Staff Design Program Manager, Design Systems

About the role

The Staff Design Program Manager will drive the operations that power Etsy’s UX Foundations team. They will blend hands-on program and project management with strategic operational impact to help the team plan, build, review, and drive adoption of their design system and content strategy across product teams.

Responsibilities

• Architect Team Stability: Design and maintain the operational infrastructure that allows the UX Foundations team to work with deep focus.
• Master the Backlog: Drive the end-to-end lifecycle of the Design System and Content Design backlogs.
• Define Prioritization Logic: Establish and socialize clear, observable principles for how the team prioritizes work—balancing urgent "bug fixes" with long-term "foundational builds."
• Create High-Signal, Low-Friction Cadences: Improve team flow, decision quality, and craft standards.
• Lead Org-Wide Scope: Extend practices beyond the Design Systems team with occasional org-wide programs.
• Orchestrate Design Org Integration: Facilitate the high-level framework for how product teams interact with UX Foundations.
• Drive Organizational Alignment: Ensure system updates are synchronized with product release cycles.
• Develop Reporting: Streamlined, audience-appropriate reporting (dashboards, newsletters, executive summaries).
• Content Design Scaffolding: Build the operational framework for Content Design.
• Technical & Brand Liaison: Partner with Engineering Ops and Brand Design to ensure the design system remains technically viable and brand-aligned.
• External Partner Management: Serve as the operational lead for design agencies or vendors as needed.

Requirements

8+ years in program management, project management, or design operations within product development.

Direct experience with design systems and component libraries.

Experience working with content designers.

Ability to context switch smoothly between tactical execution and strategic planning, delivering at a high bar on both.

Clear, succinct communication that adapts depth and detail to the audience and moment.

A focus on improving team flow, decision quality, and craft standards, not just velocity.

Strength in planning and negotiation with leaders while building trust through ownership and follow-through with ICs.

A generous collaborative spirit with a passion for leveling up the operational skills of those around you.

Familiarity with Jira, Figma, Notion, and Google.

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Qualifications

• 8+ years in program management, project management, or design operations within product development.
• Direct experience with design systems and component libraries.
• Experience working with content designers.
• Ability to context switch smoothly between tactical execution and strategic planning, delivering at a high bar on both.
• Clear, succinct communication that adapts depth and detail to the audience and moment.
• A focus on improving team flow, decision quality, and craft standards, not just velocity.
• Strength in planning and negotiation with leaders while building trust through ownership and follow-through with ICs.
• A generous collaborative spirit with a passion for leveling up the operational skills of those around you.
• Familiarity with Jira, Figma, Notion, and Google.