Marketing Design Manager

Cresa • Chicago, IL

2d

About The Position

Cresa is seeking a Design Manager to support its Project & Development Services division, serving as a strategic partner to business development through the creation of sophisticated, design-forward client deliverables. This role is deeply rooted in design, with a focus on proposal development, presentation design, and the crafting of materials that elevate pursuit strategy and client engagement. The ideal candidate brings a strong point of view on visual storytelling, along with the ability to develop and refine clear, compelling proposal content—translating complex ideas into cohesive, client-ready narratives. Experience within commercial real estate and/or project management environments is strongly preferred.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, marketing, communications, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in graphic design, with a strong emphasis on proposals and client deliverables within a professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting business development efforts, including proposal production and presentation design.
• Strong layout, typography, and visual storytelling skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to contribute to and refine content.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to work effectively across teams and with senior leadership.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint and Word).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in commercial real estate, project management, architecture, engineering, or construction industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, layout, and production of proposals, presentations, and client deliverables from concept through final submission.
• Partner with BD and pursuit teams to shape messaging, structure content, and ensure a cohesive, compelling narrative.
• Support proposal writing and editing efforts, contributing to clear, concise, and client-focused content.
• Manage multiple concurrent pursuits, ensuring deadlines, quality standards, and brand alignment are consistently met.
• Develop tailored materials for specific clients, sectors, and opportunities.
• Produce high-quality graphics and layouts for a wide range of materials, including proposals, pitch decks, case studies, and qualifications packages.
• Translate complex information into clean, visually engaging formats that enhance clarity and storytelling.
• Maintain and evolve templates, tools, and systems that improve efficiency and consistency across deliverables.
• Collaborate with internal teams to build and maintain a library of reusable content, including resumes, project sheets, and visual assets.
• Ensure all materials meet established brand and quality standards while allowing flexibility for pursuit-specific customization.
• Provide design direction and quality oversight across all client-facing materials.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve processes, templates, and overall output quality.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees