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Design Department Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

ECS Ltd

Geotechnical Department Manager

Dearborn, MI · On-site

Position & Office Overview As a Geotechnical Department Manager, you strive to lead both your team ... ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in ...

ECS Ltd

Geotechnical Department Manager

Dearborn, MI · On-site

Position & Office Overview As a Geotechnical Department Manager, you strive to lead both your team ... ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in ...

Osborn ENG

Electrical Department Manager

Detroit, MI · On-site

Osborn Engineering is seeking a Department Manager with 10+ years of experience to manage the ... Working knowledge of design and analysis software such as Revit, AutoCAD, SKM, ETAP, Easy power.

HNTB

Water Resources Department Manager

Detroit, MI

Join our Michigan Design Group and be an integral part of growing our Transportation Design Group ... Develops, monitors and manages the department's operating budget in support of the group or office ...

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Design Department Manager information

What does a design department manager do?

A Design Department Manager oversees the creative and operational aspects of a company's design team. They are responsible for managing designers, ensuring projects meet deadlines and quality standards, and aligning design strategies with business goals. Their duties include supervising staff, collaborating with other departments, allocating resources, and fostering an innovative work environment. They also play a key role in hiring, training, and evaluating design team members. Ultimately, they ensure that the design output supports the organization’s objectives and brand identity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design department manager, and why are they important?

A Design Department Manager should have expertise in design principles, project management, and leadership, typically backed by a degree in design or a related field and significant experience in creative roles. Familiarity with design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), project management tools, and sometimes certifications like PMP are highly beneficial. Strong communication, team-building, and strategic thinking skills help them motivate teams and align creative output with business goals. These competencies are critical for delivering high-quality design work, meeting deadlines, and fostering a collaborative and innovative department environment.

How does a design department manager typically collaborate with other departments within an organization?

A Design Department Manager regularly works cross-functionally, partnering with teams such as marketing, product development, engineering, and sales to ensure that design solutions align with business objectives and project timelines. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as the manager must collect input, coordinate feedback, and balance competing priorities across departments. This collaboration often involves participating in interdepartmental meetings, presenting design concepts, and integrating feedback to deliver cohesive results. Building strong relationships with stakeholders is key to successfully advocating for design initiatives and driving project success.

What is the difference between Design Department Manager vs Design Lead?

AspectDesign Department ManagerDesign Lead
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire design department, manages teams, sets strategic goalsLeads specific projects or teams, focuses on design execution and quality
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, broad design knowledgeAdvanced design skills, project coordination, team collaboration
Work EnvironmentManagement level, strategic planning, cross-team coordinationHands-on design work, project-focused, collaborative
Common UsageUsed in larger organizations with multiple design teamsUsed in both small and large teams for project leadership

The main difference between a Design Department Manager and a Design Lead lies in scope and focus. The Design Department Manager oversees the entire design department, focusing on strategic management and team coordination. In contrast, the Design Lead concentrates on leading specific projects or teams, emphasizing design quality and execution. Both roles require strong design skills, but the manager also needs leadership and management expertise.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Department jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Design Department jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Design Department Manager jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Design Department Manager job openings:

    Design Department Manager jobs near you
    Infographic showing various Design Department Manager job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution.

    Department Manager - Civil/Site

    Southfield, MI • On-site

    Colliers Engineering & Design
    Engineering Professional Services • 1 - 5K employees
    Learn more about Colliers Engineering & Designexternal

    Full-time

    Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

    Re-posted 21 days ago

    Key responsibilities

    • Provides leadership, strategic/managerial direction, and guidance for the Civil/Site discipline to achieve financial and growth goals.

    • Evaluates and monitors proposal development, contract execution, billing, and collections to ensure compliance and meet financial targets.

    • Monitors staff utilization, manages resources, and actively participates in business development and cross-selling of services.

