Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Company: M/I Homes

Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design & Operations Management

Date Posted: January 06, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversee and contribute to the operational strategy of the Design department, ensuring alignment with M/I Homes' brand integrity and ethical principles.

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the physical Design Studio, fostering a high standard of excellence and customer experience.

• Facilitate and guide home buyers through the selection of interior and exterior options, personalizing their new home construction.

• Ensure seamless collaboration and communication with various departments, including Sales & Marketing, Purchasing, and Operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits at the intersection of design, customer experience, and operational efficiency within the homebuilding industry. While not a traditional Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, it requires a strong understanding of process management, customer journey optimization, and cross-functional coordination, making many operational skills transferable and valuable.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement short-term and long-term objectives for the Design Studio's operations.

• Conduct regular site visits to manage field micro studios, ensuring customer-related design concerns are addressed and compliant with selections.

• Inspect prototype and spec homes to verify that selections align with Design Studio standards and customer expectations.

• Assist in determining market-specific design selections and provide detailed product information to new home buyers during browsing hours and full design appointments.

• Prepare and meticulously review initial Color Selection Sheets, process change orders, and verify pricing accuracy before submission to Sales Administration.

• Collaborate with the VP of Sales & Marketing to create community color matrixes and ensure exterior color selections of adjacent homes are harmonious and varied.

• Schedule and prepare appointment files for customer design sessions, ensuring all necessary documentation is readily available.

• Track change orders within the Change Log Matrix and QMI Requests Log for comprehensive record-keeping.

• Coordinate selections and options for "Inventory/Spec" homes, submitting Color Selection Sheets by strict deadlines to prevent construction delays.

• Research and provide essential selection information to subcontractors and relevant company representatives.

• Assist in managing the company’s design tool (Envision) in collaboration with Purchasing and Operations team members, ensuring efficient utilization.

• Maintain organized and accessible sample displays within each Design Studio.

• Serve as a primary point of contact with the Construction team for options clarification and change order management.

• Undertake special projects and additional duties as assigned by leadership.

• Facilitate key customer appointments, including Preview Appointments (tour of included features and optional upgrades) and Color Sessions/Full Design Appointments (finalizing all color selections).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on tracking change orders, coordinating with construction, and managing spec home selections highlights a crucial operational component of this role, requiring meticulous process adherence and proactive problem-solving to maintain build schedules and budgets.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of direct Design Center experience, preferably within the homebuilding industry.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional customer service orientation with a proven ability to build rapport with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, essential for clear and effective stakeholder engagement and customer guidance.

• Superior organizational skills and a keen detail-oriented aptitude to ensure accuracy in selections, documentation, and pricing.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for daily operational tasks, reporting, and communication.

• General knowledge of the home building industry, construction processes, and typical project timelines.

• Ability to effectively coach and mentor customers through complex decision-making processes.

Preferred Skills:

• Design background with a strong understanding of interior and exterior design principles, color theory, and current trends.

• Familiarity with blueprint and plot map reading to better assist customers and coordinate with construction teams.

• Experience with design software such as Adobe, Bluebeam, or similar visualization and documentation tools.

• Experience managing or contributing to the operational aspects of a design center or similar customer-facing retail environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core requirements focus on design and customer interaction, the "General knowledge of the home building industry" and "Proficient in Microsoft Office" points to an operational need for understanding construction timelines and utilizing standard business software for process management, data tracking, and reporting.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Examples showcasing successful customer consultation and design selection processes, demonstrating your ability to guide buyers effectively.

• Documentation of how you've managed customer feedback or design-related issues and resolved them efficiently.

• Case studies illustrating your contribution to design studio operations, such as sample organization, workflow improvements, or tool utilization.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrated ability to document and refine customer selection workflows, from initial browsing to finalization of Color Selection Sheets.

• Experience in creating or updating process guides for Design Studio operations, including appointment scheduling, file preparation, and change order management.

• Examples of how you've contributed to or maintained system documentation for design tools like Envision, focusing on user-friendliness and data integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio should emphasize process ownership and customer journey mapping within a design context. Applicants should showcase examples of how they improve efficiency, ensure accuracy, and enhance the customer experience through structured processes and effective system use.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Design Managers with 3-5 years of experience in Nashville, TN, the estimated salary range is $60,000 - $85,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the cost of living in Nashville and the specialized nature of the homebuilding design industry.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays for work-life balance.

• Paid Parental Leave to support new families.

• Retirement savings options: Traditional and Roth 401(k) with employer match.

• Profit Sharing Plan, aligning employee success with company performance.

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) for shared ownership.

• Employee Home Purchase Plan, offering unique benefits for M/I Homes employees.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be needed to accommodate customer appointments outside of standard business hours, especially during peak periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for similar roles in the Nashville area. M/I Homes' comprehensive benefits package, particularly the Employee Home Purchase Plan and profit sharing, indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and long-term engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Homebuilding and Real Estate Development. M/I Homes operates within a highly competitive market, emphasizing quality, design, and customer satisfaction as key differentiators.

