Design Manager - Architecture - Senior

Located in the heart of the city, the Gensler San Jose office serves as one of the firm’s key locations and a hub for innovation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary design excellence. Home to a diverse collective of architects, interior designers, strategists, planners, and technical experts, the office supports a broad range of practice areas including Workplace, Mixed-Use, Build-to-Suit, Critical Facilities, R&D Labs, Higher Education, and Corporate Interiors.

As a Senior Design Manager in the Gensler Silicon Valley Office, you will bring your years of project leadership and client relationship skills to build our capabilities to inspire and realize our mix of project types of all scales and complexities. You will serve as a leader within our architecture studio, guiding teams through all phases of the design and delivery process — from early test fits and technical detailing through construction documentation and administration.

This role requires a passionate and experienced leader with a technical mindset who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings deep expertise in the execution of complex architectural and interiors projects.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional technical knowledge, strong presentation and relationship-building abilities, and a demonstrated capacity to understand and interpret client needs while delivering innovative and technically sound solutions.

You will have a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end design process, beginning in the pursuit and marketing phase through construction completion, with proven experience across a broad range of project types and scales.

A self-motivated and collaborative team player, you will partner closely with colleagues across practice areas within the San Jose office and across the firm, while also working alongside clients, consultants, vendors, and stakeholders at all levels. You will play a key role in mentoring and developing less experienced team members while serving as a trusted technical advisor to the studio.

• Partner with Studio Directors, Principals, and project leadership to guide teams through all phases of project delivery
• Lead the development and execution of projects, ensuring design intent, quality standards, budget, schedule, and regulatory requirements are achieved
• Utilize your experience in project leadership and client relationship skills to build our capabilities to inspire and deliver projects of all scales and complexities
• Work collaboratively with others in your studio and in the Northwest region.
• Be accountable and manage the financial health of projects and client relationships.
• Lead a team or individually respond to RFQ / RFPs to build a pipeline of new work.
• Keep pace with technology advances and the design innovations required to develop the supporting critical infrastructure.
• Effectively and routinely communicate with your leadership on status of projects, pursuits, and teams.
• Work closely with office leadership to identify and recruit best-in-class talent
• Actively mentor staff in their growth in the design profession
• Strengthen our market reputation through thought leadership and a differentiated point of view
• Foster and encourage a positive work environment amongst peers and teams
• Partner with studio leadership and legal counsel on matters related to project delivery, contracts, and construction-related risk management

• Professional degree in Architecture required
• Minimum 15+ years of professional architectural experience
• Demonstrated expertise in construction documentation, bid review, construction administration, and field observation
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities…