About the role

We are seeking a Design Program Manager with the design skills to support and execute all scales of design projects for our Client's Workplace Design + Innovation Team, within the Global Workplace Experience organization. Key activities will include overseeing the client's architectural and design partners, guiding furniture design with global furniture partners, directing experiential graphic design (EGD) on global projects, and coordinating with the client's in-house stakeholders across project management, AV/IT, site operations, and security. In addition, this role will support refreshes and small design projects at the client's existing locations and supporting the Senior Manager of Workplace Design + Innovation in real estate studies as required.

Performs within a design team in a self-directed manner in multiple aspects of the design

process including but not limited to the design & documentation of various phases, the

preparation of materials, and construction coordination activities within established

scopes, budgets, schedules, and programmatic requirements.

Leads multiple projects and liaises directly with employees in the business, cross-functional stakeholders, and consultants. This role is in the San Francisco Bay Area with the expectation to be onsite at the client site in San Jose, CA 2-3 times per week and occasional travel domestically and internationally as required. This role will mainly focus on projects in the West Coast of the US and APAC + Japan regions.

What you'll do

• Primary contact for design on select projects, including interior design + programming, experiential graphic design + brand/signage, construction administration oversight, and overall design approvals. As Client's subject matter expert, expected to provide insight and consultation to the client on all aspects of the work
• Act as a representative of the workplace design team in project meetings and presentations
• Coordinate and collaborate with architects, contractors, furniture vendors, and XFN partners to ensure standards are met when new projects are designed and executed
• Support projects at existing sites that may vary in scope from interiors, furniture, or EGD
• Support environmental graphics and branding requirements in coordination with the client's brand team as required.
• Assist with progressing the client's design strategy and research
• Develop presentations to be given to executive leadership and project stakeholders
• Support RFP processes as needed for new projects
• Knowledge and experience understanding costs and developing solutions that adhere to budgets
• Collaborate with external architects and designers, General Contractors and Construction Project Managers, Furniture Vendors and internal teams to ensure that each project adheres to global space design and global furniture guidelines.
• Support internal teams and provide design direction at all stages of design development with regards to workplace standards, design reconfigurations and furniture selection layouts.
• Represent the Client's Workplace Design Team in the region or support other regions as required to cover for team members out of office, embodying their design and quality standards
• Strong technical aptitude as it relates to furniture, fixtures and equipment in the workplace
• Manage furniture selection for Workplace Design projects and ensure compliance with look and feel and standards. Including but not limited to fabric, color, ergo compliance and performance criteria.
• Detailed review of furniture layout drawings.
• Prepare presentations in Powerpoint and the Adobe suite of products such as Adobe Express, Adobe Acrobat, or InDesign and well-versed in messaging applications like Slack and Teams
• Work closely with the furniture vendor to create a furniture package that is aligned with Client's standards while also understating the needs of the local team
• Coordination with project technical teams including Project Architect, Facilities, IT, AV, Environment Health and Safety, Brand, Security, and Culinary
• Support internal teams with regard to end user requirements and share comments on test fits plans, look and feel and/or space plans based upon programming requirements
• Represent Workplace Design at project meetings across regions and manage an internal tracker of project updates
• Ability to prioritize, coordinate and execute under deadlines
• Provide daily to weekly updates on project review status reporting and maintain typical project documentation as required
• Participate in global team meetings and knowledge share calls.
• Communicate with management, prepare and make presentations to leadership and other teams within the business

What you'll need

• 7-10 years of experience
• Role requires some travel
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, English comprehension and spoken English. High degree of efficient communication and maintaining excellent client expectations
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to provide efficient, timely, reliable and courteous service to customers.
• Ability to effectively present information to an internal department and/or groups of stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and autonomously to solve problems involving multiple options
• Requires basic knowledge of financial terms and principles and how budgets factor into project designs such as value engineering and procurement of materials that fit within budgets
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex documents and ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding. Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations
• Advanced graphic and presentation skills
• Great judgment to make good, balanced decisions
• Understanding and application of design principles, theories, furniture trends and innovations, color and materials
• Resilient and able to work fluidly from team collaboration to independent work
• Solution focused at all times towards successful project and client outcomes
• Ability to work successfully in a fast-paced environment on projects and with teams located in different time zones
• In-depth knowledge of business office and design tools. Examples include Revit, CAD, Bluebeam, and the Adobe Suite of Products

Disclaimer:

Please be advised that effective January 1, 2025, CBRE Project Management and Turner &Townsend were consolidated into a single global business entity. As a candidate applying for a position, you should be aware that while your initial employment may be with CBRE GWS, you will subsequently transfer directly to Turner & Townsend at a date to be determined.