Design Manager - Experience Studio

Description Your Role Gensler is seeking an Integrated Design Manager to join our Experience Studio in Los Angeles. The Experience Studio unites our Entertainment, Digital Experience, and Brand Design practices to create immersive, narrative-driven experiences that connect people to places.

This client-facing leadership role is responsible for managing complex multidisciplinary projects, leading client relationships, overseeing project delivery, and supporting business development efforts. You will be accountable for project outcomes, team performance, financial results, and client satisfaction.

What You Will Do Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Own the client relationship end to end — from pursuit through closeout and into the next engagement
• Set and manage expectations proactively; surface issues early, with a recommended path forward rather than a problem
• Navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments where client teams, consultants, and internal partners hold competing priorities
• Represent Gensler with executive presence in presentations, workshops, negotiations, and difficult conversations

Business Development & Account Growth

• Lead proposal development: scope definition, fee structures, work plans, and staffing plans
• Drive pursuit strategy, interview preparation, and client presentations alongside studio leadership
• Identify and pursuenew opportunities as well asexpansion on active projects — additional scope, adjacent work, subsequent phases — and negotiate additional services with confidence
• Build and maintain a network acrossall relevant practice areas, clients, and partners, including at conferences and industry events
• Contribute directly to the studio's annual growth targets; business development performance is a reviewed part of this role, not an add-on

Project & Design Process Leadership

• Manage the creation and delivery of design deliverables across all phases: discovery, concept, schematic, final design, production, and CA
• Create and communicate clear, attainable project objectives, requirements, work plans, timelines, fees, and reporting metrics
• Run an inspiring design process — manage day-to-day scheduling, team standups, and progress check-ins
• Coordinate with consultants on both pursuits and active projects
• Drive effective collaboration across practice areas, studios, and consultants
• Ensure projects conform to their proposals and contracts
• Carry multiple projects at varying stages simultaneously

Team Leadership

• Lead project teams of varying size, comprised of designers, strategists, creative technologists, design directors, creative directors, and motion and graphic designers
• Develop work plans and staffing plans that match team capability and capacity to project scope
• Set the tone: monitor team health, protect against unsustainable workloads, and keep the process energizing rather than grinding
• Mentor and develop junior team members; give direct, useful feedback and hold the team accountable to it

Commercial & Financial Ownership

• Own project financial performance: fee forecasting, budget management, and profitability
• Build fee proposals that are competitive to win and realistic to deliver
• Track scope against contract and manage change orders and additional services proactively

Your Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience as a project manager, design manager, creative project manager, account manager, or producer within the agency, architecture, experience design, branding, entertainment, or digital industry

• Proven track record of growing client relationships into repeat work and expanded scope

• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing teams through complex projects

• Financial fluency: comfort with fees, budgets, staffing plans, and profitability

• Experience overseeing interactive and physical fabrication (graphics, exhibits, AV) a plus

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent experience

• Superior verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation and storytelling ability

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite; familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Deltek, Smartsheet, Miro, Figma)

• The base salary will be estimated between $110,000 - $150,000 per year, plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience. To learn more about our compensation philosophy and full benefits offerings, please visit Great People, Great Rewards | Gensler

Life at Gensler At Gensler, 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 Awareness 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 Affirmative 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 [email protected].