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Design Operations Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving design operations within our established global Design team of 50+ professionals. We're seeking a highly skilled and energetic ...

Manager, Design Operations As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a central role in enabling our design, product, and operations teams to move faster. You will think strategically about how ...

Manager, Design Operations As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a central role in enabling our design, product, and operations teams to move faster. You will think strategically about how ...

Senior Design Operations Manager

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$99K - $165K/yr

Sandisk is looking for an Senior Design Operations Manager to help drive operational excellence across the Consumer Design organization, including the Packaging Design, Industrial Design, and Visual ...

Manager, Design Operations As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a central role in enabling our design, product, and operations teams to move faster. You will think strategically about how ...

Manager, Design Operations As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a central role in enabling our design, product, and operations teams to move faster. You will think strategically about how ...

Sandisk is looking for an Senior Design Operations Manager to help drive operational excellence across the Consumer Design organization, including the Packaging Design, Industrial Design, and Visual ...

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Design Operations Manager information

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$31K

$63.5K

$118.5K

How much do design operations manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for design operations manager in the United States is $63,456.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,000.00 and $77,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Design Operations Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Operations Manager, you need expertise in project management, design process optimization, and a solid understanding of design principles, often supported by a degree in design, business, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, Figma, and resource management systems, as well as certifications like PMP or Agile, is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills help you bridge gaps between creative and operational teams. These skills are vital for streamlining workflows, ensuring project delivery, and driving alignment across multidisciplinary teams.

How does a Design Operations Manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve workflow efficiency?

A Design Operations Manager works closely with design, product, engineering, and marketing teams to streamline processes, set clear priorities, and remove obstacles that hinder productivity. They often facilitate regular check-ins, build and optimize workflows, and implement tools or systems that foster communication and transparency. By acting as a liaison and ensuring alignment between departments, they help the broader team deliver high-quality design work on time, while also identifying opportunities to refine processes for future projects.

What is the difference between Design Operations Manager vs UX Designer?

AspectDesign Operations ManagerUX Designer
Primary FocusOversees design processes, tools, and team workflowsDesigns user experiences and interfaces
Required SkillsProject management, process optimization, leadershipUser research, wireframing, prototyping
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with design teams, product managers, and developersWorks directly on user interface and experience design
Common CertificationsProject Management Professional (PMP), Agile certificationsUX certifications (e.g., NN/g, Human Factors)

The Design Operations Manager focuses on streamlining design workflows and managing teams, while the UX Designer concentrates on creating engaging user experiences. Both roles often collaborate but serve different functions within the design process.

What are Design Operations Managers?

Design Operations Managers are professionals who streamline and optimize processes within design teams to improve efficiency, collaboration, and the quality of creative output. They bridge the gap between design, product, and business operations by implementing workflows, managing resources, and ensuring projects stay on track. Their responsibilities often include project management, budget oversight, and facilitating communication across teams. By establishing best practices and removing operational barriers, Design Operations Managers enable designers to focus more on creative work and innovation.
More about Design Operations Manager jobs
What cities are hiring for Design Operations Manager jobs? Cities with the most Design Operations Manager job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Design Operations jobs? The most popular types of Design Operations jobs are:
What states have the most Design Operations Manager jobs? States with the most job openings for Design Operations Manager jobs include:

Design Operations Manager

Global Relay

New York, NY โ€ข On-site

Other

This job post hasย expired 1 day ago.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Your role:

As a Design Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving design operations within our established global Design team of 50+ professionals. We're seeking a highly skilled and energetic individual with experience in large, distributed teams that collaborate seamlessly across multiple time zones.

You will work closely with the Chief Design Officer and design leadership team to optimize and scale team processes, fostering improved collaboration, governance, and continuous improvement. Based in New York, this role offers the opportunity to collaborate with our teams in Vancouver and London, providing valuable exposure to our global customer base and enabling you to make a significant impact on our design organization.

Your responsibilities:ย 

  • Conduct ongoing internal research to identify evolving design and research challenges and opportunities for process unification and efficiency gains.
  • Collaborate with design leadership to prioritize initiatives, maintain a backlog and roadmap of operational projects, and drive strategic decision-making.
  • Scope, design, and implement operational initiatives, including:
    • Standardizing and optimizing design and research processes across distributed teams
    • Evaluating and implementing tools and technologies to enhance team efficiency
    • Developing templates and workflows for recruitment, onboarding, and career development to foster team growth
    • Proposing improvements to design output quality and impact
    • Showcasing success stories to promote design and research impact across the organization
    • Creating and delivering training content on design best practices, tools, and methodologies
    • Establishing benchmarks and tracking key design metrics to inform operations decisions
    • Setting standards for onboarding new designers and researchers, and collaborating with the CDO and design leadership to optimize team structure
    • Monitoring and measuring the success of design operations initiatives and staying up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies to maintain the team's innovative edge

About You:

  • 7+ years of experience in DesignOps or a related field, with a proven track record of delivering successful projects
  • A portfolio or case study demonstrating expertise in DesignOps, including process and results
  • Proficiency in a range of tools (e.g. Miro, Confluence, Figma) and a willingness to adapt to new technologies
  • Strong foundation in user-centered design principles, UX, and UX Research methodologies
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document and share processes in a clear and engaging way
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, trust-building, and collaboration facilitation
  • Ability to drive buy-in and support for operational initiatives, with a talent for influencing stakeholders
  • Strategic thinking, balanced with tactical operational expertise, and the ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment
  • Strong problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills, with experience in managing multiple projects and deadlines
  • Knowledge of change management principles, methodologies, and tools, with experience in implementing organizational change
  • Ability to work independently, with the judgment to know when to seek guidance and input from others
  • Experience in enterprise product development is highly desirable, with a background in design or research being a significant plus