Company Size: M/I Homes is a large national homebuilder with divisions in 17 markets, indicating a structured corporate environment with significant operational scale.

Founded: 1976, by Irving and Melvin Schottenstein. The company's founding principle, "treat the customer right," continues to shape its culture.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager likely reports to a VP of Sales & Marketing or a similar senior leadership role overseeing customer experience and product offerings.

• The role involves close collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, Operations, and Construction teams, requiring strong cross-functional relationship management.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making for design selections and market responsiveness, informed by sales performance and customer feedback.

• Structured workflow planning and optimization for the Design Studio, ensuring efficient customer appointment management and timely processing of selections and change orders.

• Focus on customer journey mapping and enhancing the personalization experience through organized and supportive design consultations.

Company Website: https://www.mihomes.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: M/I Homes' history as a family business that grew into a national leader suggests a culture that values both established processes and a commitment to customer-centricity, with opportunities for impact due to its significant market presence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a mid-level management position, focusing on the operational execution of design strategy and customer personalization within a specific functional area. It requires leadership in managing studio operations and customer interactions.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager typically reports to a senior leader within Sales, Marketing, or Operations, indicating a direct line of influence on customer-facing aspects of the business.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts customer satisfaction and potentially sales conversion rates by providing a positive and efficient home personalization experience. Accurate selections and timely processing are critical for maintaining construction schedules and managing project costs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Vertical Growth: Potential to advance to Senior Design Manager, Director of Design Studios, or similar leadership roles overseeing multiple markets or broader design strategy.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in homebuilding operations, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, project management, and leadership.

• Cross-Functional Moves: Potential to transition into roles within Sales Management, Marketing Coordination, or Operations Management, leveraging a strong understanding of the customer lifecycle and business processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within the homebuilding industry, particularly for individuals who excel at process management, customer engagement, and operational efficiency within a specialized function like design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The primary work environment is a physical Design Studio, which serves as a showroom and consultation space for home buyers. There will also be interactions within corporate office settings and potentially visits to construction sites.

Office Location(s): Nashville, Tennessee. The Design Studio is a dedicated space for customer appointments; site visits may occur at various construction locations within the Nashville area.

Workspace Context:

• The Design Studio is designed to be a collaborative and inspiring space, requiring meticulous organization of samples and design materials.

• Access to relevant design tools, computer systems (including Envision, Microsoft Office, Adobe, Bluebeam), and communication platforms is essential.

• Frequent interaction with customers, sales staff, construction personnel, and other M/I Homes departments is expected.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. However, flexibility is crucial to accommodate customer appointment schedules, which may include evenings and weekends, especially during busy sales periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement underscores the hands-on nature of the role, emphasizing the need for a professional presence and the ability to manage a physical space and direct customer interactions effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application, focusing on relevant design center experience, customer service background, and operational responsibilities.

• First Interview: Typically with an HR representative or hiring manager, assessing overall fit, communication skills, and basic qualifications. Be prepared to discuss your experience with customer consultations and managing design selections.

• Second Interview/Panel Interview: May involve meeting with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Sales & Marketing) and potentially key team members from Sales, Construction, or Purchasing. This stage will delve deeper into your operational approach, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of the homebuilding process. Expect scenario-based questions.

• Portfolio Presentation: You may be asked to present a selection of your work, highlighting key projects, process improvements, or customer success stories.

• Final Interview: Potentially with an Area President or other senior executive.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process Ownership: Highlight examples where you implemented or refined a process to improve efficiency, accuracy, or customer satisfaction within a design center. Use a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method for case studies.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the results of your efforts. For example, "Reduced appointment preparation time by 15%" or "Increased customer satisfaction scores for design selections by 10%."

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Include examples of your work with design tools (Envision, Adobe, Bluebeam) and your ability to manage data in Excel or other relevant systems.

• Highlight Customer Focus: Present case studies that exemplify your ability to understand customer needs, guide them through complex decisions, and ensure a positive personalization experience.

• Tailor to M/I Homes: Research M/I Homes' current communities, design styles, and brand messaging to tailor your portfolio examples and presentation to their specific market and customer base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions related to managing challenging customer interactions, resolving design conflicts, or addressing construction delays due to selection issues.

• Practice articulating your problem-solving process, emphasizing your ability to find solutions that balance customer desires with operational constraints.

• Consider how you would approach developing or refining a community color matrix or managing the selection process for spec homes.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio for this role will not only showcase design aesthetics but also demonstrate a robust understanding of operational processes, customer management, and cross-functional collaboration within the fast-paced homebuilding environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Envision (or similar design visualization software): Essential for managing design selections, presenting options to customers, and potentially integrating with other systems. Proficiency is key.

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook): Crucial for daily operations, reporting, communication, scheduling, and data management. Advanced Excel skills for tracking and analysis are highly valuable.

• Adobe Suite (e.g., Acrobat Pro for PDF handling): Useful for document review, preparation, and distribution.

