Senior Design Operations Program Manager
WFA Digital Insight
As the demand for skilled design operations professionals grows, with a 25% increase in job postings in the last year, Mercury's Senior Design Operations Program Manager role stands out. This position requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational expertise, and communication skills. With the rise of remote work, companies are looking for professionals who can streamline processes and improve collaboration. Mercury, a leader in fintech, offers a competitive salary and equity package. Before applying, candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience in design operations, their ability to influence without authority, and their passion for driving operational excellence.
Job Description
About the Role
The Senior Design Operations Program Manager role at Mercury is a unique opportunity to join a team of talented designers and help shape the company's design operations. As a key member of the design team, you will be responsible for building and implementing processes that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the design organization. You will work closely with the Head of Design Operations to develop and implement programs that support the growth and development of the design team.The design team at Mercury is made up of 40+ curious, supportive, and thoughtful designers who are passionate about creating a radically different kind of banking experience. As a Senior Design Operations Program Manager, you will be an advocate for team health and happiness, always seeking opportunities to improve how the team works and delivers an exceptional user experience.
What You Will Do
- Build simple processes and systems to ensure the design organization can scale effectively without unnecessary overhead
- Lead activities and initiatives that support a healthy design culture and quality goals, such as all-hands meetings, on-sites, and other team rituals
- Champion initiatives that elevate the employer brand and grow the design team's external presence through events, content, and community engagement
- Drive onboarding and enablement: maintain and update onboarding programming in partnership with EPD Ops to ensure new designers ramp quickly and effectively
- Support tooling and workflow: manage design tooling and partner with Procurement to secure new tools that improve efficiency, collaboration, and AI fluency
- Provide thought partnership to design leaders, consulting and facilitating decision-making and collaborating on new ideas and initiatives
- Cultivate positive relationships with partners to effectively identify and co-create solutions to address team roadblocks and inefficiencies
- Collaborate with designers, design leaders, and cross-functional partners, as well as partner with Product Ops, Research Ops, and Eng Ops in supporting programs and processes across Eng, Product, and Design
What We Are Looking For
- 3-6+ years of experience in a design-focused operations or program management role
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills
- Demonstrated high bar for quality and attention to detail, and fostering accountability
- Proven ability to influence without authority and coordinate across teams, product areas, and platforms to land new ways of working
- Demonstrated ownership of complex horizontal programs, including scoping, sequencing, making trade-offs, and engaging the right partners
- Ability to reflect, adapt quickly, and continuously improve in response to changing priorities and feedback
- Skill in anticipating and mitigating risks across people, process, and tools
- History of driving operational excellence by improving systems end-to-end, not just delivering individual projects
Nice to Have
- Experience with design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Cloud
- Knowledge of project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or Jira
- Familiarity with design systems and their implementation
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and equity package
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible PTO and vacation policy
- Remote work stipend and equipment budget
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Access to a diverse and supportive community of designers and professionals
How to Stand Out
- Be prepared to showcase your experience in design operations and your ability to influence without authority
- Highlight your proficiency in tools such as Excel, and your ability to manage design tooling and workflow
- Emphasize your ability to drive operational excellence and improve systems end-to-end
- Be ready to discuss your experience in leading activities and initiatives that support a healthy design culture and quality goals
- Show your passion for driving operational excellence and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the design organization
- Prepare to discuss your experience in collaborating with designers, design leaders, and cross-functional partners
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