Project Design Manager

Location: Washington, District of Columbia, USA; approximately 20% travel required for project reviews, site visits, and partner engagement.

Salary: $80,750–$95,000 per year

Company

Cushman & Wakefield provides commercial real estate and workplace-related services.

What you will do

• Lead the design and project management process for new restaurant environments, including conversions, free-standing buildings, and in-line locations.
• Develop conceptual layouts, test fits, design studies, and renderings that translate operational needs into clear design intent.
• Direct project teams, review deliverables, and coordinate with architects, kitchen designers, engineers, equipment specialists, development, and construction teams.
• Evaluate existing conditions, site limitations, field complexities, workflows, and kitchen equipment adjacencies to develop technically sound solutions.
• Review drawings, prototypes, furniture, fixtures, equipment, millwork, and program updates for alignment with client requirements.
• Conduct site visits, communicate project risks and design decisions, support change management, and uphold design intent through construction.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or a related design discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in commercial design, architecture, or project management; restaurant or hospitality experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of architectural design, front- and back-of-house workflows, site design, space planning, kitchen equipment adjacencies, and construction processes.
• Experience creating conceptual layouts and design intent documents and directing or reviewing work from architects, kitchen designers, and engineering consultants.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to collaborate across design, operations, equipment, and construction teams.
• Bluebeam and Microsoft Office proficiency required; willingness to travel approximately 20% is required.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, Enscape, or Twinmotion.
• Restaurant or hospitality design experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
• Retirement savings plans, life insurance, and disability insurance.
• Paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Work in a fast-moving environment with evolving standards and site constraints.