Design Manager

myTrueHR•Olathe, KS

48d

About The Position

A growing residential design-build company is looking for an experienced Design Manager to lead and help grow its residential Design department. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who loves residential design but is also excited about building a great team and making the entire department better. The Design Manager is responsible for the health and performance of the Design department—from the client experience and quality of our designs to project timelines, budget alignment, team development, and the successful transition of projects into construction.

Requirements

Experienced residential designer who wants to do more than just manage their own projects.
Enjoys developing people, solving problems, improving systems, and raising the standard around them.
Comfortable having difficult conversations, giving constructive feedback, setting expectations, and holding people accountable.
Experience with high-end residential remodeling, custom homes, interior design, architecture, or residential design-build is strongly preferred.
Previous experience leading or mentoring designers is important.
Experience with Chief Architect or similar residential design software, construction-management platforms, and residential construction is valuable.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop Designers and Associate Designers.
Establish clear expectations and hold the team accountable to them.
Manage workloads, project assignments, schedules, and design capacity.
Provide meaningful design feedback and help team members continue developing their skills.
Build a collaborative environment where people communicate well, challenge ideas, learn from each other, and continue improving.
Oversee projects throughout the design process, from Sales/Design Handoff through concepts, selections, estimating, construction documentation, and Production Handoff.
Ensure projects move through design on schedule and don't become unnecessarily stalled or extended.
Continually evaluate and improve design processes, standards, templates, and tools.
Create consistency without taking away the creativity that makes great design possible.
Identify problems early and take ownership of getting them resolved.
Ensure clients feel heard, understood, informed, and confidently guided throughout design.
Coach Designers on client communication, presentations, and how to guide clients through difficult decisions.
Step into projects when additional leadership or problem-solving is needed.
Ensure the finished design reflects the client's needs and expectations—not simply the Designer's personal preferences.
Work closely with Estimating and the Design team throughout the process to keep design direction aligned with the client's expected investment.
Encourage smart design decisions that balance creativity, value, constructability, and budget.
Help identify potential cost concerns before significant design time is invested.
Ensure the Design team provides Estimating and Production with complete, accurate information.
Work closely with Sales, Estimating, and Production so projects transition smoothly between departments.
Ensure drawings, selections, specifications, and construction documents are complete and buildable before handoff.
Participate in project reviews, Production handoffs, and construction milestones when Design leadership is needed.
Use feedback from completed projects to improve future designs and processes.
Monitor Design department workload, backlog, performance, and revenue against company goals.
Participate as a leader in company planning and continuous improvement.
Help determine what the Design department needs to look like as the company continues to grow.
Support additional residential projects, including spec-home selections, model-home selections, and staging as needed.