Design System Operations Manager Europe

Our client is seeking a Design System Operations Manager, a hybrid role that blends design, development, and project management expertise. This role is responsible for developing processes, overseeing execution, and establishing best practices for the client’s Design System.

The position leads and coordinates the delivery and operational success of the Design System, with a strong focus on pilot management, stakeholder communication, adoption tracking, and request triage. The role operates in a highly cross-functional environment and plays a critical part in ensuring alignment, transparency, and successful system adoption across teams.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with atomic design system principles, has built or maintained design systems, and has successfully guided teams through adoption. Strong communication, process ownership, and cross-functional collaboration skills are essential to ensure teams remain aligned and informed throughout pilot phases and ongoing operations.

Oversee all operational aspects of the Design System, including governance, documentation, and process adherence

Manage pilot teams during initial rollout, ensuring smooth onboarding and structured feedback collection

Track adoption metrics and report progress to leadership

Identify friction points and work cross-functionally to resolve challenges quickly

Ensure release communications are clear, timely, and directed to all impacted teams

Support the design contribution process, ensuring submissions meet established guidelines

Facilitate triage of design system requests, prioritizing based on impact, effort, and strategic alignment

Maintain transparency on request status and communicate decisions to stakeholders

Manage timelines, priorities, and deliverables for the Design System

Ensure alignment with business objectives and stakeholder expectations

Track progress and provide regular status updates

Act as the primary liaison between design, product, and engineering teams

Maintain transparent communication regarding risks, issues, and dependencies

Drive adoption across new teams by promoting system benefits and providing guidance

Enforce design system guidelines, accessibility standards, and brand consistency

Ensure proper documentation and version control for all components and processes

Identify potential delivery risks and escalate issues promptly

Develop mitigation strategies for resource, timeline, or cross-team challenges

Support broader design operations initiatives beyond the design system

Coordinate research activities and ensure alignment with design priorities

Manage Jira processes for design work, including workflow optimization and reporting

Assist teams across the design organization with operational needs to foster collaboration and efficiency

3–5 years of hands-on UX/UI design and/or frontend development experience

3–5 years of project management experience in design or UI/UX environments

Strong understanding of atomic design principles

Experience working with agile methodologies

Excellent communication and organizational skills

Strong ability to manage multiple priorities effectively

Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence)

Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Design, or a related field

Experience managing pilots or phased rollouts

Experience in design operations, contribution workflows, or research coordination

PMP, CSM, or equivalent certification

Experience working with distributed teams

Knowledge of Figma and design system CMS tools (e.g., Supernova or similar)

Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and responsive design principles