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Design Manager Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Balfour Beatty

Design Manager

Falls Church, VA · On-site

Manage the design and permitting processes to ensure quality, on-time delivery, constructability, and cost control, by working directly with the designers, owners, and operations teams. Essential ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · Hybrid

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and business development efforts globally. This individual must be hands-on, collaborative, and capable ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · Hybrid

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and business development efforts globally. This individual must be hands-on, collaborative, and capable ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$84K - $130K/yr

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and business development efforts globally. This individual must be hands-on, collaborative, and capable ...

Mace

Design Manager

Washington, DC

$170K/yr

Manage design development through all phases, ensuring alignment with programme milestones. * Oversee design reviews, approvals, and assurance processes. * Coordinate design inputs with planning ...

Vantage Data Centers

Design Manager, NA

Ashburn, VA · Hybrid

The Design Manager champions design quality, value engineering, risk mitigation, commissioning readiness, and seamless handoff to construction and operations, while upholding hyperscaler customer ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Project Design Manager

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$87K/yr

Job Title Project Design Manager Summary The Project Design Manager's role is to be the main point of contact for their assigned account(s), implement workplace strategy and standards, and provide ...

New

Cushman & Wakefield

Project Design Manager

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$87K/yr

Job Title Project Design Manager Summary The Project Design Manager's role is to be the main point of contact for their assigned account(s), implement workplace strategy and standards, and provide ...

New

Cushman & Wakefield

Project Design Manager

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$87K/yr

Job Title Project Design Manager Summary The Project Design Manager's role is to be the main point of contact for their assigned account(s), implement workplace strategy and standards, and provide ...

New

Cushman & Wakefield

Project Design Manager

Ashburn, VA

$87K/yr

Job Title Project Design Manager Summary The Project Design Manager's role is to be the main point of contact for their assigned account(s), implement workplace strategy and standards, and provide ...

New

Aligneddc

Senior Design Manager

Oak Hill, VA · On-site

Senior Design Manager - IAD Does the thought of joining one of the fastest-growing, privately held data center companies sound exciting to you? Do you enjoy collaborating with team members to drive ...

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Design Manager information

See Washington salary details

$47.6K

$129.7K

$228.2K

How much do design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for design manager in Washington is $129,672.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,600.00 and $163,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Design Manager in Construction 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 are Design Managers?

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, and why are they important?

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.
More about Design Manager jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Design jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Manager jobs in Washington? For Design Manager jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Manager jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Design Manager jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Design Manager jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Design Manager job openings:
Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Manager job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,672 per year, or $62.3 per hour.
Design Manager

Design Manager

Balfour Beatty

Falls Church, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Balfour Beatty US rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 48 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 79 rated construction

