Design Operations Program Manager

Remote role, Candidate needs to work 8:30am to 5:30pm PST.

The Design Operations Program Manager will help our Experience Design (XD) team within the Product Design and Manufacturing Solutions (PDMS) organization operate more effectively by driving and managing programs to enhance team health, improve design efficiency and process, and increase design alignment across teams and with business partners.

Our ideal candidate will be a systems thinker who is an excellent communicator and collaborator. They should be equally skilled in both managing established programs, which require strong organization, communication, and task management skills, and in identifying opportunities for improvement, applying design thinking to create successful solutions. It’s a position that requires scalability, from strategic thinking to detailed tactical implementation.

A successful candidate should also be comfortable diving into complexity, navigating ambiguity and adapting to changing priorities. Sound judgement is essential – knowing what challenges to invest in and what challenges to deprioritize. Confidence and excellent relationship and networking skills are also critical as this role requires working across teams to connect dots and enhance collaboration and effectiveness.

Key experience:

1. Design sprint experience
2. Agile methods / experience across the Software development life cycle
3. Program / project management experience
4. Tools: Airtable, Jira, Miro/Mural/Wiki

Responsibilities:

• Own and/or manage programs and initiatives that improve design team success (team health, design efficiency, and/or design impact).

This includes:

1. Establishing the program goals, strategy, operating model, and governance, navigating ambiguity and aligning stakeholders.
2. Executing program tactics, from goal and scope setting to conclusion, within defined schedule, budget, and quality parameters. Identifying issues and driving them to resolution.
3. Identifying connections to other programs, teams, and partners and engaging key stakeholders to align program goals for mutual success.
4. Planning and facilitating meetings, creating key communications, and keeping team and program on track with commitments.

• Design and lead design sprints to accelerate design of user-facing products and of internal programs and services.
• Design and implement new ways of working that further DesignOps effectiveness and goals, using design thinking methods, and collaborating with team members and key stakeholders.
• Aid DesignOps scalability through designing, documenting, and sharing best practices and resources.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 4+ years design program management experience within a software environment.
• Familiarity with user-centered design practices, UX tools and techniques, and software development methods, primarily Agile
• Strong track record in above requirements, particularly in standing up and managing programs and completing significant initiatives successfully and in leading design sprints / workshops.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Fluency with the SDLC and working with cross-functional teams to improve it, especially the design team’s role.
• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience
• Solid foundation in AI and experience helping designers improve their AI fluency. Up-to-date in latest AI features/tools for designers.
• Demonstrated strong writing, reporting, and documentation skills (examples may be required)
• Strong verbal and presentation skills

Our Fortune Technology client is ranked as one of the best companies to work with in the world. As a global leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software, they foster a progressive culture, creativity, and a flexible work environment using cutting-edge technologies.