Residential Design Manager KC Home Solutions

KC Home Solutions; Olathe (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

KC Home Solutions is seeking an experienced Residential Design Manager to lead and grow our residential Design department. You will lead Designers and Associate Designers, set clear expectations, and manage workloads, schedules, and design capacity while maintaining exceptional client experience and design quality.

You will oversee the design process from Sales/Design handoff through concepts, selections, estimating, documentation, and production handoff, ensuring on-schedule delivery and

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead and develop design teams.
• Ability to manage workloads, schedules, and capacity.
• Strong focus on client experience and design quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop Designers and Associate Designers.
• Oversee design process from concept to production handoff.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.
• Improve design processes, templates, and tools.
• Maintain alignment between design and client investment.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Process improvement

Budget awareness

Client experience

Communication

Tools

Chief Architect

Buildertrend

Job description

KC Home Solutions is looking for an experienced Residential Design Managerto lead and help grow our residential Design department.

We’re looking for more than a talented designer. We need someone who canlead people, develop designers, create accountability, improve processes, and still understand what it takes to deliver an exceptional residential design experience.

Our 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.

This is a hands‑on leadership position for someone who loves residential design but is also excited aboutbuilding a great team and making the entire department better.

What You’ll Own

Lead the Design Team

• 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.

Own the Design Process

• Oversee projects throughout our Design Critical Path, 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 our 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.

Protect the Client Experience

• 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.

Keep Design & Budget Connected

• Work closely with our Estimator and Designers throughout the design 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.

Connect Design to Construction

• 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.

Help Drive the Business

• Monitor Design department workload, backlog, performance, and revenue against company goals.
• Participate as a leader in company planning and continuous improvement.
• Help us determine what the Design department needs to look like as KC Home Solutions continues to grow.
• Support Shepard Homes with spec‑home selections, model‑home selections, and staging as needed.

Who We’re Looking For

You are an experienced residential designer who has reached the point where you want to do more than just manage your own projects.

You enjoydeveloping people, solving problems, improving systems, and raising the standard around you.

You can look at a beautiful design and appreciate it—but you can also ask:

Can we build it? Does it make sense for this client? Are we respecting their budget? Is it documented correctly? And is our team delivering the experience we promised?

You should be comfortable having difficult conversations, giving constructive feedback, setting expectations, and holding people accountable while still creating an environment where people enjoy coming to work.

Experience withhigh-end residential remodeling, custom homes, interior design, architecture, or residential design-buildis strongly preferred. Previous experience leading or mentoring designers is important. Experience withChief Architect or similar residential design software, Buildertrend, and residential construction is valuable.

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person