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
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Job titles in Design Ops do not correspond to the same scope or responsibilities across companies.
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Experience in project management is more sought after than design experience for many roles.
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The majority of job descriptions require five or more years of experience, limiting entry-level opportunities.
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Design Ops roles often require a mix of backgrounds for a well-rounded team.
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Tools and technologies remain critical for candidates to showcase on resumes and portfolios.
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Company size and UX maturity dictate the availability and structure of Design Ops roles.
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Salary ranges vary widely, with most salaries between $140,000 to $270,000.
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Remote work opportunities are increasingly limited in favor of onsite positions following the pandemic.
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Portfolio work is essential, with a focus on process and collaborative outputs rather than final design artifacts.
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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."
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