.
  • Process Optimization: Translate lessons learned, client feedback, and evolving business needs into scalable design processes, tools, and documented standards.
  • Design Team Leadership: Lead and develop the design team to ensure projects meet client deadlines and design standards, effectively delegate responsibilities, and foster ongoing professional growth and performance.
  • Analytics & Reporting: Utilize data and reporting tools to measure team performance, uncover process improvements, and provide meaningful recommendations to leadership.

• Individual Contribution & Technical Execution
  • Direct Production: Actively produce and oversee high-complexity projects, templates, and design assets.
  • Technical QA/QC: Perform rigorous reviews of test fits, space plans, and design documents to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with IBC and ADA codes.
  • Hands-on Problem Solving: Step into projects to resolve complex design or technical challenges alongside the team.

• Client Management
  • Advisory: Review client business needs and suggest data-driven improvements that align with their goals.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Present design concepts and project updates to stakeholders at all levels, bridging the gap between technical execution and design objectives.
  • Innovation Advocacy: Stay current with design trends and software to recommend improvements to guidelines and internal processes.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Interior Design from a NAAB or CIDA-accredited institution.
• Professional
  
  Experience:
  
  7+ years of design experience with demonstrated experience managing design standards, project types, or client design programs across multiple real estate formats.
• Software Mastery: 5+ years of Revit experience in a professional setting. Proficiency in MS Office and Adobe…