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Design Manager Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Role The Design Manager will proactively and collaboratively lead integrated teams, made up of both internal and external design and construction professionals, through Suffolk Design's optimized ...

Electrical Design Manager

Fremont, CA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

Airswift is looking for an Electrical Design Manager to work for a major O&G company in Freemont, CA, for an initial 6-months assignment. We are seeking an experienced Electrical Design Manager to ...

Product Design Manager

Oakland, CA · On-site

$217K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Everlaw is seeking a Product Design Manager to lead, grow, and empower a team of talented product designers building high-impact user experiences for an AI powered litigation platform. This role sits ...

Product Design, Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$222K/yr

Manage and mentor 2-6+ product designers, providing regular coaching, feedback, and career development support * Establish and maintain design quality standards across your team's work * Coordinate ...

Product Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$222K/yr

Product Design Manager We're currently seeking a Product Designer to join our Experience Design team. We're passionate about creating memorable, meaningful product experiences that build the Capital ...

Product Design Manager

Oakland, CA · On-site +1

$217K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Everlaw is seeking a Product Design Manager to lead, grow, and empower a team of talented product designers building high-impact user experiences for an AI powered litigation platform. This role sits ...

Product Design Manager

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$231K/yr

About the Role As a Product Design Manager at Solace, you'll lead a team of talented product designers while remaining deeply involved in the craft yourself. This isn't a role for someone who wants ...

Senior Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction ...

Manager, Graphics Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are looking for a Marketing Graphic Design Manager who is first and foremost an exceptional presentation designer and visual storyteller. This role sits at the intersection of design, storytelling ...

The Design Manager Assistant (DMA) is a manager support role on Got Light's field team. The DMA works directly under the Design Manager (DM), executing assigned projects on-site with a high degree of ...

The Design Manager Assistant (DMA) is a manager support role on Got Light's field team. The DMA works directly under the Design Manager (DM), executing assigned projects on-site with a high degree of ...

Principal Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250 - $290/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Principal Design Manager Los Angeles, CA • San Francisco, CA Product Design Hybrid Full-time The Role We are looking for a Principal Design Manager to lead and grow a team of senior individual ...

New

Assistant Store Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$50 - $54/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

About the Role You will support the Design Managers and VP of Store Design from initial site identification through design development, construction, and store opening. You will work closely with ...

Senior Design Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$161K - $215K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This Design Manager role sits at the intersection of craft and culture: someone who brings the structural rigor and quality standards forged at scale, and the scrappy, high-ownership execution that ...

We are seeking a highly hands-on, detail-oriented and creative Brand Design Manager who can bridge brand strategy, design, and execution. You will not only define how a brand should look, feel, and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Design Manager information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$51.4K

$140.2K

$246.7K

How much do design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for design manager in Berkeley, CA is $140,187.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,200.00 and $176,300.00 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 Berkeley, CA?

The most popular types of Design jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Design Manager jobs in Berkeley, CA?

For Design Manager jobs in Berkeley, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Manager jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Manager jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Design Manager jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Design Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Design Manager job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,187 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Design Manager

Suffolk Construction

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Suffolk Construction rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Overview

About Suffolk  

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds. 

Suffolk - America's Contractor - is a national company with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR's list of "Top CM-at-Risk Contractors." For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. 

At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That's why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially. 

Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more. For more information, clickhere. 

About Suffolk Design

Suffolk's newly created design vertical, Suffolk Design, aims to disrupt the traditional design delivery process through a proprietary, collaborative, and fully integrated design-build service offering. Suffolk Design promises to leverage Suffolk's core construction capabilities, along with innovative technologies and processes to create world-class design-build and design-management services delivering to its clients design excellence with unprecedented levels of efficiency and predictability. 

The Role

The Design Manager will proactively and collaboratively lead integrated teams, made up of both internal and external design and construction professionals, through Suffolk Design's optimized, end-to-end design-build management process from design inception to building completion. The ideal candidate will commit themselves to substantially enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and speed of the design, documentation, and construction process, and will enthusiastically leverage innovative procedures, tools, and technologies to exceed our client's expectations.

