Design Manager - Workplace

Your Role

Gensler Costa Rica is seeking a Design Manager who will lead the strategic and operational delivery of architectural projects, ensuring alignment between design intent, client expectations, budget, and schedule.

As a Design Manager, you will oversee multidisciplinary teams and drive projects across all phases—from concept through construction and post-occupancy—balancing design excellence with technical feasibility and financial performance. You will serve as the primary point of accountability for project success, fostering strong client relationships and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

This role requires a leader who can navigate complexity, proactively solve problems, and guide teams with clarity, while maintaining a strong focus on communication, collaboration, and results.

What You Will Do

• Lead and manage the full project lifecycle, ensuring successful delivery from concept to completion.
• Own project performance, including schedule, budget, and profitability.
• Act as the primary client interface, managing expectations, communication, and long-term relationships.
• Oversee and coordinate multidisciplinary teams (architecture, interiors, consultants).
• Drive alignment between design intent, technical execution, and business objectives.
• Provide high-level guidance on design and technical strategies without owning all production directly.
• Ensure compliance with building codes, regulations, and quality standards.
• Lead project planning, staffing, and resource allocation.
• Identify and mitigate risks, resolving complex design and technical challenges.
• Oversee project documentation quality, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
• Manage contract negotiations, scope definition, and fee structures.
• Monitor construction phase activities, including site visits, RFIs, and submittals, at a strategic level.
• Ensure effective coordination with consultants, contractors, and regulatory authorities.
• Maintain accountability for financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting.
• Champion quality control and ensure the integrity of the design throughout execution.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or related field.
• +8 years of experience in architectural practice, with strong project and team leadership exposure.
• Proven experience managing interior complex projects (workplace preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating consultants.
• Strong understanding of design processes, construction documentation, and project delivery.
• Knowledge of building codes, construction systems, and permitting processes.
• Experience in contract negotiation, scope definition, and financial accountability.
• Proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, Adobe Suite, and MS Office (hands-on level not necessarily production-heavy).
• Fully bilingual (English/Spanish) with strong communication skills.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage complexity, drive decisions, and influence stakeholders.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include subsidized health and life insurance, profit sharing, annual bonus, LinkedIn learning, holiday observance, additional PTO days every 5 years and employee assistance programs.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future