(Senior) Design Manager (m/w/d)

Job Title

Design Management Lead (m/w/d)

Job Description Summary

Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) is seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking Design Management Lead to join our Principal Works team in the DACH region. Reporting directly to the Design & Construction Lead, this role is responsible for defining, leading, and assuring excellence in design and engineering across our Design & Build and client‑side fit‑out activities.

The role sits at the intersection of clients, design partners, and internal service lines and plays a critical role in shaping Cushman & Wakefield’s market perception as a design‑led, technically robust, and innovative delivery partner. In parallel, the position actively supports revenue growth by enabling scalable, high‑quality design solutions across service lines, asset classes, and geographies.

As Design Management Lead, you will provide leadership and governance for the design and engineering delivery of high‑quality interior fit‑out projects across office, retail, and laboratory environments, while fostering close collaboration with Project & Development Services (PDS), Leasing, Sustainability, and the wider EMEA platform.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Design Leadership & Governance

• Act as the design authority within Principal Works, setting standards, processes, and best practices for design and engineering delivery across the DACH region.

• Lead overall design coordination for interior fit‑out projects, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with client objectives.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant regional technical, regulatory, and statutory requirements throughout all project phases.

• Represent Cushman & Wakefield as the senior design interlocutor towards clients, decision‑makers, and external stakeholders.

Delivery Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Oversee and assure the quality, performance, and outputs of external designers, engineers, and consultants.

• Provide strategic input and challenge during concept, design development, and execution stages to reduce risk and enhance outcomes.

• Support complex or high‑profile projects through targeted leadership, problem‑solving, and escalation management.

Supplier & Partner Management

• Lead procurement and active management of the design and engineering supplier network to ensure depth, capability, and scalability.

• Strengthen and expand Cushman & Wakefield’s supplier and delivery partner ecosystem across asset classes and geographies.

• Establish long‑term, performance‑driven relationships that enhance quality, innovation, and commercial outcomes.

Business Development & Growth

• Support business development initiatives by contributing design leadership to bids, pitches, and client presentations.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with investors, landlords, occupiers, and construction partners.

• Actively contribute to revenue generation by enabling tailored, design‑led solutions across service lines and regions.

• Collaboration, Innovation & Transformation Foster close collaboration with internal teams across PDS, Leasing, Sustainability, and other service lines.

• Strengthen cross‑border cooperation within the Cushman & Wakefield EMEA network.

• Drive innovation in service delivery, including the integration of digital tools, technology, and automation across project, controlling, and administrative processes.

Knowledge & Experience:

• 10+ years experience in design, engineering, and construction with focus on commercial interiors

• Strong technical, regulatory, and contractual knowledge of construction practices in the DACH region (e.g. HOAI, DIN276, VOB, BGB)

• Proven Experience in successfully managing supplier relationships and building strategic partnerships

• Track record of successfully leading project teams

• Deep understanding of fit-out processes for office, retail, and lab environments

• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and implement technology-driven solutions in project delivery

• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural, multilingual environments

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills across geographies

• Established network within the real estate and engineering industry.

• Sales and business development affinity with a strategic growth mindset.

• Fluency in German and English (minimum C1 level in both languages).

What we offer:

Flat hierarchies and an international and modern working environment, attractive and performance-related remuneration, flexible working hours, 30 vacation days plus special leave days, further training and development opportunities, company pension scheme.

Please note, we do not consider applications per E-mail.

We foster a culture of inclusion that embraces the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We firmly believe that our diversity enhances our team's capabilities, leading to improved decision-making, innovation, and business outcomes.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”