• Bluebeam Revu: Often used in construction and design for PDF markup, collaboration, and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Excel: Used for creating and analyzing Color Selection Sheets, Change Logs, and potentially basic performance dashboards related to appointment volume and customer feedback.

• Internal Reporting Tools: M/I Homes may have proprietary systems for sales and production reporting that the Design Manager will need to utilize or contribute data to.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM System (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, or custom builder CRM): While not explicitly mentioned, understanding how design selections integrate with the overall customer journey tracked in a CRM is beneficial.

• Automation Tools: Less emphasis on workflow automation in the traditional sense, but efficiency in scheduling, document generation, and data entry is critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with design-specific software like Envision, coupled with strong skills in Microsoft Excel for data management and reporting, and familiarity with PDF/markup tools like Adobe and Bluebeam, are critical for success in this role's operational and collaborative demands.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value at M/I Homes, emphasizing "treating the customer right" through exceptional service and personalized experiences.

• Integrity & Excellence: Upholding the M/I Homes brand by maintaining high standards in design, process, and customer interactions.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across departments (Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, Construction) to achieve shared goals and ensure a seamless home-buying process.

• Efficiency & Accuracy: Maintaining organized operations and precise documentation to support timely construction and accurate pricing.

• Continuous Improvement: Seeking ways to enhance the design studio experience, refine processes, and adapt to market needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The Design Manager must be adept at collaborating with diverse teams, translating customer design preferences into actionable plans for construction and purchasing.

• Process Review & Feedback: Openness to receiving and providing feedback on design selections, construction compliance, and operational workflows to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Sharing insights on market design trends, customer preferences, and effective studio management practices with relevant stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's founding principle of "treating the customer right" is a strong indicator of a customer-focused culture. Success in this role will depend on embodying this value through excellent service and fostering collaborative relationships.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Customer Desires with Constraints: Managing customer expectations when their desired selections may exceed budget, not be structurally feasible, or conflict with community design guidelines.

• Maintaining Design Studio Organization: Keeping a high-traffic design studio organized with a vast array of samples, finishes, and product information requires constant attention.

• Coordination with Construction: Ensuring that all customer selections are accurately communicated and implemented by construction teams, minimizing errors and delays.

• Market Trend Adaptation: Staying current with rapidly evolving design trends and incorporating them into M/I Homes' offerings while maintaining brand consistency.

• Data Management Accuracy: Ensuring the accuracy of Color Selection Sheets, change orders, and pricing to prevent costly mistakes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design & Trends: Opportunities to attend industry trade shows, workshops, and pursue certifications in interior design or home building trends.

• Operations & Project Management: Developing skills in project management software, process optimization methodologies, and construction management principles.

• Leadership & Coaching: Enhancing leadership capabilities through management training, coaching new team members, and contributing to strategic departmental planning.

• System Expertise: Deepening knowledge of design visualization tools and potentially learning about integration points with CRM or ERP systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are deeply rooted in operational execution and customer satisfaction, offering significant opportunities for skill development in process management, problem-solving, and stakeholder management within the unique context of home construction.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Scenario-Based: "A customer wants a kitchen layout that deviates significantly from our standard options. How would you approach this situation?" (Focus on process, communication, and finding solutions.)

• Process Improvement: "Describe a time you improved a process in a design center or similar environment. What was the outcome?" (Highlight your operational mindset and ability to drive efficiency.)

• Collaboration: "How do you ensure seamless communication between the Design Studio, Sales, and Construction teams?" (Emphasize cross-functional partnerships and clear documentation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Brand Alignment: "What do you admire about M/I Homes' design approach or brand?" (Research their communities and design philosophy.)

• Customer Focus: "How do you embody the principle of 'treating the customer right' in your daily work?" (Provide specific examples of exceptional customer service.)

• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal working relationship with a construction superintendent or sales manager." (Focus on mutual respect, clear communication, and shared goals.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by key responsibilities or project types (e.g., Customer Journey Mapping, Process Improvement, Design Consultation Examples).

• Storytelling: For each example, clearly articulate the Situation, your Task, the Actions you took, and the Results achieved, using metrics where possible.

• Visual Appeal: Ensure your portfolio is visually organized and professional, reflecting your design sensibilities. Include high-quality images or mockups if applicable.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly show how you managed processes, tracked information, and collaborated with others.

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your contributions, decision-making rationale, and how your past experiences translate to the Design Manager role at M/I Homes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate not only design acumen but also strong operational discipline, excellent customer service skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within the complex structure of a large homebuilder.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the M/I Homes careers portal or the provided Workable link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in design center operations, customer consultation, color selection, change order management, and proficiency with relevant software (Microsoft Office, Adobe, Bluebeam, Envision). Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples that showcase your process management, customer interaction skills, and operational efficiency. Focus on case studies demonstrating problem-solving and successful collaboration.

• Research M/I Homes: Familiarize yourself with their company history, mission, current communities, and design styles. Understand their commitment to customer satisfaction and brand integrity.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare for scenario-based questions related to customer service, design challenges, and cross-functional collaboration. Be ready to articulate your operational approach and how you would contribute to the M/I Homes Design Studio.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

---