Design Manager – Senior

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 Oakland office, you will join a team serving clients including Life Sciences, Residential, and/or Corporate Headquarters. Through our close partnership with clients in such active fields of development, we are able to leverage design to achieve livable cities, reductions in carbon footprint, and an engaging work experience for occupants of our projects.

For this role, 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 leadership of a studio or practice area.

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

• 10+  years (or more) of relevant architectural experience, with a strong background designing multiple building typologies of varying scale

• 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

• Experience negotiating project scope, fees, managing project financial performance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for projects

• Graphic design awareness suitable for art direction of client presentations

• Ability to develop collaborative relationships across the firm, with clients, and with other key constituents

• Strong Revit, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Microsoft Office experience desired. AutoCAD, Sketchup, Rhino, Enscape, VRay also beneficial

• Demonstrated commitment to sustainability and sustainable building practices required; Portfolios should include at least 1 project with this particular focus, and candidates should be prepared to talk to this in their interview, especially built projects with LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building Standard , Fitwell and /or Net Zero Building certification

​*The base salary will be estimated between $120,000 - $150,400 plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.

To be considered, please submit a portfolio in PDF format

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 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. ​