Design Manager - Experience Studio

Gensler is seeking an Integrated Design Manager to join our Experience Studio in Los Angeles. The Experience Studio unites our Entertainment, Digital Experience, and Brand Design practices to create immersive, narrative-driven experiences that connect people to places.

About the role

This client-facing leadership role is responsible for managing complex multidisciplinary projects, leading client relationships, overseeing project delivery, and supporting business development efforts. You will be accountable for project outcomes, team performance, financial results, and client satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Client Leadership & Relationship Management
  • Own the client relationship end to end — from pursuit through closeout and into the next engagement
  • Set and manage expectations proactively; surface issues early, with a recommended path forward rather than a problem
  • Navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments where client teams, consultants, and internal partners hold competing priorities
  • Represent Gensler with executive presence in presentations, workshops, negotiations, and difficult conversations
• Business Development & Account Growth
  • Lead proposal development: scope definition, fee structures, work plans, and staffing plans
  • Drive pursuit strategy, interview preparation, and client presentations alongside studio leadership
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities as well as expansion on active projects — additional scope, adjacent work, subsequent phases — and negotiate additional services with confidence
  • Build and maintain a network across all relevant practice areas, clients, and partners, including at conferences and industry events
  • Contribute directly to the studio's annual growth targets; business development performance is a reviewed part of this role, not an add-on
• Project & Design Process Leadership
  • Manage the creation and delivery of design deliverables across all phases: discovery, concept, schematic, final design, production, and CA
  • Create and communicate clear, attainable project objectives, requirements, work plans, timelines, fees, and reporting metrics
  • Run an inspiring design process — manage day-to-day scheduling, team standups, and progress check-ins
  • Coordinate with consultants on both pursuits and active projects
  • Drive effective collaboration across practice areas, studios, and consultants
  • Ensure projects conform to their proposals and contracts
  • Carry multiple projects at varying stages simultaneously
• Team Leadership
  • Lead project teams of varying size, comprised of designers, strategists, creative technologists, design directors, creative directors, and motion and graphic designers
  • Develop work plans and staffing plans that match team capability and capacity to project scope
  • Set the tone: monitor team health, protect against unsustainable workloads, and keep the process energizing rather than grinding
  • Mentor and develop junior team members; give direct, useful feedback and hold the team accountable to it
• Commercial & Financial Ownership
  • Own project financial performance: fee forecasting, budget management, and profitability
  • Build fee proposals that are competitive to win and realistic to deliver
  • Track scope against contract and manage change orders and additional services proactively

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience as a project manager, design manager, creative project manager, account manager, or producer within the agency, architecture, experience design, branding, entertainment, or digital industry
• Proven track record of growing client relationships into repeat work and expanded scope
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing teams through complex projects
• Financial fluency: comfort with fees, budgets, staffing plans, and profitability
• Experience overseeing interactive and physical fabrication (graphics, exhibits, AV) a plus
• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent experience
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation and storytelling ability
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite; familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Deltek, Smartsheet, Miro, Figma)

Pay

The base salary will be estimated between $110,000 - $150,000 per year, plus bonuses and contingent on relevant experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off
• 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities
• Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees
• Tuition reimbursement for certain eligible programs or classes