Director, Design Operations
$235,000–$305,000 year
Hybrid · Brooklyn, New York, United States
Job Summary
Head of Design Operations to lead and strengthen the operational foundation of Etsy's Design and Research organization. A strategic partner to design leadership, you will lead a small DesignOps team, own high-leverage programs (including AI training and capacity systems), set planning rhythms and operating models, manage budgets and vendor relationships, and collaborate with cross-functional leaders to ensure Design drives value across the buyer and seller experience. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, requires partnering with Procurement, Finance, and Legal on tool selection, and involves shaping how Design and Research plans, prioritizes, collaborates, and scales within a 130+ person organization. Hybrid work with in-office attendance once or twice per week for commutable-distance candidates, and eligibility for equity and bonus considerations are included as part of the total rewards package.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in design operations, program management, or chief-of-staff roles within a design, product, or creative organization
- Experience leading a DesignOps function and managing a small team, with a track record of growing your people and shaping the discipline
- A builder's mindset, with direct experience launching or evolving operational systems in a design or product organization
- Comfort moving between strategic leadership and hands-on execution, and the judgment to know which mode the moment requires
- Strong communication and influence skills, with experience partnering with senior leaders
- Experience designing and managing operating models at scale, including planning rhythms, intake and prioritization, capacity systems, and team rituals
- History of partnering with Procurement, Finance, and Legal on tool selection, vendor management, and budget planning for creative teams
- Curiosity about AI and a point of view on how it can enable design teams to work more effectively
- Fluency with the tools modern design teams rely on, including Figma, Jira, Notion, Cursor, Claude, and Google Workspace
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