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Design Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Brand Design Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

As a Brand Design Manager, Gatorade, you will report to the Design Director, Gatorade, partnering on the design and execution of projects that support PepsiCo's Gatorade Portfolio business in North ...

The Design Manager is a senior project leader within a Design-Build / Construction Management firm, responsible for coordinating and aligning all design disciplines with construction execution on ...

As a Brand Design Manager, Gatorade, you will report to the Design Director, Gatorade, partnering on the design and execution of projects that support PepsiCo's Gatorade Portfolio business in North ...

UX Design Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$88K - $141K/yr

About the Role We're looking for a UX Design Manager to lead and grow a team of designers while driving product-led design maturity. You'll also play a key role in helping the team adopt modern tools ...

As a Brand Design Manager, Gatorade, you will report to the Design Director, Gatorade, partnering on the design and execution of projects that support PepsiCo's Gatorade Portfolio business in North ...

New

Senior Design Manager

Atlanta, IL · On-site

$115K - $125K/yr

As our Senior Design Manager, you are helping write it. You will be the creative engine behind a new product category, sitting at the intersection of real estate, design, construction, and operations ...

Design Manager Department: Development Position Type: Salary Company Overview: State of Play Hospitality is a rapidly growing international operator of tech-enabled social entertainment concepts. The ...

New

Manager, Content Design

Gurnee, IL · On-site

$95K - $116K/yr

Content Design Manager Hybrid- Gurnee, Illinois Who We Are: PurposeBuilt Brands, rooted in a legacy dating back to Weiman, stands as a pioneer in crafting top-tier products for specialty surfaces.

Design Supervisor

Chicago, IL · On-site

$19.10 - $37.30/hr

The Design Supervisor is responsible for the training and development of the design team, and for ... Manage multiple, simultaneous customer projects through all phases with a high level of accuracy ...

Design Supervisor

Chicago, IL · On-site

$19.10 - $37.30/hr

The Design Supervisor is responsible for the training and development of the design team, and for ... Manage multiple, simultaneous customer projects through all phases with a high level of accuracy ...

The Design Supervisor is responsible for the training and development of the design team, and for ... Manage multiple, simultaneous customer projects through all phases with a high level of accuracy ...

Showing results 41-60

Design Manager information

See Illinois salary details

$40.7K

$110.9K

$195.3K

How much do design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for design manager in Illinois is $110,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,900.00 and $139,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a design manager do?

A design manager oversees a design team during a project and typically works in the construction and architecture industries. As a design manager, you may work for specialty companies that contract out to construction firms on a per-project basis. Or, you may spend your career working as an in-house design manager for a construction company or architect firm. Regardless of the location of your job as a design manager, your duties revolve around supervising the design of a building project and include adhering to legislation and codes, eliminating safety and financial risks, and advising clients during development.

How does a design manager typically balance creative vision with project deadlines and client expectations?

A Design Manager is responsible for guiding their team's creative direction while ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. This often means carefully prioritizing tasks, setting clear milestones, and communicating regularly with clients and stakeholders to manage expectations. They serve as a bridge between creative teams and project managers, helping to resolve conflicts and maintain a productive workflow. By fostering open collaboration and providing constructive feedback, Design Managers help ensure both the creative vision and practical project requirements are met.

What is a design manager?

Design Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the design process within a project or organization. They coordinate and lead design teams, ensure design objectives align with business goals, and manage timelines, budgets, and resources. Design Managers often act as a bridge between creative teams and other departments, facilitating communication and ensuring that the final product meets both aesthetic and functional requirements. Their role can span across industries such as architecture, graphic design, product design, and digital media.

What is the difference between Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectDesign ManagerGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in design, management experienceBachelor's degree in graphic design or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams, oversees projectsCreates visual content, works independently or in teams
Industry UsageUsed in corporate, agency, and studio settingsCommon in advertising, publishing, branding

The main difference between a Design Manager and a Graphic Designer lies in their responsibilities and scope. Design Managers oversee design teams and strategic project planning, while Graphic Designers focus on creating visual content. Both roles require relevant design credentials, but Design Managers also need leadership experience. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design manager?

To thrive as a Design Manager, you need a strong background in design principles, project management, and leadership, typically supported by a degree in design or a related field and several years of design experience. Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management tools like Asana or Trello is essential. Exceptional communication, team leadership, and problem-solving skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively leading creative teams, delivering high-quality design outcomes, and meeting client or organizational goals.

Is a design manager a stressful job?

