Project Design Manager
Cushman & Wakefield•St. Louis, MO
•$74,375 - $87,500
About The Position
The Design Manager is a client-facing design leader responsible for guiding the strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement of a national retail rollout program. This role partners closely with the client to translate business objectives, real estate strategies, and operational requirements into scalable, code-compliant design solutions that align with established brand standards and prototype guidelines. The Design Manager oversees and develops a team of designers, providing direction, quality control, mentorship, and resource planning to ensure consistent delivery across a high-volume portfolio of projects.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Interior Design from a NAAB or CIDA-accredited institution.
- 7+ years of design experience with demonstrated experience managing design standards, project types, or client design programs across multiple real estate formats.
- 5+ years of Revit experience in a professional setting. Proficiency in MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite is required.
- Working knowledge of IBC and ADA requirements for drawing review and compliance.
- Ability to pivot seamlessly between management and production tasks.
- Strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration with internal partners and external clients.
- Takes full ownership of requests to ensure successful, high-quality completion.
- Exceptional oral, written, and presentation skills.
Nice To Haves
- NCIDQ certification or Architectural Licensure.
- Experience managing project budgets, vendor relationships, and complex procurement processes.
- Experience with Bluebeam, Dynamo scripts, or other BIM automation tools.
- Background in retail roll out design programs.
Responsibilities
- Manage design direction across the client’s different real estate types, ensuring each solution supports the intended business function, user experience, and operational requirements.
- Maintain and evolve design standards, prototype guidelines, and planning criteria to drive consistency while allowing flexibility for site-specific needs.
- Coordinate design requirements across multiple project types, ensuring scope, schedule, documentation, and deliverables remain aligned with client priorities.
- Translate lessons learned, client feedback, and evolving business needs into scalable design processes, tools, and documented standards.
- Lead and develop the design team to ensure projects meet client deadlines and design standards, effectively delegate responsibilities, and foster ongoing professional growth and performance.
- Utilize data and reporting tools to measure team performance, uncover process improvements, and provide meaningful recommendations to leadership.
- Actively produce and oversee high-complexity projects, templates, and design assets.
- Perform rigorous reviews of test fits, space plans, and design documents to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with IBC and ADA codes.
- Step into projects to resolve complex design or technical challenges alongside the team.
- Review client business needs and suggest data-driven improvements that align with their goals.
- Present design concepts and project updates to stakeholders at all levels, bridging the gap between technical execution and design objectives.
- Stay current with design trends and software to recommend improvements to guidelines and internal processes.
Benefits
- health, vision, and dental insurance
- flexible spending accounts
- health savings accounts
- retirement savings plans
- life, and disability insurance programs
- paid and unpaid time away from work
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