    Colliers Engineering & Design rating

    7.7

    Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

    Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

    Job description

    Overview
    Colliers Engineering & Design is seeking a Department Manager to lead our Civil/Site team in Southfield, MI! The Department Manager is responsible for the professional, technical, management, marketing, administrative and financial aspects of their department and represents firm as expert in their specific department field. Manages the department in order to provide cost effective services to various department managers, project managers, staff and other employees in a manner which produces an adequate profit for the company.
    Join our Civil/Site team and build your career alongside the best our industry has to offer. Whether facilitating a large warehousing complex, all-star sporting arena, residential development, or planning a mixed-use establishment in a downtown business district, joining Colliers Engineering & Design will accelerate YOUR success!
    Responsibilities
    • Provides leadership, strategic/managerial direction, and guidance for a discipline to achieve established financial and growth goals for the discipline.
    • Has primary responsibility for overall productivity, profitability, client satisfaction, and quality of work throughout the discipline.
    • Develops, executes, and leads discipline marketing and business development strategies in collaboration with the Corporate Marketing and Business Development teams.
    • Evaluate and monitor proposal development and contract execution throughout the discipline ensuring compliance with Company standard operating procedures.
    • Evaluate and monitor billing and collections throughout the discipline ensuring compliance with Company standard operating procedures while meeting or exceeding discipline financial goals.
    • Serves as a resource for the leadership team throughout the discipline.
    • Consistently monitors the backlog of work and the sharing of resources within the discipline, maximizing staff utilization. Reviews staff utilization regularly and promptly addresses staff not meeting utilization goals.
    • Actively involved with business development and the cross-selling of all company services.
    • Prepares for the future state of the discipline through succession planning in a timely manner.
    • Holds people managers within the discipline accountable for fostering staff professional development, monitoring staffing/recruiting activity, and effectively managing employee relations.
    • Complies with and ensures others' compliance with all CED policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Health and Safety Program.
    • Collaborates with the Discipline Safety Coordinator on implementing and complying with the Health and Safety Program as it specifically relates to their discipline.
    • Travels (via car or airplane) regularly to the various regions and offices.

    Qualifications
    • Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
    • 15+ Years of progressive leadership and managerial experience in related field.
    • Professional Engineer licensure (P.E.).
    • Demonstrated effective leadership across large groups of employees.
    • Ability to read, write and understand English for purposes of comprehending written job-related communications and verbal instructions and interactions.
    • Excellent communication skills.
    • Strategic thinking.
    • Effective delegation skills.
    • Collaboration.
    • Ability to hold others accountable.

    What We Offer
    At Colliers Engineering & Design, our people are our most important resource. That's why we are committed to providing all our employees with a safe, comfortable work environment, potential for career advancement, and the ability to impact society through their projects as well as Company sponsored activities.
    This dedication begins with supporting a work life balance through a generous compensation package that includes: company paid medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid pregnancy disability leave; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; a company-matched 401(k)/Roth; paid time off that includes parental and military leave; employee referral and professional license bonuses and a straight time policy that compensates exempt employees for billable hours worked in excess of 40 billable hours within a work week.
    We have also created an internal culture that provides the resources and technology needed to encourage personal and professional growth opportunities through reimbursement for education; a free in-house resource for hundreds of educational and self-enrichment courses; mentorship program; wellness program; Women's Organization and ongoing philanthropic opportunities.
    Apply today to learn how you can join our team of professionals, so we can help you Accelerate Your Success!

    What Colliers Engineering & Design employees say

    Pay

    Benefits

    Hours and flexibility

    Workplace

    Get the full story on Breakroom

    Colliers Engineering & Design logo

    About Colliers Engineering & Design

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    Colliers Engineering & Design, an affiliate of Colliers, is a trusted provider of multi-discipline engineering and architecture, design and consulting services to public and private sector clients. Headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey with offices throughout the United States, we specialize in providing a comprehensive suite of services including civil/site, architecture, transportation, survey/geospatial, infrastructure, governmental, geotechnical/environmental, telecommunications, utilities/energy and project management. We employ professionals who utilize the most advanced technologies to deliver customized solutions for our clients.

    Industry

    Engineering professional services

    Company size

    1,001 - 5,000 Employees

    Headquarters location

    Holmdel, NJ, US

    Year founded

    1984

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