Senior Design Manager, Events

About MWE Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

MWE

M

mcdermottlaw.com

1,001-5,000 employees

Law Practice

20+ Locations, Worldwide

Partnership

86k LinkedIn followers

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.
• The Senior Design Manager, Events is a strategic creative leader responsible for envisioning and delivering bold, world‑class event experiences across McDermott’s portfolio - from intimate, high‑touch gatherings to large‑scale, multi‑day signature events with 2,000+ attendees. Reporting into the Creative Director, this role owns the creative vision end‑to‑end, ensuring every touchpoint - from first invitation through on‑site immersion and post‑event moments - feels cohesive, elevated, and unmistakably McDermott.
• Positioned at the intersection of brand, experience design, and production, the Senior Manager brings a strong point of view and big‑picture perspective, seeing the full arc of an event and understanding how each creative decision shapes audience perception and impact. This role calls for a confident creative lead who can articulate and defend strategic ideas with clarity, and balances conceptual ambition with operational rigor to turn complex, abstract ideas into bold, memorable experiences across digital, environmental, and physical channels.
• Partner closely with the Creative Director to push creative boundaries while ensuring consistency, clarity, and sophistication across all event executions
• Help drive the creative vision for McDermott events, developing overarching concepts and narratives that unify digital, environmental, and experiential elements into a seamless attendee journey
• Design immersive, ownable experiences that transform venues into branded environments aligned with McDermott’s brand standards, business priorities, and audience expectations
• Translate high‑level themes and messaging into scalable creative systems that work across event sizes, formats, and geographies
• Oversee the design of digital event assets, including email campaigns, event registration websites, and social graphics, ensuring cohesion across all pre‑event marketing channels
• Lead the design and execution of on‑site creative applications, including environmental branding, signage, stage graphics, wayfinding, experiential moments, and printed collateral
• Own the creative workstream for assigned events, leading creative status calls, managing timelines and workflows, and serving as the primary creative point of contact for stakeholders
• Brief, guide, and review work from internal designers and external vendors, providing clear direction and managing partners to ensure design intent is executed at the highest level, on time and on budget
• Bachelor’s degree
• At least ten (10) years of experience in event design, experiential marketing, brand environments, or integrated creative roles, with leadership responsibility
• Hands on expertise in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite; Figma or similar preferred) with the judgment to know when to design personally vs. delegate
• Ability to design large scale, high profile events as well as intimate, detail driven experiences
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, spatial/environmental design, and integrated digital and physical executions
• Deep understanding of how creative strategy supports business objectives and audience engagement
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders
• Ability to manage vendors, production partners, and print processes with confidence and precision
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word)
• Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.
• Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWE provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.
• #LI-AR2
• #LI-Hybrid
• Physical Demands and Work Environment
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds
• Typical indoor office environment

• Health insurance
• Wellness program
• Discretionary bonus
• Competitive compensation package
• Financial health support