Design Manager

Design Manager (P2) Location: San Fransico, California Summary JLL Design is shaping the future of the built environment, and we are seeking a Design Manager to join our North America practice, seated in the Bay area. The position sits within our workplace practice, which focuses on commercial interiors nationally. This role drives business growth through best-in-class project delivery, precise process management, and seamless team coordination.

As Design Manager , you will deliver exceptional outcomes across multiple concurrent projects while building strong client relationships that fuel long-term partnerships. You will be expected to ensure operational excellence across the practice—maintaining quality standards, mentoring teams, and implementing processes that elevate project and team performance. You will be expected to coordinate with clients, consultants, and internal teams to keep projects on track while maintaining our high standards for design excellence.

This role combines critical thinking with hands-on execution — you're expected to stay closely engaged in the design details, not just manage from a distance. You will lead project teams to deliver high-quality design solutions, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and contribute directly to the studio's growth. The ideal candidate brings a detail-oriented mindset, a keen design eye, proven design management capabilities, and the ambition to grow within a dynamic, forward-thinking practice.

In this role you may have the opportunity to partner with studio leads, to participate in new business pursuits, client development initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities that expand our market presence.

Qualifications & Skills:

• 7+ years' experience working on commercial Interior Design projects, with a demonstrated ability to stay hands-on in design development rather than delegating it entirely.
• Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field.
• Architectural (AIA) or Design (NCIDQ) certification strongly preferred.
• Fluent in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, Adobe Suite and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficient knowledge of building codes and accessibility guidelines.
• Proficiency in application of architectural design standards, practices, techniques, concepts and emerging trends.
• Keen design eye with strong command of design fundamentals — space planning, materiality, finishes and detailing — and the instinct to catch what's off before it reaches the client.
• Excellent client communication, listening and critical-thinking skills.
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated and self-managed, with solid time-management and organizational skills to multi-task and manage multiple concurrent project deadlines.
• Understanding of building amenities as they relate to tenant attraction.
• Strong presentation skills with ability to think on your feet.
• Exceptional standards for quality and strong attention to detail, with the ability to excel under pressure and prioritize competing deadlines.
• Team player and culture-builder who works effectively both independently and collaboratively, and who actively seeks out and responds well to feedback.
• Experience in healthcare, laboratory, industrial, or other technical environments is not a requirement but an asset and will be actively supported and developed in this role if applicable.
• Strategic thinker who understands the business context behind a strategic brief and can bring that thinking into the design process.
• Adaptable and energized by a design practice that is growing and evolving — comfortable with ambiguity and motivated by building something new.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a design team in the generation of client program requirements and initial test fits.
• Lead a design team in the generation and validation of basic code analysis involving egress, plumbing counts, travel distances and occupancy types.
• Accompany brokers, property owners and end users on site visits related to new design concepts / ideas for assets.
• Develop fee proposals based on project scopes – manage projects relative to fees, profitability and resource staffing allocations.
• Targeted business development acumen within specified market – works with business lead to track, solicit and sell pre-lease and design services.
• Perform site visits / field investigations related to project work.
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members, building individual capability and fostering a collaborative, high-performing studio culture.
• Guide team members toward development of design and technical drawings.
• Review drawings for accuracy to scope and technical aspects.
• Serve as main point of contact for client interaction related to design concepts, approvals and execution.
• Maintain financial tracking to ensure financial health of the business and historic data for reporting.
• Work with team to assemble pitch decks and strategize on winning approach for customized client pursuits.
• Regular strategic preparation and creation towards and participation in client pitches / pursuits.
• Generation of pricing notes for developed design concepts / solutions.