Design Manager

JLL • Austin, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

JLL Design is shaping the future of the built environment, and we are seeking a Design Manager to join our North America practice in Austin, Texas. This role sits within our workplace practice, which focuses on commercial interiors nationally, and drives business growth through best-in-class project delivery, precise process management, and seamless team coordination. As Design Manager, you will deliver exceptional outcomes across multiple concurrent projects while building strong client relationships that fuel long-term partnerships. You will ensure operational excellence across the practice—maintaining quality standards, mentoring teams, and implementing processes that elevate project and team performance. This role combines critical thinking with hands-on execution—you're expected to stay closely engaged in design details, not just manage from a distance. You will lead project teams to deliver high-quality design solutions, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and contribute directly to studio growth. The ideal candidate brings a detail-oriented mindset, a keen design eye, proven design management capabilities, and the ambition to grow within a dynamic, forward-thinking practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field
• 7+ years of experience working on commercial interior design projects, with demonstrated ability to stay hands-on in design development
• Fluent in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Proficient knowledge of building codes and accessibility guidelines, specifically in the Texas market
• Keen design eye with strong command of design fundamentals—space planning, materiality, finishes, and detailing—and the instinct to catch issues before they reach the client
• Excellent client communication, listening, and critical-thinking skills, with strong presentation abilities and the capacity to think on your feet
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in healthcare, laboratory, industrial, or other technical environments (will be actively supported and developed in this role if applicable)
• Architectural (AIA) or Interior Design (NCIDQ) certification strongly preferred
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset with proven business development acumen within specified markets
• Strategic thinker who understands the business context behind a strategic brief and can integrate that thinking into the design process
• Exceptional standards for quality and strong attention to detail, with the ability to excel under pressure and prioritize competing deadlines
• Team player and culture-builder who works effectively both independently and collaboratively, and who actively seeks out and responds well to feedback
• Adaptable and energized by a growing and evolving design practice—comfortable with ambiguity and motivated by building something new
• Solid time-management and organizational skills to multi-task and manage multiple concurrent project deadlines

Responsibilities

• Lead design teams in generating client program requirements, initial test fits, and basic code analysis involving egress, plumbing counts, travel distances, and occupancy types
• Develop fee proposals based on project scopes and manage projects relative to fees, profitability, and resource staffing allocations
• Serve as the main point of contact for client interaction related to design concepts, approvals, and execution, while coordinating with brokers, property owners, and end users during site visits
• Guide team members in developing design and technical drawings, reviewing all work for accuracy to scope and technical standards
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members, building individual capability and fostering a collaborative, high-performing studio culture
• Maintain financial tracking to ensure business health and support historic data reporting for strategic decision-making
• Partner with studio leads to participate in new business pursuits, client development initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities, including assembling pitch decks and leading client presentations

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level