Summary
Over the past year, Abbey Smalley, former Head of Design Programs at Amazon has taken a deep dive into the types of Design Ops roles and levels that exist in the market. She’s collected the themes of her findings as well as synthesized insights from interviewing several Design Ops professionals and hiring managers into a newly developed framework that will help you better understand the types of opportunities that exist in the field. She'll also share recommendations on core skills to learn and present in your portfolio to help you land your next dream role.
Key Insights
-
•
Job titles in Design Ops do not correspond to the same scope or responsibilities across companies.
-
•
Experience in project management is more sought after than design experience for many roles.
-
•
The majority of job descriptions require five or more years of experience, limiting entry-level opportunities.
-
•
Design Ops roles often require a mix of backgrounds for a well-rounded team.
-
•
Tools and technologies remain critical for candidates to showcase on resumes and portfolios.
-
•
Company size and UX maturity dictate the availability and structure of Design Ops roles.
-
•
Salary ranges vary widely, with most salaries between $140,000 to $270,000.
-
•
Remote work opportunities are increasingly limited in favor of onsite positions following the pandemic.
-
•
Portfolio work is essential, with a focus on process and collaborative outputs rather than final design artifacts.
-
•
Senior leaders should work towards creating more inclusive roles and consistent titling in the industry.
Notable Quotes
"Today's talk focuses on clarity on the landscape of today's design ops."
"The design ops roles today do not equal the same scope or tasks between companies."
"You may have to use a broader net of titles when looking for your perfect fit."
"Twenty percent of roles want direct experience in design ops, while thirty percent prefer design experience."
"A strong design ops team benefits from a mix of previous experiences."
"The majority of roles today do not have a specialty, requiring a little bit of everything."
"The most commonly requested years of experience is five plus, indicating a gap in entry-level roles."
"Today's roles often expect a mix of operational and program management skills."
"Design ops and programs roles are evolving as a company scales and matures in UX."
"Help fill in those gaps in the market where you're able; we need more entry-level roles."
More Videos
"What if part of our job was to remove the friction in the environment?"
Jacqui FreyFlow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs
November 7, 2018
"The words we use should enable clear paths of understanding so recipients know their role."
Laura Gatewood Laine ProkayBeyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication
September 23, 2024
"Don't underestimate the skills you already have and how you can teach others."
Johanna KollmannInsights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count
December 6, 2022
"Take advantage of our sponsor sessions because they are really high quality and free."
Bria AlexanderDay 3 Welcome
September 25, 2024
"When you explore lots of different ideas, you're going to understand the context better."
Billy CarlsonIdeation tips for Product Managers
December 6, 2022
"The most underutilized asset in a retail environment is the store employees themselves."
Catherine DubutBridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design
March 18, 2021
"The V2Mom framework helps us align our personal and company values effectively."
Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee XiongA Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps
September 8, 2022
"Be curious, understand what other people's experiences have been."
Adrian HowardSturgeon’s Biases
September 25, 2024
"I learned that design is a spoke on a wheel and that I had to stick to the brief, obey the chain of command and deliver polished pixel perfect designs."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023
