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Creative Design Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Olberding Brand Family

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Strong project management and organizational skills * Strong knowledge of consumer products packaging, creative design, and production artwork * Ability to articulate rationale behind design choices

Olberding Brand Family

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Strong project management and organizational skills * Strong knowledge of consumer products packaging, creative design, and production artwork * Ability to articulate rationale behind design choices

Olberding Brand Family

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Strong project management and organizational skills * Strong knowledge of consumer products packaging, creative design, and production artwork * Ability to articulate rationale behind design choices

ENFRA LLC

IS Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

We embrace innovation and encourage creative problem solving to tackle the energy infrastructure ... Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle ...

Olberding Brand Family

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Strong project management and organizational skills * Strong knowledge of consumer products packaging, creative design, and production artwork * Ability to articulate rationale behind design choices

ADP, Inc.

Creative Project Manager

Glencoe, IL · On-site

$55 - $72/hr

Creative Project Manager Glencoe, IL, US Salary Range: $54,500.00 To $72,213.00 Annually Title ... Director, Design & Production Hybrid: Requires a minimum of three days per week on-site at the ...

Chicago Botanic Garden

Creative Project Manager

Glencoe, IL · On-site

$54K - $72K/yr

Creative Project Manager Exemption Status : Exempt Department : Marketing and Communication Reports ... Director, Design & Production Year-Round Full-time Hybrid: Requires a minimum of three days per ...

McDonald's

Manager, Organizational Design

Chicago, IL · On-site

$115K - $144K/yr

As leadership shares its vision and strategy, the Org Design Team is focused on designing creative ... Duties In this role, you will: • Manage and/or participate in organization design projects ...

MERGE

Associate Creative Director - Design

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$129K/yr

Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most ... Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency ...

New

MERGE

Associate Creative Director - Design

Chicago, IL · On-site

$129K/yr

Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most ... Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency ...

Empire Today

Creative Operations Manager

Northlake, IL · On-site

$90K - $105K/yr

Design and produce high-quality creative assets across print, digital, web, video, social media ... Manage incoming creative requests and assist in prioritizing workload across the creative team.

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All JobsCreative Design JobsCreative Design Manager JobsCreative Design Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Creative Design Manager information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$43.3K

$117.9K

$207.6K

How much do creative design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative design manager in Chicago, IL is $117,942.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,000.00 and $148,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a creative design manager?

Creative Design Managers are professionals responsible for leading and overseeing creative projects within organizations, such as advertising campaigns, branding, and visual content creation. They manage teams of designers, ensuring creative output aligns with company goals and brand identity. Their role involves project management, creative direction, collaboration with other departments, and maintaining high standards of design quality. Creative Design Managers also stay up-to-date with design trends and often mentor junior staff.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a creative design manager?

To thrive as a Creative Design Manager, you need strong visual design expertise, leadership experience, and a relevant degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and project management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, team collaboration, and creative problem-solving are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the delivery of innovative, high-quality design solutions while effectively leading and motivating creative teams.

How does a creative design manager balance creative vision with client or stakeholder requirements?

As a Creative Design Manager, you'll often navigate the challenge of aligning your team's innovative ideas with client or stakeholder expectations. This involves active listening, clear communication, and presenting creative solutions that address both aesthetic goals and practical needs. You'll facilitate brainstorming sessions, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that the design output meets brand guidelines, project timelines, and business objectives. Strong collaboration with marketing, product, and leadership teams is key to achieving successful outcomes while maintaining creative integrity.

What is the difference between Creative Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative Design ManagerGraphic Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees creative projects, manages design teams, develops concepts, and ensures brand consistency.Creates visual content, designs layouts, and produces graphics based on project briefs.
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skills, and strategic thinking.Proficiency in design software, creativity, and technical skills.
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, client meetings, and project planning.Design studios, freelance work, or in-house departments.
Common CertificationsDesign degrees, Adobe certifications, leadership training.

The main difference is that a Creative Design Manager leads and oversees creative projects and teams, focusing on strategy and management, while a Graphic Designer primarily executes visual designs and creates graphics. Both roles require strong design skills, but the manager role involves more leadership and project coordination.

Is a creative design manager a stressful job?

