The Business Operations Manager is a strategic partner within the Design organization, driving operational excellence and supporting business planning across UX and Industrial Design. This role requires strong analytical thinking, project management, and business acumen to improve performance and enable strategic initiatives.
Key job responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Analysis
- Partner with Design leadership to define and track KPIs and business health metrics
- Support annual and quarterly planning, including headcount and budget forecasting
- Analyze data to identify trends and operational opportunities
- Monitor progress against goals
- Manage headcount planning, budget tracking, and contractor spend
- Partner with Finance on forecasting and variance analysis
Program & Process Management
- Lead initiatives that improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness
- Drive cross-functional projects and implement scalable processes
- Maintain documentation of operational workflows and tools
Organizational Effectiveness
- Collaborate with Design Operations on org health and team effectiveness
- Support restructuring, integration, and change management efforts
- Address operational bottlenecks and enable cross-team collaboration
Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
- Prepare executive communications, presentations, and business reviews
- Serve as liaison between Design and partner orgs
- Maintain clear reporting, documentation, and stakeholder updates
A day in the life
A day in the life of the Business Operations Manager includes partnering with Design leadership to review team goals and headcount plans, analyzing metrics to identify operational gaps, and preparing updates for executive reviews. They might lead a cross-functional project sync in the morning, work with Finance on budget forecasts in the afternoon, and wrap up by documenting process improvements or drafting comms for an upcoming org update. This role thrives on connecting the dots across teams, bringing clarity to complex challenges, and driving execution to enable a high-performing, strategically aligned design organization.
About the team
This team sits at the intersection of creativity and operations, enabling world-class UX and Industrial Design through strategic planning, resource management, and cross-functional execution. We thrive on solving complex problems, creating clarity from ambiguity, and driving scalable processes that empower designers to do their best work. By partnering closely with design leaders, finance, and partner orgs, we help shape the future of design at scale.
