Design Operations Manager job description
A Design Operations Manager is a professional who leads and streamlines the operational aspects of a design team, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in design processes, tools, and team collaboration to achieve strategic objectives.
Use this Design Operations Manager job description template to advertise open roles for your company. Be sure to modify requirements and duties based on the unique needs of the role you’re hiring for.
What is a Design Operations Manager?
A Design Operations Manager is a strategic role that focuses on optimizing and managing the operational side of a design team. They play a pivotal role in establishing efficient processes, tools, and systems to enhance the overall productivity and creativity of the design team. Their work involves balancing the needs of design projects with the resources available, ensuring that the team can deliver high-quality work effectively and on time.
What does a Design Operations Manager do?
A Design Operations Manager facilitates the smooth functioning of a design team by overseeing and improving the processes, tools, and methodologies used. They work closely with design leaders to define operational strategies and track key performance indicators. Their responsibilities include fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture, coordinating regular team activities and onboarding, and staying updated with industry trends to advocate for innovative tools and practices.
Design Operations Manager responsibilities include:
- Working with design leadership to set the vision of Design Operations.
- Defining and tracking KPIs for operational efficiency of the Design team.
- Fostering a high-performance culture and driving team-oriented initiatives.
- Coordinating design team rituals and advocating for new tools and best practices.
Job brief
We are seeking a dynamic Design Operations Manager to join our team. In this role, you will be integral in shaping the future of our Design Operations, contributing strategically to all decisions.
You will support cross-functional teams, including Product Design, Brand Design, UX Research, and Engineering, helping them deliver high-quality results efficiently. You will play a key role in enhancing our design system, focusing on reusability and accessibility, and fostering a culture of excellence and team spirit.
If you have a background in design operations and a passion for team management and efficiency, we encourage you to apply.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with design leadership to set the vision of Design Operations.
- Define and track KPIs to ensure the Design team’s operational efficiency.
- Connect designers, researchers, and copywriters with engineering teams for the design system.
- Foster a high-performance culture and drive team spirit initiatives.
- Identify enhancements for the design system focusing on reusability and accessibility.
- Coordinate design team rituals, including design critiques and weekly updates.
- Advocate for new tools, best practices, and staying abreast of design trends and conferences.
Requirements and skills
- 1+ years of experience in a Design Operations role.
- 3+ years of experience in Product Design or UX Design with a focus on design systems.
- Experience in maintaining and extending complex design systems.
- Proficiency in Figma, Miro, Confluence, or similar tools.
- Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
- Excellent teamwork and communication abilities.
- Ability to multitask and work under deadlines on multiple projects.
- Positive attitude and willingness to work collaboratively.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Design Operations Manager do?
- A Design Operations Manager streamlines and optimizes the design process, ensuring the design team works efficiently and effectively.
- What are the duties and responsibilities of a Design Operations Manager?
- Duties include setting the vision of Design Operations, tracking KPIs, fostering a high-performance culture, and coordinating design team activities.
- What makes a good Design Operations Manager?
- A good Design Operations Manager is organized, has a strong understanding of design processes, excels in communication, and is adept at fostering team collaboration and efficiency.
- Who does a Design Operations Manager work with?
- They work with design leaders, designers, UX researchers, copywriters, and engineering teams to improve the design process and output.
- How does a Design Operations Manager impact the success of design projects?
- A Design Operations Manager impacts design project success by ensuring efficient processes, effective resource allocation, and fostering an environment where creativity and productivity thrive.