Responsibilities

Core Design Management

  • Responsible for the successful realization of client's project vision, including performance, programming, cost, and schedule objectives.
  • Lead the interface between the Design team, Suffolk operations, external design and industry professionals, trade partners, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders to achieve project goals, all the while embracing culture of authentic collaboration and technical competence.
  • Maintain and support client relationships during all project phases, ensuring a client-first mentality that encourages both active engagement in and ownership of all design decisions.
  • Lead project team meetings, workshops, and other collaborative communications throughout a project's life cycle.
  • Hold self, and teams, accountable for meeting deadlines and trouble-shoot challenges by leveraging the full capacity of interdisciplinary project teams.

Design Process Management

  • Lead the development and management of optimized design processes for each project, supporting the efficient, linear delivery of fully coordinated and buildable drawings prior to the start of construction.
  • Build upon Suffolk's world-class construction planning and execution capabilities by strategically aligning documentation development with construction sequencing, supporting streamlined workflows.
  • In association with Suffolk preconstruction experts, lead the execution of rigorous, 'real-time', project constructability reviews during design process, ensuring that all documentation is complete, coordinated, and buildable prior to the start of construction.
  • At key project design milestones, liaise with preconstruction teams to evaluate and validate that cost and schedule align with project objectives.

Suffolk Design Operations

  • Track and report progress towards project milestone completion, staffing allocations, and project financial health.
  • In collaboration with Design leadership and the project team, analyze, refine, and test design-construction workflow assumptions in real-time to optimize Suffolk Design's process moving forward.
  • Leverage and grow Suffolk's proprietary constructability knowledge database, which serves as a critical input to a proactive QA/QC process throughout design.
  • Support Suffolk's design technology staff in the introduction of automated design and documentation processes and workflows.
Qualifications
  • Certification as licensed architect or professional engineer is strongly preferred.
  • Professional degree in Architecture or Engineering is required. Advanced degree preferred.
  • 8-10 years' experience in the professional design services industry, with a background in design project management.
  • Proven success working on multiple projects and commercial building types, across all project phases.
  • Experience managing teams through the duration of the project's design process, including completion of Construction Documentation (Drawing & Specification).
  • Substantial hands-on experience through the full Construction Administration cycle on multiple projects.
  • Proficiency with Building Information Modeling platforms, including the Autodesk Suite and other industry standard 3D modeling and analysis software.
  • Substantial knowledge of building and zoning codes, entitlement procedures, environmental regulations, and regulatory agency requirements, including those of the Division of the State Architect
  • Extensive knowledge of industry standards and resources.
  • Shared enthusiasm for executing the Design vision, with a demonstrated willingness to rethink traditional methodologies and to passionately seek out advancements in project delivery outcomes.
  • Desire to be part of something bigger than oneself and appreciate the opportunity that Suffolk and Design bring to radically transform the design and construction industry.
  • Genuinely collaborative and open to the expert opinions of leading construction and technology industry experts, all the while able to confidently bring technical design knowledge to the discussion.
  • Deep awareness and sensitivity to the workings of the design and construction processes, and the ability to interpret and develop creative, technically competent, and constructible solutions to design challenges.
  • Demonstrates value-driven design philosophy that incorporates sound business judgement, community benefit and aesthetic excellence.
  • Strong management capabilities and proactive leadership qualities that allow for systematic and consistent implementation of standard processes, procedures, and systems across Suffolk Design and Suffolk's broader design-build delivery business.
  • Self-motivated and able to work as part of a team or independently, depending on the situation.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills
  • Inquisitive with a passion for excellence and continual improvement.
  • Able to travel, as needed.
  • Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
  • Must possess Suffolk's Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring
Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.

Compensation Information

Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk's total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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