A design manager role can be stressful due to responsibilities such as overseeing creative teams, managing project deadlines, and balancing client expectations. The level of stress varies depending on company size, project scope, and workload, but strong organizational and communication skills help manage pressure effectively.
What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Design jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Design Manager jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Design Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Design Manager job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,945 per year, or $53.3 per hour.

Brand Design Manager

PepsiCo

Chicago, IL • On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


PepsiCo rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 894 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

154th of 436 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Overview
PepsiCo Design & Innovation is a creatively driven team that leverages the power of Design Thinking to solve brand and business problems that drive meaningful value and growth. Our mission is to elevate the role of design and design thinking as a function, process, mindset, and as culture in PepsiCo and the broader business world.
We are a consumer-centric organization with a start-up mentality within our larger organization; we collaborate with world-class partners in Marketing, Insights, and R&D to strategically drive business results with purpose.As a Brand Design Manager, Gatorade, you will report to the Design Director, Gatorade, partnering on the design and execution of projects that support PepsiCo's Gatorade Portfolio business in North America. Successful candidates will demonstrate superior ability to generate inspirational design solutions, driving from ideation to execution with quality and strategic excellence.
In this role, you will be responsible for delivering outstanding 360-degree creative work, crafting design excellence through all consumer touchpoints. Examples of projects may include development of brand design strategies, packaging and portfolio systems, promotions, and immersive brand activations, with solutions that span the gamut from print, packaging, social/digital, licensing, environmental and new media.
Responsibilities
  • Lead, manage, and mentor designers across the Protein portfolio, always emphasizing creative excellence and working in close collaboration with the PBUS Gatorade Design Director and other leaders across brand, product, enhancers, structural packaging, marketing, and advertising.
  • Responsible for generating creative design proposals (visions, scenarios, concepts) to share with cross-functional partners within PepsiCo and external suppliers to ensure products are developed and delivered with quality, value, and efficiency.
  • Energizes and leads both the internal team and external design resources from idea phase to commercialization. Regularly reviews the status of projects with appropriate leadership to ensure that expectations are met.
  • Participate in research activities and effectively translate customer needs into actionable design strategy (must be able to execute those requirements into design solutions). Help drive to final design recommendations, decisions, and design approval to enable artwork execution/production phases.
  • Demonstrate outstanding graphic design skills and develop brand extensions, LTOs, and collaborations that captivate consumers. Design purpose-built creative toolkits that establish clear brand throughlines, facilitate creative brainstorms, leveraging design thinking to spark innovative brand concepts.
  • Partner with designers to define and codify brand language and visual systems.
    Communicate ideas clearly through compelling visualizations and effective presentations to both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Oversee and execute the creative process from briefing to execution, with a focus on concept visualization.
  • Demonstrate vision and expertise in defining all design elements, including visual identity systems, typography, iconography, illustration, animation, and more.
  • Build a reputation for leadership, reliability, and excellence-empowering others to achieve their best.
    Balance visionary thinking with effective project management, delivering world-class executions while ensuring smooth implementation.
  • Expand your network by engaging the right freelancers and agency partners to enhance creative output.
  • Possess a strong understanding of AI and actively incorporate AI tools into their workflow to enhance creativity, efficiency, and innovation across design processes.
  • Supports the PepsiCo Design & Innovation organization in building and cultivating a robust external design network.

Compensation & Benefits:
  • The expected compensation range for this position is between $110,700 - $185,250.
  • Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
  • Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 12% of annual salary paid out annually.
  • Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
  • In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications
  • 8+ years of hands-on brand and packaging/product/graphic design experience.
  • Should have full-time agency side and or client-side experience
  • Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Firefly software
  • Must be willing and able to travel 15% of the time

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Strong conceptual design skills, package design and design strategy experience.
  • 360 brand design experience (i.e., print, packaging, digital, environmental, experiential).
  • Extraordinary design taste and expertise with an excellent sense of design trends.
  • Illustration and motion skills highly preferred.
  • Previous experience managing creative teams and/or designers.
  • Systems design thinker (packaging architecture and visual identity systems).
  • Ability to work in an agile, dynamic work environment with a start-up mentality (comfortable with risk and uncertainty).
  • Strong stakeholder relationship management - effectively influence at all levels in the organization, as well as across regions and functions.
  • Effectively communicates (verbally and written) with internal and external business partners.
  • Collaborative and works well with others to deliver results; keep others informed to avoid unnecessary surprises.
  • Ability to multitask. Excellent time and project management skills to be able to meet project deadlines.

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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age
If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.
Please view our Pay Transparency Statement.

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About PepsiCo

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Industry

Food and drink manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Purchase, NY, US

Year founded

1965