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Strategic Design Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... lead strategy, planning, project management. You will be familiar with working in a multi ... Partnering with the Design Innovation Director and working alongside the cross functional ...

... lead strategy, planning, project management. You will be familiar with working in a multi ... Partnering with the Design Innovation Director and working alongside the cross functional ...

Seasoned Innovation & Design Thinking Practitioner: The Design Innovation Senior Manager is ... Proven track record of strong leadership, team management skills and a strategic acumen * Superior ...

Design Management Lead

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$144K - $196K/yr

Lead comprehensive design process, which includes strategic, conceptual, and technical phases ... Manage the creation, submission, and revision of design deliverables to meet project demands.

Design Management Lead

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$144K - $196K/yr

Lead comprehensive design process, which includes strategic, conceptual, and technical phases ... Manage design Quality Assurance and Quality Control, to ensure the highest level of design ...

Design Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$100 - $115/hr

Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines Documentation & Change Management * Maintain detailed documentation of design changes and revisions * Analyze impacts ...

You will guide daily activities of the team of design management resources for project/s You will be responsible for supporting the delivery of design management to deliver key strategic outcomes ...

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Strategic Design Management information

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$37K

$119K

$189K

How much do strategic design management jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic design management in the United States is $119,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $149,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is Strategic Design Management?

Strategic Design Management is the practice of integrating design thinking, processes, and innovation into business strategy and operations. It focuses on aligning design initiatives with organizational goals to create value, enhance customer experiences, and drive competitive advantage. Professionals in this field work at the intersection of design, business, and technology, facilitating collaboration across teams and ensuring that design efforts support long-term business objectives.

How does a Strategic Design Manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation?

Strategic Design Managers work closely with teams from marketing, engineering, product management, and user research to align design solutions with broader business objectives. They often facilitate workshops, lead brainstorming sessions, and use design thinking methodologies to integrate diverse perspectives and foster innovative ideas. Effective communication and strong project management skills are essential, as the role requires balancing stakeholder needs while ensuring that design strategies are cohesive and actionable. This collaborative approach not only enhances creativity but also ensures that projects move smoothly from concept to implementation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Strategic Design Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive in Strategic Design Management, you need a solid background in design thinking, business strategy, and project management, often supported by a degree in design, business, or related fields. Familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, prototyping platforms, and collaborative software such as Miro or Figma, as well as knowledge of frameworks like Agile or Lean, is common. Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help bridge the gap between creative teams and business stakeholders. These abilities ensure innovative solutions align with organizational goals and drive successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Strategic Design Management vs Product Design?

AspectStrategic Design ManagementProduct Design
FocusAligning design with business strategy and long-term goalsCreating and developing specific products for users
SkillsDesign leadership, strategic thinking, project managementUser experience, prototyping, technical skills
Work EnvironmentCross-functional teams, executive collaborationDesign studios, product teams, engineering departments
CertificationsDesign management, strategic planningIndustrial design, UX/UI certifications

Strategic Design Management focuses on integrating design into overall business strategy, overseeing design processes at a high level. Product Design concentrates on developing specific products to meet user needs. While both roles require design expertise, Strategic Design Management emphasizes strategic alignment and leadership, whereas Product Design is more hands-on with product development and user experience.

More about Strategic Design Management jobs
What states have the most Strategic Design Management jobs? States with the most job openings for Strategic Design Management jobs include:
Infographic showing various Strategic Design Management job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,028 per year, or $57.2 per hour.
Innovation Design Senior Manager

Innovation Design Senior Manager

PepsiCo

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$123K - $206K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


PepsiCo rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 841 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

126th of 380 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Director, Global Design Innovation, the Senior Innovation Design Manager works in collaboration with cross functional team members to effectively develop and deliver business & design strategies and compelling designed experiences (brand, product, packaging, retail, merchandising) that have strategic business value.

Seasoned Innovation & Design Thinking Practitioner: The Design Innovation Senior Manager is responsible for the delivery of effective design thinking & innovation projects for PepsiCo's businesses.  Successful candidates will demonstrate superior ability to partner with teams in delivering strategies that can identify new opportunities, new products, and new experience that deliver against business goals.  They understand how to translate those strategies into testable prototypes and evaluate them against desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability.  They are adept at managing highly complex assignments and concurrent initiatives across varied project types.  They are driven to 'crack the code' on corporate innovation.

They are comfortable managing the ambiguity, inherent in innovation & design processes. The Senior Manager understands innovation & design methodologies (tools, techniques) and can provide input into innovation & design proposals, in order to execute against creative engagements and visualize the desired creative output.

They understand and are expert at design thinking, which underpins all our engagements. They pollinate design thinking within the organization through practical design methodologies, solving complex business problems and uncovering transformation opportunities to help brands & regional businesses get the most out of their resources. They apply design thinking broadly - thinking about the needs across the entire system - consumers, customers, business, supply chain, manufacturing, environment.

Strategic Project Manager & Collaborator: Working on projects that have critical business significance you will demonstrate the agility to lead strategy, planning, project management. You will be familiar with working in a multi-disciplinary environment, leading interdisciplinary teams.

Partnering with the Design Innovation Director and working alongside the cross functional innovation team, they are expected to lead projects and engage with a variety of stakeholders to get input and assess options. They work across all aspects of strategic design development leading opportunity identification projects to design strategies for new brands or product opportunities. They will synthesize research and business needs to ensure identified opportunities & design strategies result in sustainable growth and returns for the business.

  • Be a great practitioner & coach
  • Champion design thinking across the organization, educating while collaborating
  • Draw on diverse perspectives to solve design problems and drive effective solutions
  • Articulate design vision through prototyping, scenario modeling, strategic roadmaps, etc.
  • Collaborate closely with researchers, marketers, media teams to cross-pollinate ideas, methods, and approaches
  • Build and evolve methodologies, nurture the maturity of the design & innovation capabilities
  • Provide mentorship and support the professional development to junior team members
  • Work collaboratively to build relationships and get things done through formal and informal channels
  • Proven ability to incorporate research (including primary and secondary research) in strategic design processes

Compensation and Benefits:

  • The expected compensation range for this position is between $123,500 - $206,750.
  • 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 15% 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

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of experience, with a minimum of 6 years (recent) in a strategic design role
  • Bachelors degree in Product Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Engineering, and/or Business or equivalent years of experience
  • MBA preferred but not required

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in Brand Strategy, Design Strategy, Innovation & Product Development.
  • Proven track record of strong leadership, team management skills and a strategic acumen
  • Superior project management and design management skills; attention to detail
  • Compelling presentation and proposal skills
  • Proven ability to multi-task, work in ambiguous and dynamic work environment; is comfortable with risk and uncertainty
  • Must be willing and able to travel 20% of the time
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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

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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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