Project Design Manager

Cushman & Wakefield • Saint Louis, MO

16d

About The Position

The Project Design Manager leads project design for global Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations under 15,000 square feet, aligned with CW Workplace Guidelines and Design Standards. The role analyzes, plans, designs, documents, and manages interior non-structural and non-seismic construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building, fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines, for permitting as allowed by law. The position applies expertise in space planning; interior materials and finishes; casework, furniture, furnishings, and equipment; lighting; acoustics; wayfinding; ergonomics and anthropometrics; and human environmental behavior. It also manages annual portfolio audits against CW Workplace Standards & Guidelines and is accountable for developing and quality-managing design deliverables. Revit experience is required.

The manager coordinates design with clients, stakeholders, local operations teams, contractors, and allied design professionals and consultants. The role supports product and finish selection, manages client design standards and improvements, contributes to budget and value-engineering efforts, and oversees project close-out documentation and transfer of as-built plans into the space data management system. It also coaches local operations teams on space planning and FF&E solutions and promotes compliance with established workflows and service standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a CIDA-accredited institution in a related discipline or field, such as Architecture, Interior Design, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, Project Management, or Construction Management; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in another major plus an Interior Design certification, degree, or diploma.
• Three to five years of experience in a corporate real estate environment.
• Proficiency in architectural and engineering drawings, concepts, and design.
• Experience managing projects of varied scope and complexity.
• Experience contributing to budgets, managing vendor relationships, and supporting procurement processes.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite applications.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal relationship skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external partners to deliver effective services.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to take ownership of requests and ensure successful completion.
• Strong attention to detail and quality.
• Ability to handle concurrent projects with minimal supervision and direction.
• Revit experience.

Responsibilities

• Understand, document, and confirm CW CRE and stakeholder goals and objectives, including desired design outcomes, space needs, and alignment with CW Workplace Standards & Guidelines.
• Evaluate, assess, and document existing interior conditions and their impact on project scope.
• Interpret project data and develop test-fit design concepts and preliminary space plans that align with workplace standards and local codes and meet safety, functional, aesthetic, public-health, and applicable code requirements.
• Support selection of interior products, materials, finishes, furniture, furnishings, equipment, casework, signage, window treatments, and other non-structural/non-seismic interior elements.
• Develop phased contract documents, including drawings and specifications, to communicate design intent and obtain building permits as allowed by law.
• Oversee the non-structural/non-seismic interior design scope in coordination with architects, engineers, designers, and specialty consultants.
• Coordinate interior design with placement and finishes of building systems and devices, ceiling materials and heights, partition locations, and acoustical requirements.
• Work with contractors to respect budget constraints and contribute to value-engineering efforts.
• Manage client design standards and recommend improvements to workplace design selections, including furniture, fixtures, equipment, millwork, colors, materials, and finishes.
• Collaborate with FFE and Operations teams to ensure furniture standards and policies are followed.
• Manage project close-out, gather as-built floor plans, oversee drawing preparation, and import drawings into the space data management system.
• Coach local operations teams in space planning and FF&E solution development, ensuring established workflows and consistent service delivery.

Benefits

• Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, vision insurance, and dental insurance programs.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts are generally available to eligible employees.
• Retirement savings plans are generally available to eligible employees.
• Life and disability insurance programs are generally available to eligible employees.
• Paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Competitive pay.

What This Job Offers

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