Workplace Design Manager

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.  

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.   

The Workplace Design Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping workspace environments that align with our client's strategic real estate objectives and global design standards. This position supports the development of design strategies for individual projects, ensuring compliance with the client's Global Workplace Design Guidelines. Reporting to the APJ Account Management and Project Management Director, with a dotted line to the Head of Portfolio Design for functional guidance, this role interfaces closely with Regional Project Management Directors across India, Japan, and Rest of Asia, as well as Stakeholders across the client organisation. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way—for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees—and this position embodies that commitment by translating business needs into tangible design strategies. The role primarily focuses on early-stage project development, working collaboratively with business stakeholders to understand their requirements and transform them into viable design scope, generating test fits suitable for budget estimation and programme development. Additionally, the Workplace Design Manager monitors design compliance throughout project delivery, ensuring alignment with approved design intent. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of the Client’s global design playbooks, design approval processes, and the ability to build effective relationships with design-specific stakeholders across the organization.

Core responsibilities:

• Coordinate with Country Heads and Transactions Head to review headcount projections and personas for each site against existing footprint and upcoming lease events, sales, and acquisitions.

• Lead the identification, development, and recommendation of workplace strategy changes for sites where existing footprint and headcount projections deviate, or where real estate drivers will result in design and construction projects.

• Collaborate with Project Management and Commercial Leads to develop suitable project execution strategies, timelines, and budgets to deliver required changes in workplace strategy.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all workplace strategy and design-related matters, representing design interests throughout the project lifecycle.

• Provide workplace and design support for pre-funding activities

• Lead interactions with the Client’s in region Design Manager.

• Engage proactively with Global Design Team to maintain clarity on workplace guidance, champion consistent application across the region, and manage exception approval requests.

• Oversee data analysis of regional occupancy statistics and benchmarking to inform strategic design decisions.

• Support workplace strategy development, recommendation, and material generation, including Space Budgets and engagement presentations.

• Lead the on-boarding of interior design and workplace strategy consultants, sharing all relevant materials to promote consistent delivery aligned with client standards.

• Attend relevant project meetings to guide workplace strategy and design direction, maintaining alignment with approved business cases and Global Workplace Design Guidelines.

• Monitor and validate that design solutions developed by project-teams comply with the Client’s guidelines.

• Support the development of conceptual designs including test fit layouts and renderings for project feasibility assessment.

• Maintain current knowledge of the client's design standards, processes, and best practices, and communicate updates to regional teams regularly.

• Proactively engage with colleagues to share updates on latest workplace strategy and design direction, trends, processes, successes, lessons learned, and compliance requirements.

• Collaborate with Account Management Services team to support capital planning and strategic sourcing operating plans

• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance design processes, delivery efficiency, and client satisfaction.

• Contribute to knowledge management by documenting design solutions, lessons learned, and best practices for future reference.

• Participate in internal design reviews and provide constructive feedback to project teams to elevate design quality and compliance.

Key Interfaces:

• APJ Account Management and Project Management Director (direct reporting line)

• Head of Portfolio Design (functional dotted-line relationship)

• Regional Project Management Directors (India, Japan, Rest of Asia)

• Regional Commercial Lead

• Country Heads and Sub-Region Heads for workplace strategy and design discussions

• Project-specific design consultants

• Business stakeholders and client representatives for approvals and strategic alignment

• Facilities Management teams for design integration with operational requirements

Success Criteria:

• Successful delivery of design strategies that align with client business objectives while maintaining compliance with Global Workplace Design Guidelines.

• Effective translation of business requirements into actionable design scope that supports accurate cost estimation and programme development.

• Timely identification and recommendation of workplace strategy changes that optimize space utilization and support organizational objectives.

• Strong stakeholder satisfaction reflected through positive feedback from Client teams.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex design approval processes and secure necessary stakeholder support.

• Consistent application of design standards across the region with minimal exceptions requiring escalation.

• Accurate and insightful occupancy reporting that informs strategic real estate decision-making.

• Successful collaboration with project-specific designers resulting in compliant, high-quality design outcomes.

Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate high-level business objectives into practical design solutions.

• Excellent relationship-builder who can influence stakeholders at various organizational levels without direct authority.

• Detail-oriented professional with strong understanding of design standards, building codes, and workplace guidelines.

• Collaborative team player who thrives in matrix organizational structures and embraces innovative ways of working.

• Proactive communicator who can articulate complex design concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret occupancy data, benchmarking information, and space utilization metrics.

• Adaptable professional comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and compliance.

• Client-focused approach with commitment to delivering solutions that balance organizational needs with user experience.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Real Estate, Facilities Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in workplace strategy, interior design, or corporate real estate project management.

• Demonstrated experience working with global design standards and managing design compliance across multiple projects.

• Strong working knowledge of space planning, test fit development, and project feasibility analysis.

• Proven track record of stakeholder engagement and management across diverse geographic and functional teams.

• Familiarity with occupancy planning tools, space management systems, and data analysis for real estate decision-making.

• Understanding of project management methodologies and design approval processes in large, complex organizations.

• Professional certification in workplace strategy, interior design, or project management (e.g., LEED, WELL) is advantageous..

Location:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

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