This free Design Manager job description template is ready to use — copy it, replace the {{placeholders}}, and post your role in minutes. It includes a company intro, a role summary, responsibilities, requirements, nice-to-haves, and compensation, with writing tips and FAQs below to help you tailor it to your team.
When to use this template
Use this when you're hiring someone to lead a design team — growing designers, raising the craft bar, and owning design's partnership with product and engineering. It's a people-leadership role distinct from a senior individual-contributor designer.
Design manager candidates want to know the team size, how hands-on the role is, and how design is valued in the company. Be clear about whether they'll still design or focus fully on leadership.
If you actually need a strong IC designer, use the Product Designer template — conflating the two attracts the wrong candidates.
Writing tips
- State the team size and how hands-on vs. pure-leadership the role is.
- Emphasize people leadership — growth, feedback, hiring — alongside craft.
- Describe how design is valued and how it partners with product and engineering.
- Distinguish this from a senior IC designer role.
- Include the salary range and reporting line.
The job description
Copy the template below and replace the {{placeholders}} and [bracketed notes] with your specifics.
About {{company}}
{{company}} is [what you do]. As our design team grows, we're hiring a Design Manager to lead it and help our designers do the best work of their careers.
The role
As a Design Manager, you'll lead a team of designers — growing them, raising the craft bar, and owning design's partnership with product and engineering. You'll balance people, process, and quality. This role reports to {{hiring_manager}} and is based {{work_type}} in {{location}}.
What you'll do
- Lead, coach, and grow a team of [team size] designers.
- Raise the bar on craft through critique and feedback.
- Run 1:1s, support career growth, and own design hiring.
- Partner with product and engineering to plan and prioritize design work.
- Shape design process, rituals, and the design system.
What we're looking for
- 2+ years managing designers, with a track record of growing people.
- A strong design background — you've shipped great work yourself.
- The ability to give clear, kind, high-craft feedback.
- Excellent communication and a collaborative leadership style.
- Experience hiring and building design teams.
Nice to have
- Experience leading design in a high-growth or remote environment.
- A background in [your product area].
- Comfort staying lightly hands-on with design work.
What we offer
- Salary range: {{salary_range}}, plus equity.
- [Comprehensive benefits].
- Flexible {{work_type}} working and [PTO policy].
- A company that values design and the support to lead it well.
How to personalize
Replace these placeholders before posting:
- {{company}}
- {{location}}
- {{work_type}}
- {{salary_range}}
- {{hiring_manager}}
The bracketed notes — like [your benefits] or [your primary language(s)] — are prompts to swap in your own details. The more specific you are about the actual work and stack, the stronger your applicant pool will be.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Design Manager do?
- A Design Manager leads a team of designers. They grow and coach people, raise the craft bar through critique and feedback, own design hiring, and manage design's partnership with product and engineering — balancing people, process, and quality.
- What's the difference between a Design Manager and a Lead Designer?
- A Lead Designer provides design direction while usually remaining an individual contributor. A Design Manager owns the people side — growth, feedback, hiring, and team health — and is accountable for the team's output. Some companies combine the roles; many keep them separate.
- Should a Design Manager still design?
- It depends on team size. Managers of small teams often stay lightly hands-on, while managers of larger teams focus on leadership and step back from day-to-day design. Be explicit in the job description about which you expect.