Design Manager - Interiors - Senior

At Gensler, we design for impact, helping organizations innovate through spaces that drive performance, culture, and long-term value. Our work transforms how companies operate by creating environments that foster collaboration, well-being, and meaningful experiences.

We are seeking a Senior Design Manager with a proven track record of leading complex, large-scale corporate interiors projects and cultivating strong client relationships. This role is ideal for a strategic leader who thrives at the intersection of design excellence, business development, and team leadership.

As part of one of Gensler's fastest-growing offices, this individual will play a key leadership role in helping scale our teams, strengthen project delivery, develop emerging leaders, and build the operational capacity required to support continued growth across Workplace, Advanced Technology, Critical Facilities, and R&D sectors.

Your Role

As a Senior Design Manager at Gensler, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy and accountability, leading complex, high-impact projects from concept through completion. You will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, owning key relationships while driving both project success and business growth. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, provide strategic direction, and ensure design excellence while maintaining financial performance and delivery rigor.

You will also serve as a force multiplier for studio leadership, helping translate strategic priorities into staffing plans, team development, operational excellence, and scalable project delivery.

Success in this role is measured not only by project outcomes, but by the strength of the teams, leaders, and delivery capabilities developed around you.

What You Will Do

Project & Design Leadership

• Serve as the lead design manager for complex, large-scale corporate interiors projects; managing large-scale, high-impact work (e.g., $1M+ fee, 100K+ SF, multi-phase or multi-stakeholder projects, or multiple concurrent large projects)
• Drive successful project outcomes across all phases while ensuring alignment between client goals, design excellence, delivery quality, and business performance.
• Lead multiple concurrent projects, including high-value and multi-phase engagements
• Ensure alignment between design intent, client goals, and execution

Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Act as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders

• Build, grow, and maintain long-term client relationships

• Provide account leadership (CR ownership) for key clients, identifying opportunities for expansion

• Navigate complex stakeholder environments and facilitate decision-making

Business Development & Strategy

• Support business development efforts by strengthening client relationships, identifying opportunities, and contributing to pursuits and proposals.

• Lead and contribute to proposals, interviews, and pursuit strategies

• Partner with Marketing on lead generation, positioning, and storytelling

• Support sector growth initiatives (Tech Workplace, Advanced Tech, Critical Facilities, R&D/Labs)

Studio Leadership & Talent Development

• Partner with Studio Directors, Practice Area Leaders, and Office Leadership to support staffing strategy, workload forecasting, and resource planning

• Drive project health reviews and proactively identify risks to project performance, team capacity, and client satisfaction

• Identify recurring project delivery challenges and implement scalable solutions across multiple teams and projects.

• Mentor and develop project managers, design managers, and emerging leaders

• Develop project managers and emerging design managers through coaching, delegation, performance feedback, and leadership opportunities.

• Help establish operational rigor, accountability, and consistent delivery standards across project teams

• Support recruiting, onboarding, and career development initiatives to build long-term studio capacity

• Serve as a key contributor to succession planning and leadership development efforts within the office

Financial & Operational Management

• Own project financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and profitability

• Develop and manage project schedules, work plans, resource allocation, and staffing plans across multiple concurrent projects

• Oversee preparation and negotiation of proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements

• Review project accounting and manage billing processes while partnering with studio leadership to monitor delivery performance, utilization, and team capacity

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, lead, and inspire high-performing multidisciplinary teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

• Establish clear ownership, accountability, and decision-making across project teams.

• Provide mentorship, coaching, and career development for junior, mid-level, and emerging leadership staff

• Contribute to recruiting and team growth efforts

• Help identify and develop future project, technical, and studio leaders

• Foster a collaborative, high-performance studio culture

Technical Excellence & Delivery Oversight

• Guide coordination, documentation, and delivery to ensure quality and consistency

• Oversee quality assurance and technical review of project documentation

• Ensure compliance with building codes, accessibility standards, and project requirements

• Drive innovation in design process, tools, and delivery methods

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field

• 15+ years of design management experience within an architecture or design firm

• Proven success leading large, complex projects and multidisciplinary teams

• Strong client management and business development experience

• Expertise across all phases of project delivery

• Advanced skills in space planning, programming, and FF&E

• Strong knowledge of building systems, codes, and accessibility requirements

• Experience delivering financially successful projects

• Demonstrated leadership and mentorship capabilities

• Sustainable design experience preferred (LEED or similar)

• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office

• Demonstrated success developing project managers, design managers, and multidisciplinary teams

• Experience leading staffing, resource planning, and delivery operations across multiple projects

• Proven ability to balance client leadership, business development, project delivery, and talent development responsibilities

• Experience helping scale teams, studios, or practice areas through periods of growth

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume, and portfolio in PDF format showcasing your experience and design capabilities.

**The base salary range is estimated between $150,000 – $180,000, plus bonuses and benefits, and is contingent on experience and qualifications.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we believe excellence in design is fueled by a culture that values creativity, diversity, and well-being. From curated exhibits to wellness initiatives, our offices reflect the passion of our people.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, 401(k), profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and biannual bonus opportunities. We also invest in your growth through licensure support, exam reimbursement, and ongoing professional development.

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.

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