Director Design Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

The General Motors' Human Interface Design organization creates the digital experiences that power our invehicle software, mobile apps, and branded web platforms. In the HID Web & App Studio, we're one team designing both the mobile apps and the web properties that connect GM's entire ecosystem, from brand discovery and shopping to ownership and daily driving, for customers, employees, and partners around the world. Our job is to turn complexity into meaning, and to redefine what vehicle ownership feels like in an AI-driven era.

As a Senior Design Producer on the Web & App team, you will combine expert project management with a passion for user experience to lead the development and execution of key mobile and web design programs. You will plan projects, define milestones, assess risks, facilitate design ceremonies, translate complex product requirements into actionable design tasks, and ensure deadlines are met. As a systems-minded leader, you will coordinate work across design disciplines, and manage the complexity of software implementation in a cross-channel automotive environment.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end delivery of design initiatives from concept and research through handoff, validation, launch and post-launch iteration while working closely with design leads, product, marketing and engineering partners.

• Translate product requirements into actionable design plans by defining milestones, assessing project scope and design capacity and aligning workload commitments and timing

• Facilitate alignment across design, product, engineering, program, and brand teams, ensuring shared understanding of priorities, dependencies, and decision points.

• Lead weekly design ceremonies - standups, sprint planning, work shares, cross-functional syncs and leadership reviews.

• Build communication artifacts-roadmaps, briefs, risks, and status updates-that improve visibility for cross-functional partners and senior leadership.

• Identify and resolve risks, dependencies, and blockers by clarifying options, framing tradeoffs, organizing follow-ups, setting realistic expectations, and escalating strategically when needed.

• Champion adoption of standardized tools, methodologies, and best practices that support multi-brand, multi-region design operations.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 7+ years of experience in digital product design operations, production, program or project management, or a related role supporting software or experience design teams.

• Proven experience leading crossfunctional initiatives (for example, design, product management, engineering, and brand) delivering digital experiences across web, mobile, or invehicle interfaces.

• Strong familiarity with modern design and worktracking tools (i.e. Figma, Notion, Jira, Confluence), and the ability to help teams use them consistently.

• Proficiency with Jira, Confluence, Figma, Notion, the Google Suite, and AI tools.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical, design, and operational details into clear, actionable language for diverse stakeholders.

• Understanding of UX design principles, design systems, user-centered development, and product development lifecycles across software and hardware.

• Proven ability to navigate executive-level review forums by setting clear context, capturing actionable feedback, and driving effective follow-through.

• Passion for working on ambiguous problems and developing new frameworks for collaboration and execution.

• Ability to operate with a high degree of ownership and autonomy in a hybrid environment and reliably report to a designated GM location on the schedule defined by the business.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, build consensus, and foster collaboration across disciplines and organizations without direct authority.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity, break down complex, crossportfolio problems into clear steps and sequences, and take intelligent risks while maintaining a focus on quality, customer experience, and business outcomes.

• Experience delivering customer-facing digital products across mobile applications and web properties, including account dashboards, identity and authentication flows, digital onboarding and activation, loyalty and rewards, and ownership or connected-services experiences.

• Direct experience delivering customer-facing software or digital products in the automotive, connected-vehicle, or mobility industry is strongly preferred.

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc). This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

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