A creative design manager often faces stress related to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects, and balancing client or stakeholder expectations. The role requires strong organizational skills, leadership, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations, which can contribute to job stress.

What does a creative design manager do?

A creative design manager oversees the development and execution of visual concepts for projects such as branding, advertising, and product design. They lead a team of designers, coordinate with other departments, and ensure that creative work aligns with brand goals and client needs, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills are essential in this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Design jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Creative Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Creative Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Creative Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Creative Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Creative Design Manager jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Creative Design Manager job openings:

Creative Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Design Manager job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,942 per year, or $56.7 per hour.

Design Director

Olberding Brand Family

Chicago, IL • On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Design Director
Founded in 1919 as Phototype and recently rebranded as the Olberding Brand Family, we are a family company focused on delivering the highest quality and client service in the graphics design, management and printing industry. We Design, Optimize and Protect Brands. Our clients are primarily consumer products companies and printers and we help them by delivering a broad range of services from brand strategy and packaging design, to adaptive design across various print and digital platforms, all the way to color management and the production of printing plates. With our world headquarters located in Cincinnati, we have over 450 employees throughout the United States and offices in Europe and Asia.
The Design Director will work with our cross-functional internal team to support our client in helping to market the brands they produce and consumers have come to love. Design Directors design within an established brand identity for some of America's favorite CPG brands, specifically for their packaging and digital presence.
Leading multiple brands from a design standpoint, expected to be excellent presenters and storytellers of the work and client facing, expected to lead a design team on projects, actively working on projects, displays mastery of the craft to share with other designers and clients, expected to adhere to the overall creative direction and standards set by the CDs. You will/may be expected to have direct reports.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
  • Support the organization of all files and assets created
  • Takes on the most complex tasks and conceptual work
  • Skilled wielder of design craft
  • Empowered to, and expectation of decision making autonomy
  • Looked to for expertise from fellow designers
  • Master storyteller
  • Expected to lead design WIP and work sessions to drive conceptual development
  • Leads multiple brands day-to-day
  • Manages multiple concurrent projects
  • Maintain and build client relationships and present work to them
  • Help forge and stabilize new client relationships
  • Collaborate seamlessly with Brand Leader partners
  • Manage and guide teammates in their career/craft development
  • Participate in crafting cross-disciplinary workflows
  • Take on new assignments and the most complex work

Management of our employees is extremely important to us since without our employees we wouldn't be here! It's expected of people managers that they take the time to listen, support and guide our employees through their career adventure with OBF. Below are our key manager expectations:
  • Inspire and produce great work across virtual environments from all team members
  • Develop team goals, prioritize and delegate work effectively across team
  • Build a team that exhibits trust and positively collaborates cross-functionally
  • Review employee strengths and gaps in order to develop them for our current and future business needs
  • Understand and ensure employees adhere to our company policies, procedures and compliance

Qualifications Include:
  • Ability to create, collaborate, design and direct within the packaging and digital workspace
  • Strong project management and organizational skills
  • Strong knowledge of consumer products packaging, creative design, and production artwork
  • Ability to articulate rationale behind design choices
  • Ability to diplomatically give and receive feedback on their work and work of fellow designers
  • 12+ years' experience
  • Amazing portfolio
  • Agency experience preferred
  • Expert level in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign)
  • Motion Graphics / Animation, photography, and/or illustration skills are a plus

Why Choose Olberding Brand Family?
When you join Olberding Brand Family, you're not just taking a job; you're becoming part of a legacy of excellence and innovation. We offer a supportive and dynamic work environment where your expertise in pre-media will be highly valued. We believe in supporting our employees' well-being and offer a competitive benefits package that includes:
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy
  • A 401k retirement plan with company contributions to help you plan for your future
  • Generous paid time off (PTO), personal time, and volunteer time off, in addition to 8 observed holidays
  • Parental leave to support growing families
  • Career development opportunities

The Olberding Brand Family is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes individuals of diverse talents and backgrounds.
For fastest consideration, please apply online to the Careers section of our website www.olberdingbrands.com. Only applications received through this process will be considered. No phone calls please.
Salary range for this role is $85k - $115k

Apply