Design Program Manager

Aquent is seeking a highly motivated and strategic Design Program Manager to join a leading technology company that is at the forefront of innovation. This is an incredible opportunity to be a pivotal connector and problem-solver, directly influencing how design teams operate and deliver world-class products. You will be instrumental in shaping the operational excellence of a key design team, ensuring seamless workflows and empowering designers to achieve their best work at scale. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about optimizing creative processes, this role offers a chance to make a significant and tangible impact on cutting-edge product development.

The Impact You'll Make

As a Design Program Manager, you'll be embedded within a dynamic design team, serving as the central nervous system for design operations. You will directly partner with design leadership to drive strategic initiatives, streamline workflows, and foster an environment where high-quality design can flourish. Your work will directly enable designers to focus on their craft, accelerating product development and bringing innovative experiences to users faster. You'll be a thought partner, an orchestrator, and a champion for efficiency, directly contributing to the success of groundbreaking products.

What You'll Do

• Drive the planning, execution, and delivery of design programs and initiatives across the design team, ensuring alignment with broader product and organizational goals.
• Develop and maintain robust processes, tools, and frameworks that significantly improve team efficiency, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Act as the connective tissue, fostering strong partnerships between design, product management, engineering, research, content strategy, and other teams to ensure smooth execution of design workstreams.
• Partner with design managers to strategically forecast resourcing needs, manage team capacity, and ensure appropriate staffing across diverse projects.
• Maintain clear visibility into the team's project portfolio, meticulously tracking progress against key milestones, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential risks.
• Facilitate regular, transparent communication of team progress, priorities, and dependencies to leadership and all cross-functional partners.
• Support the cadence and logistics of critical design reviews, critiques, and other team rituals that cultivate a strong culture of craft, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Champion and execute team culture initiatives, including onboarding, offsites, and team-building activities that promote engagement and belonging.
• Continuously identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce friction, and enhance the overall design development process.
• Ensure key decisions, processes, and project information are meticulously documented and readily accessible to all relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare agendas for team meetings, ensuring all pre-reads are distributed ahead of review processes.
• Track and manage documentation to ensure design reviews are prepared and ready.
• Organize and communicate schedules and expectations for product exploration reviews to the team.
• Support product work intake processes from various development streams.
• Support broader program work and assist with occasional events planning.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to product designers on process and operational needs.
• React quickly and effectively to shifting priorities and changes within a fast-moving, agile team environment.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in program management, design operations, or a related field.
• Proven experience working directly with design teams in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously with competing priorities.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Proficiency with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches).
• A strong track record of building, optimizing, and improving operational processes.
• Working knowledge of AI and how it applies to creating efficient processes and operations.
• Strong understanding of design's integral role within the product lifecycle and how to partner effectively with design teams.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Prior experience at a leading technology company.
• Extensive experience in design operations or supporting product design teams at a technology company.
• Familiarity with industry-standard design and collaboration tools.
• Experience with the internal tools and processes of a large technology company.
• A background in or passion for design, user experience (UX), or creative fields.
• Experience supporting teams specifically in the discovery and exploration phase of product development.
• Strong data literacy and the ability to use metrics to inform decisions and measure program impact.
• Experience running large sprints with short timelines and supporting program work or events planning.

About Aquent:

Aquent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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