Job description

Balfour Beatty US is an industry-leading provider of general contracting, at-risk construction management and design-build services for public and private sector clients across the nation. Performing heavy civil and vertical construction, our teams build the unique structures and infrastructure that play an important role in how people live, work, learn and play in our communities. Our teammates have an instinctive passion for innovating that is fueled by a relentless curiosity, a drive to employ lean practices and processes and the determination to find a better way. Through Zero Harm®, we are challenging the construction industry's assumptions about safety. We believe that no level of harm should come to anyone as a result of our business.
Consistently ranked among the nation's largest building contractors by Engineering News-Record, our US business is a subsidiary of London-based Balfour Beatty plc (LSE: BBY).
Our Benefits
Balfour Beatty offers employees a comprehensive compensation and benefit package:
Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
401(k) with company match
Paid time off
Tuition Assistance
Employee Referral Bonus
And more!
Balfour Beatty is seeking a Design Manager to join our team in our Falls Church, VA office, in support of various design-build or alternative delivery projects ($50M-$1B) in the DC/MD/VA market. The DM Coordinates and integrates with the owner, the builder and their trades, and the design team on design-build projects. Manage the design and permitting processes to ensure quality, on-time delivery, constructability, and cost control, by working directly with the designers, owners, and operations teams.
Essential Functions:
  • Assist in, and potentially lead project pursuits, including management of the overall design RFQ and RFP response, development of the GMP, and management / coordination of team members, including design team, trade partners, internal operations teams, marketing, etc.
  • Coordinate and monitor the level of completeness of the design against RFP requirements (or other project requirements) and contractual obligations during pursuits and design phases of a project. Develop deliverable schedules and manage to them. Oversee D-B Program verification/reconciliation during the proposal phase in association with project trade partners and the design team.
  • Consistently monitor the design progression for changes and cost impacts, including the identification and preparation of owner-directed enhancements, and management of cost trends. Communicate / document noted changes and cost impacts with all relevant parties and actively work with the team to reconcile cost issues, as needed.
  • Understand conceptual estimating and its relationship to conceptual design. Identify when design direction is moving away from the project budget and work directly with the estimating and design teams to mitigate any budget challenges. Review and coordinate trade partner estimates to ensure scope and budget alignment during the proposal and design phase.
  • Participate in interviews for new project pursuits.
  • Engage in contract negotiations with owners, designers, and trade contractors. Understand scope and other contractual obligations to adequately manage / communicate project expectations and requirements as the project progresses.
  • Work with the design and construction teams to develop a design and permit schedule that integrates directly with the needs of the owner, agencies, and construction schedule. Manage design and design team progress to be able to regularly update the schedule and resolve impacts quickly.
  • Actively review the design development and contract documents for quality and constructability. Facilitate coordination with operations and other field staff to solicit input on construction sequencing, methodology, and buildability. Work to identify solutions that satisfy the needs of the owner, design team, and build team. Review contract documents and identify potential design deficiencies associated with stipulated program/Owner criteria, establish a strategy with design team and build team to satisfy Owner needs.
  • Organize and/or lead meetings with owners, regulators, and project team members. Document decisions, actions, and other meeting outcomes, as needed, and ensure any actions are progressing. Coordinate on-time completion of additional design deliverables resulting from meetings with Owner and AHJ.
  • Role may not be limited to design management of design-build projects and requires adaptability. Depending upon project needs, the design manager may be asked to perform other management assignments, such as preconstruction management and/or project management on projects with different delivery methods.
  • Have sound, independent judgment, maintain a level temperament, and understand, communicate, and implement detailed project goals. Report out on the project status and goals to corporate leadership.

Minimum Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field. Equivalent combination of training and/or related experience may be acceptable.
  • Minimum 8 years of experience working on design or design-build projects with design teams, including the use of project management and scheduling software.
  • Experience working directly with owner's and/or owner's representatives.
  • Experience working on design-build pursuits, including the development of pursuit submissions/responses and GMP's.
  • Experience in developing and analyzing cost estimates and contract documents. Bidding experience is a plus.
  • Experience in construction administration and/or construction project management.
  • Experience working on large-scale design-build projects. Fast-tracked project experience is a plus.
  • DBIA Certification or desire to obtain DBIA Certification within 1-year of employment.
  • Professional licensure as either an Architect or Engineer is a plus.
  • Excellent verbal/written communication, interpersonal and supervisory skills, including public speaking ability. Must be capable of reading, writing, and conversing fluently in the English language
  • Capable of collaborating and communicating with various individuals - designers, owners, field staff, marketing, etc.
  • Due to federal contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible to be considered for this role.

Preferred Requirements:
  • Experience with BIM tools and lean construction practices.
  • Experience with RMS/eMCS, cost-loaded CPM schedules using Primavera P6
  • OSHA 30, Familiar with requirements of EM 385-1-1
  • Experience with mechanical and electrical systems construction and commissioning

Pay Rate: $130,000-$160,000/year
*This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, incentive, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law and any applicable plan documents.
Balfour Beatty is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by federal, state or local law.

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