Senior Design Operations Program Manager

About Our Client

This organization operates in the fintech industry, addressing complexity and friction in traditional banking. It seeks to redefine banking by integrating thoughtful design into product development, decision-making, and the overall customer experience. The design team consists of over 40 members focused on creating seamless and effective products that blend form and function. The company emphasizes improving the quality, efficiency, and impact of design throughout its operations.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Design Operations Program Manager will support the design organization by developing and managing programs and processes that enhance team effectiveness and experience. This role is key to scaling design operations, improving onboarding, refining workflows, and fostering a positive culture. The position offers ownership from strategy to execution and requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders to optimize how the design team works and delivers value.

Responsibilities

• Develop processes and systems to enable the design organization to scale without excess overhead
• Lead initiatives that promote a healthy design culture and support quality goals such as team meetings and events
• Drive employer branding and increase the design team’s external presence through events and community engagement
• Manage onboarding programs to ensure new designers ramp up efficiently, in coordination with related operations teams
• Oversee design tooling and collaborate with Procurement to acquire tools that enhance efficiency, collaboration, and AI capabilities
• Act as a strategic partner to design leaders, facilitating decision-making and supporting new initiatives
• Build positive relationships with partners to identify and solve team challenges and inefficiencies
• Collaborate with design leaders, designers, and cross-functional partners including Product Ops, Research Ops, and Engineering Ops

Requirements

• 3-6+ years of experience in design-focused operations or program management
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills
• High attention to quality, detail, and accountability
• Ability to influence without authority and coordinate across multiple teams and platforms
• Experience managing complex cross-functional programs, including planning, prioritization, and stakeholder engagement
• Adaptability to changing priorities and feedback with a focus on continuous improvement
• Skill in risk anticipation and mitigation across people, processes, and tools
• Proven record of driving operational excellence through end-to-end system improvements