How to hire a project manager/design manager

How to hire a project manager/design manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project manager/design manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a project manager/design manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project manager/design manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the project manager/design manager you need to hire. Certain project manager/design manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect project manager/design manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of project manager/design manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Project Manager/Design Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Manager/Design Manager	Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.	$26-60
   General Contractor	The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement... Show more	$19-51
   Construction Coordinator	A construction coordinator is in charge of overseeing the workforce and the workflow on a construction site, ensuring that all operations adhere to the standards, deadlines, budgets, and goals. Typically, it is their responsibility to liaise with clients and other professionals, organize work schedules, delegate tasks, and conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work... Show more	$20-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • CAD
   • Construction Management
   • Fire Protection
   • Project Scope
   • Revit
   • Design Projects
   • Sub Contractors
   • General Contractors
   • Construction Projects
   • Business Development
   • Cost Estimates
   • Design Concepts
   • Construction Process

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and approve all changes to the project along with all AIA document approvals.
   • Involve in Unix shell script development to automate ETL jobs by using Informatica sessions and workflows.
   • Manage the schematic phase and generate all the necessary documents to be submit to the structural and MEP consultants.
   • Manage internal prototype injection molding operations on a project basis.
   • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
   • Lead safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.

   More project manager/design manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project manager/design manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A project manager/design manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a project manager/design manager in Iowa may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level project manager/design manager usually earns less than a senior-level project manager/design manager. Additionally, a project manager/design manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average project manager/design manager salary

   $83,794yearly

   $40.29 hourly rate

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   Entry-level project manager/design manager salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average project manager/design manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$114,949	$55
   2	Oregon	$94,488	$45
   3	New York	$91,787	$44
   4	Virginia	$89,648	$43
   5	Massachusetts	$89,138	$43
   6	Maryland	$86,399	$42
   7	Idaho	$85,616	$41
   8	Maine	$83,475	$40
   9	Indiana	$83,092	$40
   10	Arizona	$82,672	$40
   11	Wisconsin	$82,351	$40
   12	Ohio	$79,025	$38
   13	Georgia	$77,495	$37
   14	Kansas	$77,466	$37
   15	Minnesota	$74,956	$36
   16	North Carolina	$73,982	$36
   17	Texas	$71,510	$34
   18	Illinois	$70,887	$34
   19	Missouri	$70,585	$34
   20	Oklahoma	$69,844	$34

   Average project manager/design manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Intuitive Surgical	$139,442	$67.04	1
   2	Genentech	$135,863	$65.32	16
   3	Varian Medical Systems	$132,920	$63.90
   4	Nike	$131,930	$63.43	34
   5	Michael Kors	$131,256	$63.10	2
   6	Valero Energy	$128,818	$61.93
   7	Stanford Health Care	$128,801	$61.92	4
   8	Broadcom	$125,526	$60.35	71
   9	DPR Construction	$124,824	$60.01	84
   10	Sampson Construction Co.	$123,088	$59.18	2
   11	Grant Thornton	$119,730	$57.56
   12	KLA	$119,373	$57.39	35
   13	Haskell	$116,428	$55.98	10
   14	Yale New Haven Health	$115,485	$55.52	1
   15	Volkert	$112,537	$54.10	75
   16	Video Gaming Technologies	$111,365	$53.54
   17	Black & Veatch	$110,156	$52.96	64
   18	Turner & Townsend	$110,064	$52.92	193
   19	Princeton University	$108,090	$51.97	2
   20	Mount Sinai Health System	$107,419	$51.64	4

4. Writing a project manager/design manager job description

   A project manager/design manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a project manager/design manager job description:

   Project manager/design manager job description example

   At Cracker Barrel, our mission is Pleasing People. This is evident from the moment you walk through our doors, with the first smile that greets you, from the items in our retail store to the food on the table, we welcome you home! We have an exciting opportunity to join our facilities team as a Project Manager focusing on design and development projects for new stores.
   
   This individual will oversee the development of test fits for all new store development. They will coordinate prototypical changes with Artchitects and Engineers. This individual will also manage special capital projects, perform drafting and architectural detailing as needed. Manage specifications for capital projects and new sites.
   Responsibility
   
   * Responsible for new store test fits. Works with Real Estate and city government to gather all pertinent information and specification requirements for potential new building sites. Develops preliminary schematic plans determining fit and layout of furniture/equipment into available space.• Oversees the work of third party architectural/design firms and requirements for the construction document to go to permit• Develops conceptual reflected ceiling plans and art/décor design intent drawings. Prepares presentation material to communicate vision.• Prototype evaluation and change implementation. Gathers information for proposed prototype changes through attending internal meetings with core teams. Evaluates and coordinates/implements prototype changes with Architect/engineer and core team. Incorporates latest prototype changes/addendums in blueprints/drawing.• Manages assigned capital projects through permitting. Collaborates with third party vendors and stakeholders. Prepares design details and supporting documentation.• Contract/Bid Management. Develops and maintains specifications for bidding purposes. Prepares bid packages for capital remodel projects.• Researches potential building products and finishes. Maintains product library.
   
   Qualifications
   
   Experience and Education
   
   * Bachelor's degree in architecture, interior design or related field and a minimum of 5 years' experience as a project architect, project designer or project manager in the restaurant industry; or equivalent combination or education and experience.
   
   Knowledge and Skills
   
   * Computer skills including Excel & PowerPoint.• Strong AutoCAD skills.• Strong knowledge of design principles and conceptual planning.• Experience with architectural design rendering software (Revit, SketchUp, etc.)• Excellent written and oral communication including negotiating skills.• Thorough knowledge of construction methods, materials, blueprints, and specifications.• Specification writing skills.• Organizational and prioritizing skills.• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.• Creative and critical thinking.
   
   NOTE: Racism, either overt or perpetuated through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and both our Mission and People Promise are firmly rooted in the principle of valuing what everyone brings to the table. Our employees work hard to ensure that our brand, which is grounded in genuine hospitality and nostalgia, represents only what is good about those things. While our décor and food may harken back to earlier times, our inclusive culture and beliefs about equality and diversity do not.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right project manager/design manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project manager/design manager job on Zippia to find and recruit project manager/design manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit project manager/design managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new project manager/design manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the project manager/design manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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