Design Manager - Senior

Gensler; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

401k

Profit sharing

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Gensler is seeking a Design Manager in Seattle to guide architectural design from concept through construction documentation. You will lead design teams, coordinate with clients and stakeholders, and oversee cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver innovative, compliant projects.

This role emphasizes leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication across internal teams and external partners, with compensation reflecting experience and market conditions in Seattle.

Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture with a rigorous portfolio.
• Approximately 10+ years of architectural experience across multiple building typologies.
• Portfolio of built work demonstrating design or technical execution.
• Experience delegating digital design tools across design stages.
• Public-speaking and leading large teams of consultants/clients.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Graphic design awareness for client presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage design teams through conceptual development and technical execution.
• Engage with clients on contracts, schedules, and consultant coordination.
• Manage client, team and project coordination with engineering and consultants.
• Support communication among project team, clients, vendors, contractors, and officials.
• Provide design support and documentation during concept completion and execution.

Skills

Architecture

Project leadership

Public speaking

Team management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Professional degree in Architecture

Job description

Design Manager

As a Gensler Design Manager, you will combine creativity and technical knowledge with business skills to help guide our clients. You have experience in the design and execution of commercial developments, and you have developed communication and team-building skills with which you have managed successful built work. In this role, you will have opportunities to evolve your existing strengths in design and technical coordination while also increasing your growth in management of client relationships.

Based in a studio of our Seattle office, you will join a team serving clients in Critical Facilities, Aviation, Commercial Development, Research & Laboratory Space, Higher Education and Corporate Headquarters. Through our close partnership with our clients, we are able to leverage design to achieve livable cities, reductions in global warming potential, and an engaging work experience for occupants of our projects.

For this Design Manager position, we are in a strategic search for emerging leadership. Your experience and your market presence will create opportunities to collaborate with principals of the firm in guiding your career towards further leadership roles.

What You Will Do

• Lead & manage design teams through conceptual development and technical execution, including programming client needs, diagramming and modeling conceptual strategies, developing conceptual designs into technical studies, and construction documentation
• Engage directly with clients in the development of contracts, scheduling of the design process, preparation of consultant RFP’s, and coordination with client stakeholders to assure approvals
• Manage client, team and project coordination, including full documentation coordination with engineering and specialty consultants
• Support communication between project team, clients, vendors, contractors, consultants, and building and permitting officials
• Provide design support and documentation during completion and execution of design concepts

Your Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture, demonstrated with a rigorous portfolio
• Approximately 10+ years of relevant architectural experience, with a strong background designing multiple building typologies, including Type I and Type II construction
• A portfolio of successful built work prior to undertaking a project management role, demonstrating your point-of-view in either conceptual design or technical execution
• Expertise in delegation of an array of digital design tools appropriate to various stages of the design process
• Proficient and confident in public-speaking, and in moderating large teams of consultants, contractors, and clients
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Graphic design awareness suitable for art direction of client presentations
• Ability to develop collaborative relationship across the firm, with clients, and with other key constituents

• The base salary will be estimated between $90,000 - $135,000 plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.

Life at Gensler

As a people-first organization, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affiant Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state and local law.

Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state and local law.

See also Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal, right to work and E-verify program, as required by law.

Gensler endeavors to make gensler.com/careers accessible to all applicants. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us.

Regarding Gensler’s approach to recruiting new talent, we will never ask an applicant for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. We advise all applicants seeking employment with Gensler to review available information on recruitment fraud. Anyone who suspects that they have been contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler should email [e-mail].