Design Program Manager

About this role

DesignOps at Faire owns and scales processes and programs that enable the Design team to be efficient and effective as we rapidly grow. The DesignOps team is responsible for managing programs focused on our people, business, and product - all of which help shape and drive the Design team’s craft, culture, and priorities. As a founding member of the DesignOps team, you’ll manage horizontal programs to support the growth and fulfillment of being a member of the Design org. You will help define our operational strategy on horizontal programs impacting hiring, onboarding, and growth for Product Design, Design Systems, UX Research, Content Design, Design Ops, and Brand Design. You will be a key owner in scaling and shaping the future of the Design org at Faire.

We’re looking for team members who are kind, collaborative, have a bias to action, and excel at developing creative solutions that will ensure a best-in-class Design org.

This role can be remote, or has flexible options in one of our offices in San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, Atlanta, GA, Toronto, ON, or Kitchener, ON.

What you’ll do

• Partner with Design leadership and cross-functional partners on horizontal programs that support all design org teams, including Product Design, Design Systems, UX Research, Content Design, Design Ops, and Brand Design.
• Own, manage, and scale design operational programs for the following areas:
• Design Community & Learning including Design team engagement, communications, skills development, and quarterly and annual org conferences.
• Design Hiring & Onboarding including partnering with recruiting on hiring plans and processes, interview training, and new hire onboarding.
• Design Org Priorities including ad hoc programs to support the priorities of the Design organization.
• Establish and drive programs and initiatives, creating efficient and flexible project plans and processes to ensure alignment with partners and impactful results.
• Source and manage resources to keep projects and milestones on track. Collaborating with Design team members and/or managing external vendors as needed to fulfill project needs.
• Prioritize competing and shifting needs with good reasoning and creative solutions.
• See around corners and proactively problem solve.
• Contribute best practices with the DesignOps team to drive team-wide excellence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a program or project manager, preferably with hands-on experience leading organizational programs for Design organizations.
• Proficiency in program management, including team leadership, stakeholder management, organizational and executional ability.
• Understanding of the user-centered design process. Ability to understand needs, brainstorm ideas, and act quickly and be resourceful.  
• A growth mindset. You’re open and receptive to feedback, and can adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment. You’re focused on maximizing impact for your programs, and the Design org as a whole.
• Clear communicator. Effective, clear and proactive communicator with the ability to present and inspire, drive alignment, and build support.
• Lead through influence. You strike a balance between leading and guiding teams, using your knowledge and expertise to influence. 
• Champion of diversity. You understand and advocate for the impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in Design.
• Tools savvy. Working knowledge of common project management tools (Asana, Notion, G Suite, etc.) and know when to use one tool over the other. Experience working with design and creative tooling a plus.