Design Manager Jobs in Missouri
Design Manager jobs in Missouri are concentrated in Kansas City and St. Louis, where anchors like Hallmark Cards, Edward Jones, and Boeing draw consistent demand for brand, product, and UX design leadership. The market supports roles from mid-level design leads stepping into people management to senior design managers overseeing cross-functional creative teams. Product design, UX, and brand identity are the most active specialties across both metros. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Nell Hill's | Briarcliff Store | Full-Time | On-Site | Salaried + Commission ABOUT THIS ROLENell Hill's is looking for an experienced Sales Manager who leads with passion, builds with purpose, and inspires their team to create extraordinary interior design experiences. If you love beautiful spaces, thrive on connection, and know how to bring out the best in the people around you, we built this role for you. You'll lead our Interior Design Department: coaching a talented team of designers, driving sales performance, and creating an environment where every team member is motivated, supported, and proud of the work they do! COMPENSATIONThis role starts with a base pay of $65k–$75k annually, based on your experience. You'll also be eligible for commissions: as the Design Team Sales Manager, you'll receive a monthly commission based on the total eligible sales associated with your team, paid in addition to your base salary. There is no cap on the commission you can earn, increased sales in your department translate directly into increased earnings for you! WHAT YOU'LL DOTeam LeadershipCulture
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Designers, fostering a culture of positivity, accountability, and sales focus
- Set clear expectations for performance, professionalism, and client engagement
- Lead by example on the showroom floor - demonstrating best practices in clienteling, product knowledge, and customer connection
- Build a team environment that is driven and self-motivated, positive and genuine, collaborative and respectful, and independent and accountable
- Handle complaints and performance issues professionally, escalating to leadership as appropriate
- Hold monthly one-on-one meetings with each Designer to review performance, provide feedback, and set goals
- Facilitate regular team meetings to align on priorities, share updates, and celebrate wins
- Develop and deliver trainings on product knowledge, sales techniques, clienteling, and design services
- Implement systems and processes that support consistency and team effectiveness
- Push through company programs and initiatives, ensuring the team is informed and engaged
- Own department sales performance - monitor results, identify trends, and take action to meet and exceed goals
- Run reporting to fully understand individual and team sales activity, pipelines, and performance metrics
- Support Designers in working leads from initial contact through project follow-up and close
- Gather customer feedback, project data, and team suggestions to provide actionable input to the buying team
- Opportunity to attend Market to support the buying process and deepen product knowledge
- Build and manage the monthly schedule for the design team, ensuring adequate floor coverage
- Approve time-off requests and manage scheduling changes in accordance with company policy
- Ensure Designers are maximizing floor time with customers while supporting their project prep and planning needs
- Maintain oversight of the Design Studio - organized, welcoming, and fully functional
- Maintain a deep understanding of interior design to support the team at every stage - from leads and appointments to project follow-up and order resolution
- Support Designers in building lasting client relationships focused on long-term loyalty, repeat business, and referrals
- Assist in resolving escalated customer concerns with professionalism and a solutions-first mindset
- Support the team in building and maintaining client portfolios so completed work can be shared
- Maintain strong relationships with key vendors to support custom order placement and management
- Develop and maintain a high level of product knowledge to coach the team and support customer interactions
- Support Designers in the accurate preparation and submission of custom orders
- Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to support weekly floor moves and maintain a beautiful showroom
- Partner with the Buying team to share sales data, customer insights, and team feedback
- Communicate significant design projects to the Marketing team for shareable content and service promotion
- Attend monthly leadership meetings and communicate key updates and priorities to your team
- Participate in special events, seasonal activations, and storewide initiatives
- 3–5+ years of retail sales management experience, preferably in design, home furnishings, or a lifestyle environment
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a sales team to meet and exceed performance goals
- Strong understanding of interior design principles at a level that allows you to confidently support a design team
- Experience managing custom orders and vendor relationships
- Comfortable with POS and reporting systems; Shopify experience is a plus
- Excellent communicator with the ability to deliver clear feedback, run productive meetings, and collaborate across departments
- Highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented
- Warm, approachable, and genuinely passionate about people, product, and the customer experience
- Comfortable managing complaints and navigating difficult conversations with professionalism and grace
- Comfortable standing and walking for extended periods
- Able to lift and carry merchandise up to 50 lbs as needed
- Adaptable to a lively retail environment with frequent customer and team interaction
See All 23 Design Manager Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Manager Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Construction & Real Estate
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design manager jobs across Missouri.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a related creative field
- Five or more years of professional design experience with at least two in a lead role
- Demonstrated experience managing and mentoring a team of designers
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or comparable design and prototyping tools
- Experience collaborating with product, engineering, and marketing stakeholders on deliverables
- Strong portfolio showing design systems, brand identity, or UX work at a product or organizational scale
Design Manager Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design manager in Missouri?
Design management in Missouri does not require a state-issued license. Most employers hire candidates who hold a bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, UX, or a related field, combined with several years of hands-on design work followed by a lead or senior individual-contributor role. Building a portfolio that shows cross-functional collaboration and team output, rather than solo work alone, is what typically moves a candidate into a management-track conversation with Missouri employers.
How much do design managers make in Missouri?
Design managers in Missouri earn a median of about $100,940 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $60,590 for the lowest 10% to over $162,340 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design managers in Missouri?
Employers hiring design managers in Missouri right now include Clayco, Olsson, and Burns & McDonnell, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Missouri's mix of consumer brands, financial services firms, and aerospace and defense companies generates steady design leadership demand across both Kansas City and St. Louis.
Which Missouri cities have the most design manager jobs?
Kansas City, St. Louis, and Creve Coeur have the most design manager openings in Missouri. Kansas City's concentration of consumer goods, marketing, and healthcare companies drives much of the volume there, while St. Louis adds depth through its financial services, aerospace, and biotech sectors, with suburban corridors like Clayton and Chesterfield contributing roles from regional corporate headquarters.
Are there remote design manager jobs in Missouri?
Yes, and more than many management roles, since design work is often deliverable-focused and tool-based rather than requiring a physical presence. About 57% of design manager openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting broader industry norms in tech and creative fields. UX and product design manager roles tend to carry the most remote flexibility, while brand and industrial design leadership positions more often require in-office time.
How can I get hired as a design manager in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is to move into a senior designer or design lead role first, then pursue a formal management title once you have demonstrated experience directing project work or mentoring junior designers. Large Missouri employers like Hallmark Cards and major St. Louis healthcare systems run rotational and associate programs that develop design talent internally. Gaining visibility through a strong portfolio, contributing to design systems or brand standards work, and taking on informal team-lead responsibilities within your current role are the steps Missouri hiring managers most often point to.
Where can I find and apply to design manager jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to design manager jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current Missouri openings. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and target location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 23 Design Manager Jobs in Missouri
Find roles in Missouri that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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