Design Manager

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

Design Manager – JLL

What this job involves: JLL Design is shaping the future of the built environment, and we are seeking a Design Manager to join our North America practice in Austin, Texas. This role sits within our workplace practice, which focuses on commercial interiors nationally, and 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 ensure operational excellence across the practice—maintaining quality standards, mentoring teams, and implementing processes that elevate project and team performance. This role combines critical thinking with hands-on execution—you're expected to stay closely engaged in 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 studio 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.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Lead design teams in generating client program requirements, initial test fits, and basic code analysis involving egress, plumbing counts, travel distances, and occupancy types

• Develop fee proposals based on project scopes and manage projects relative to fees, profitability, and resource staffing allocations

• Serve as the main point of contact for client interaction related to design concepts, approvals, and execution, while coordinating with brokers, property owners, and end users during site visits

• Guide team members in developing design and technical drawings, reviewing all work for accuracy to scope and technical standards

• Lead, mentor, and develop team members, building individual capability and fostering a collaborative, high-performing studio culture

• Maintain financial tracking to ensure business health and support historic data reporting for strategic decision-making

• Partner with studio leads to participate in new business pursuits, client development initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities, including assembling pitch decks and leading client presentations

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field

• 7+ years of experience working on commercial interior design projects, with demonstrated ability to stay hands-on in design development

• Fluent in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite

• Proficient knowledge of building codes and accessibility guidelines, specifically in the Texas market

• Keen design eye with strong command of design fundamentals—space planning, materiality, finishes, and detailing—and the instinct to catch issues before they reach the client

• Excellent client communication, listening, and critical-thinking skills, with strong presentation abilities and the capacity to think on your feet

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in healthcare, laboratory, industrial, or other technical environments (will be actively supported and developed in this role if applicable)

• Architectural (AIA) or Interior Design (NCIDQ) certification strongly preferred

• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset with proven business development acumen within specified markets

• Strategic thinker who understands the business context behind a strategic brief and can integrate that thinking into the design process

• 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

• Adaptable and energized by a growing and evolving design practice—comfortable with ambiguity and motivated by building something new

• Solid time-management and organizational skills to multi-task and manage multiple concurrent project deadlines

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Location: On-site –Austin, TX, Houston, TX

Job Tags: Bluebeam (Software) If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care

• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary

• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays

• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until candidate identified.