Design Operations Manager

Kicking off with another role in!

I am working with an awesome Digital agency who are looking for a Freelance Design Operations Manager to start Monday 3rd January for 6 months remote according to government guidelines. Whilst this role is mainly remote, Inside IR35, they will need to send you a laptop so you must be based in England.

They are looking for a bright, talented Design Operations Manager who is passionate about brilliant customer experiences and knows how to make them happen. This is a key hire in the for the Human Centred Design Centre of Excellence for Retail Banking. You will be reporting to the Head of HCD, as well as your equivalent client counterpart.

You’ll be supporting the Leadership Team to plan, define and deliver business strategies and make sure that the operating rhythm is defined and managed effectively. You’ll be performing and overseeing activities such as resource capacity & capability planning, team shape and performance management, finance and contract planning, risk & governance reporting, and supplier management.

You will be responsible for the operational effectiveness of internal and external, Programme Managers, Researchers, and Designers. You’ll work closely with their client teams to constantly inspect, adapt, and measure better ways-of-working, particularly in terms of improving efficiency, consistency, and quality in four core areas of design operations:

• Tools – harmonising design tools to streamline processes across all product verticals
• Process – using data to pinpoint bottlenecks in the current product design process identifying root causes
• Communication – ensuring ongoing, clear, and effective communication between product, research, design, and engineering teams
• Team – building our design thinking culture, retaining, and hiring the best people

Some of the things you’ll be doing

You’ll be nurturing the HCD community to thrive through the creation and coordination of inspiring programs, processes, training, and events to foster learning and innovation. You will own the day-to-day running and development of a high-performing HCD team, including practical, hands-on support for process improvement, tooling, and recruitment, in line with commercial priorities and overall product design strategy.

Your responsibilities will include:

• On/Off-boarding experience, training opportunities, skills-mapping, and recognition of performance
• Instigating a continuous improvement program to bring the design team together across locations and to develop strong communication, better ways of working, and a positive, motivating, and inspiring working culture.
• Driving and implementing processes aligned to bank-wide policy and business frameworks
• Developing the governance and metrics for our Design system
• Making sure operations activities are aligned to the broader bank-wide strategic agenda
• Working in partnership with areas across the bank in delivering activities, projects and processes
• People planning, including capability, capacity, engagement, and communications
• Financial, resource, and capability reporting

The skills you’ll need

We’re looking for someone with strong Programme Management experience of working in divisional operations, leadership support or business management role. You’ll additionally need a broad knowledge of product delivery, research, and design methodologies and how it is embedded in HCD digital delivery areas.

Sound like you? Fabulous, then drop me a line and lets start talking : )