Design Manager

Cella by Randstad Digital is seeking a highly skilled and collaborative Design Manager for a contract opportunity. In this role, you will be an integral part of our client's dynamic workplace environments team, leading the charge in creating innovative and inspiring spaces that reflect brand identity and culture. You will help oversee a talented team of external designers and collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure spaces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, sustainable, and aligned with core business objectives.

This role requires a professional who is deeply connected to transforming spaces, managing corporate environments, and powering possibilities through cutting-edge physical design.

• Contract Duration: 2 years
• Work Location: Calgary, AB / Hybrid
• This role will involve site visits

As a Design Manager, you will provide strategic oversight and execution across a diverse real estate and facilities portfolio, including corporate and client-facing locations. You will take a holistic view of spatial design, workplace optimization, construction, and asset management. This role requires a blend of advanced design expertise, leadership insight, and strong collaborative skills to work effectively with various internal business units and external vendors, ensuring all physical environments are delivered to the highest standards.

Advantages
• High-Impact Portfolio Ownership: You will oversee design strategy for a massive footprint of corporate and client-facing spaces, providing a high-visibility platform to showcase your work and shape workplace culture.
• End-to-End Leadership Experience: This role offers comprehensive leadership autonomy, allowing you to manage external design teams, guide cross-functional corporate stakeholders, and direct project lifecycles from initial concept to site audit.
• Collaborative and Dynamic Culture: The position sits within an award-winning workplace environment team that actively prioritizes continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainable design practices.
• Professional Growth & Mentorship: With a strong focus on team development and coaching, this environment allows you as an experienced manager to further hone your strategic vision, change management, and executive stakeholder negotiation skills.


Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership & Team Management: Provide overall leadership and direction on all things physical design related, fostering a collaborative work environment that aligns with strategic objectives.
• Portfolio Oversight & Project Delivery: Oversee the design aspects of a diverse portfolio of construction projects, ensuring successful project delivery across corporate and retail spaces. Monitor project timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Performance Management & Process Optimization: Establish performance metrics, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of design processes.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including internal business partners, external vendors, and relevant authorities.
• Risk Management & Mitigation: Develop and implement proactive risk management strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate potential project risks to ensure business continuity and minimize timeline disruptions.
• Specification Management & Standards Control: Oversee the development and management of design standards and associated specifications, ensuring cost-effective execution and adherence to financial targets.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Champion a culture of quality and compliance, ensuring all design projects adhere to designated standards, specifications, and applicable regulations. Implement quality control measures and conduct regular audits and site visits.
• Space Planning & Programming: Work to create all relevant construction and fixturing documentation at all stages of assigned projects.

Qualifications
• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, or a related field, alongside 8+ years of progressive experience in design management.
• Technical & Software Expertise: Deep understanding of design principles, building codes, safety regulations, and industry best practices. Proficiency in design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit).
• Project Management & Contract Administration: A minimum of 3–5 years of experience in contract administration, project management, or a related role (preferably within a retail-facing capacity), with a proven track record of managing complex construction or design projects.
• Leadership & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to inspire, mentor, and delegate tasks to a team of construction professionals while confidently navigating conflict resolution and stakeholder negotiations.
• Strategic Vision & Problem-Solving: Ability to translate business objectives into a long-term design strategy, navigate complex situations, and implement change management approaches to meet new opportunities.

Summary
Ready to shape the future of innovative workplace environments? If you are a visionary design professional with experience designing for corporate or retail spaces, and are looking to lead impactful construction and spatial projects, we encourage you to apply today! Please submit your updated resume detailing your relevant design management experience.

Randstad Canada is committed to fostering a workforce reflective of all peoples of Canada. As a result, we are committed to developing and implementing strategies to increase the equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace by examining our internal policies, practices, and systems throughout the entire lifecycle of our workforce, including its recruitment, retention and advancement for all employees. In addition to our deep commitment to respecting human rights, we are dedicated to positive actions to affect change to ensure everyone has full participation in the workforce free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise, especially equity-seeking groups who are usually underrepresented in Canada's workforce, including those who identify as women or non-binary/gender non-conforming; Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples; persons with disabilities (visible or invisible) and; members of visible minorities, racialized groups and the LGBTQ2+ community.

Randstad Canada is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible workplace for all its candidates and employees by supporting their accessibility and accommodation needs throughout the employment lifecycle. We ask that all job applications please identify any accommodation requirements by sending an email to accessibility@randstad.ca to ensure their ability to fully participate in the interview process.