Design Program Manager

Overview

As a Design Program manager, you’ll serve as the connective tissue of collaboration across design, various disciplines within design (design engineering, motion, content design) and cross-functional stakeholders within your domain team. Your role is pivotal in orchestrating the seamless execution of design endeavors, ensuring team clarity, alignment with project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities –
1. Workstream Strategy & Coordination:

• Collaborate with our designers to create a creative execution strategy from concept to delivery
• Lead project planning, scheduling, and execution across multiple disciplines and projects simultaneously.
• Maintain clear project timelines, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring alignment with overarching strategic goals.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders to define project scopes, objectives, and success criteria.

2. Stakeholder Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and effective communication channels.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged, informed, and aligned throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage expectations and address concerns proactively, mitigating risks and conflicts as they arise.

3. Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including project plans, status reports, meeting notes, and action items.
• Provide regular progress updates to stakeholders, highlighting achievements, milestones, and potential areas of concern.

4. Resource Allocation:

• Work closely with leads to identify resource gaps and optimize resource utilization for maximum efficiency.

5. Problem Solving:

• Anticipate and address challenges throughout the project lifecycle, leveraging creative problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles.
• Proactively identify risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate their impact on project outcomes.

6. Quality Assurance:

• Uphold quality standards and best practices across all projects, ensuring that deliverables meet or exceed expectations.
• Conduct regular reviews and evaluations to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure adherence to project requirements.

Qualifications:

• 6+ years of experience in design operations and program management
• Deep knowledge of the consumer product development process from concept to execution
• Proven experience in creative program management, required in a creative or design-focused environment.
• Proven experience working with product manager, user researchers, engineer on consumer facing product experiences
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams concurrently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software (e.g., Airtable, Coda, Figma) required.
• Creative problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to addressing challenges.
• Ability to thrive and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Familiarity with creative tools and asset management (understand what vector files are, after effects, etc.)
• Familiarity with multi-disciplinary creative process (has worked on projects that requires reigning in different disciplines like visual design, audio, product design towards the creation of a deliverable). Would love to see specific examples of projects they’ve delivered like campaigns, etc.
• Someone who understands the creative process inclusive of the Design Process (design thinking) and the Product Development lifecycle.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $90 to $125 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! 
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.