Workplace Design Manager (REMOTE)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Workplace Design Manager (REMOTE)

Company: Stryker

Location: Remote (with primary focus on Portage, MI; Chicago, IL; Flower Mound, TX; Mahwah, NJ)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Workplace Strategy & Design Operations

Date Posted: May 22, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for developing and executing Stryker's global workplace design strategy, fostering a flexible, inclusive, and agile work culture through strategic space planning and design initiatives.

• The Workplace Design Manager will oversee the design and planning of global workplace environments, ensuring alignment with Stryker's brand, values, and business objectives while optimizing costs and enabling scalability.

• A strong emphasis will be placed on leveraging data from surveys, workplace studies, and analytics to inform design decisions and continuously improve space utilization and employee experience.

• This position requires a strategic thinker capable of managing multidisciplinary teams and complex global projects, driving innovation in workspace design to support diverse work styles including remote, hybrid, and on-site employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Workplace Design Manager," its core functions align with GTM Operations, specifically in optimizing the physical and operational aspects of the work environment to support business goals, employee productivity, and cost efficiency. This role requires operational rigor in managing design projects, vendor relationships, and data analysis for continuous improvement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Global Workplace Design Strategy: Support the development and execution of Stryker’s global workplace design strategy, promoting a flexible, inclusive, and agile work culture.

• Project Oversight: Lead and manage design projects from concept through post-occupancy evaluation across multiple global locations, ensuring strict adherence to Stryker Workplace Design Guidelines.

• Design Partner Management: Direct internal and external design teams and partners to deliver innovative, purpose-driven workspaces that embody Stryker's brand, values, and strategic business goals.

• Data-Driven Optimization: Utilize workplace analytics, employee surveys, and post-occupancy evaluations to gather insights that guide design decisions and continuously optimize space utilization and employee experience.

• Agile Environment Implementation: Champion and implement agile work environments and space-sharing concepts, actively supporting the diverse work styles of employees (remote, hybrid, on-site).

• Reconfigurable Space Design: Implement agile design principles that enable spaces to be easily reconfigured to adapt to changing business needs or organizational shifts, enhancing operational flexibility.

• KPI Monitoring & Reporting: Collaborate with the Stryker Real Estate & Facilities team to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and track the success and ROI of workplace initiatives.

• Change Management Support: Assist in leading change management efforts, effectively guiding employees through transitions to new or optimized work environments to ensure smooth adoption and minimize disruption.

• Budget Management: Oversee project budgets for workplace design initiatives, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with financial objectives.

• Vendor Relationship Management: Cultivate and manage relationships with external design firms, architects, and contractors to ensure high-quality project delivery and adherence to standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and operational execution, typical of a senior role within a GTM or Facilities Operations function. The emphasis on KPIs, cost optimization, and data-driven decision-making points towards a strong operations focus.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in workplace design, corporate real estate, or facilities management.

• A minimum of 4+ years of direct experience designing and implementing activity-based and flexible work environments.

• A minimum of 4+ years of experience successfully managing multidisciplinary teams and complex, global projects.

Required Skills:

• Workplace Strategy & Design: Deep understanding of modern workplace design principles, agile methodologies, and activity-based working concepts.

• Project & Program Management: Proven ability to manage multiple complex, global projects simultaneously, from conception to completion, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.

• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Strong aptitude for analyzing workplace data (surveys, utilization metrics, space performance) to derive actionable insights and inform design strategies.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders (HR, IT, Facilities, Leadership) and external design partners, architects, and vendors.

• Change Management: Experience in leading or supporting change management initiatives related to workspace transformations, employee communication, and adoption strategies.

• Budget Management: Proficiency in managing project budgets and ensuring financial accountability for design initiatives.

Preferred Skills:

• Industry Certifications: Relevant certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), WELL, or NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) are highly desirable.

• Global Portfolio Experience: Experience managing workplace design across diverse international markets and understanding of regional design considerations.

• Technology Integration: Familiarity with workplace technology solutions that support flexible and hybrid work models.

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of how workplace design impacts business objectives, employee productivity, and organizational culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are substantial, indicating a senior-level role. The emphasis on data utilization, team management, and global project execution strongly aligns with operations management principles. The preferred certifications highlight a commitment to industry best practices in workplace strategy and sustainability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 significant workplace design projects, with a clear emphasis on projects involving flexible or activity-based work environments. Each case study should articulate the problem, proposed solution, design process, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Data-Driven Design Examples: Evidence of how data (e.g., utilization studies, employee surveys, post-occupancy evaluations) was used to inform design decisions and measure success.

• Global Project Scope: Examples demonstrating experience managing projects with a global reach or across multiple diverse locations, highlighting adaptability to different cultural and regulatory environments.

• Budget and Timeline Adherence: Demonstrations of successful project delivery within defined budgets and timelines, with clear metrics for cost savings or efficiency gains.

• Stakeholder Collaboration Evidence: Visuals or descriptions of how diverse stakeholder groups were engaged throughout the design process, showcasing communication and consensus-building skills.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you have documented and optimized workplace design workflows, from initial briefing and concept development to construction administration and post-occupancy.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase any processes developed for streamlined implementation of design standards, or the use of technology to automate aspects of the design, planning, or evaluation process.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate your approach to defining, tracking, and reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) for workplace initiatives, including space utilization, employee satisfaction, and cost-efficiency metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on workplace design and strategy, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just be aesthetic but demonstrate strategic thinking, operational execution, and measurable impact. Operations candidates should highlight process efficiency, data utilization, and ROI in their portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $118,000 - $255,700 USD Annual

Benefits:

• Bonus Eligible: Opportunity for annual bonuses based on individual and company performance.

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Includes health insurance (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k with company match).

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and relevant industry certifications.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Stock Purchase Plan: Potential for employee stock purchase programs.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is expected to accommodate global project needs, potentially requiring some work outside of standard business hours to connect with international teams.

• Travel: Approximately 40% travel is anticipated for site visits, project meetings, and collaboration with teams across various Stryker locations.

**📝 Enhancement