UX Program Manager, Google Ads at Google

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Program Manager, Google Ads

Company: Google

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Operations / Program Management

Date Posted: June 10, 2025

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement within Google's UX organizations, specifically supporting the Google Ads product area.
Harmonize the work of diverse UX disciplines including UX Designers, Researchers, Content Strategists, and UX Engineers.
Plan, execute, and manage UX projects end-to-end, focusing on optimizing resources, timelines, and investment.
Develop and track metrics to demonstrate the impact of UX efforts and foster a culture of user-centered development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Program Manager," the responsibilities clearly indicate a focus on operational efficiency, process improvement, and project coordination within a large-scale UX organization. This role is less about direct UX design work and more about enabling the design teams to function effectively and measure their impact. The category has been updated to reflect this operational focus within the UX domain.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Provide operational excellence and build strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders across various program workstreams within the UX teams.
Develop and implement plans to assess continuous improvement opportunities for UX programs and processes, including data collection, analysis, proposal of improvements, and testing with stakeholders.
Contribute to defining and aligning on metrics that drive user-centered development and demonstrate the impact of UX initiatives, and execute plans to establish baselines and report on these metrics.
Scale, prioritize, and independently manage project plans from inception to completion, strategically optimizing resource allocation, timelines, and financial investment.
Collaborate closely with Engineering and Product Management partners to align on objectives and deliver innovative user experiences for Google Ads products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on process improvement and data-driven decision-making within the UX function. This suggests the role requires a candidate who can not only manage projects but also analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, and propose systematic solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the design teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in a related field. While not explicitly stated as design-specific, a background in disciplines related to human-computer interaction, project management, or business would be relevant.

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of program management experience specifically within design or UX organizations. Experience managing UX-related projects and familiarity with UX design, user research, or user-centered development tools and methodologies is required. Preferred experience includes managing the product development lifecycle, analyzing data for recommendations, and managing project risks.

Required Skills:

Program Management within design or UX organizations
Experience with UX-related projects
Familiarity with UX design, user research, or user-centered development methodologies
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Ability to plan, execute, and manage projects independently

Preferred Skills:

Experience with the product development lifecycle
Data analysis and reporting for process improvement
Risk management (operational, product, team health)
Defining and tracking UX metrics

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize practical experience within a UX context over a specific design degree. This aligns with the operational nature of the role. The preferred skills highlight analytical capabilities and risk management, which are crucial for effective program management in a complex product environment like Google Ads.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

While a traditional design portfolio isn't the primary focus for this program management role, candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience in managing UX projects.
Case studies should focus on the *process* of program management: how projects were planned, managed, and brought to completion within a UX context.
Demonstrate experience in managing diverse UX teams and stakeholders.
Highlight examples of how you have streamlined processes or improved operational efficiency within a design organization.

Process Documentation:

Document your approach to project planning, including scope definition, timeline management, and resource allocation for UX initiatives.
Illustrate your methods for tracking progress, identifying risks, and implementing mitigation strategies within a design workflow.
Showcase how you have analyzed project data or process metrics to identify areas for improvement and measure the impact of your program management efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Since this is a program management role supporting UX teams, the "portfolio" should not be a collection of design artifacts. Instead, the focus should be on demonstrating program management skills and experience within a design context. The guidance is tailored to help candidates present their operational successes and process improvements effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $129,000 - $185,000 per year

Benefits:

Competitive base salary
Performance-based bonus
Equity package (stock options or restricted stock units)
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k with company match)
Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays)
Parental leave
Employee assistance programs
Opportunities for professional development and training
Potential for additional perks like wellness programs, transportation benefits, and employee discounts (typical for large tech companies like Google)

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and deadlines common in program management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided by Google. The benefits listed are standard for a large tech company like Google and are inferred based on typical industry offerings for a full-time role at this level.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Software Development / Internet Services (with a significant focus on Advertising Technology)

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (approximately 310,084 employees according to LinkedIn)

Founded: Founded in 1998 (as Google Inc.)

Team Structure:

The UX team at Google is multi-disciplinary, including Designers, Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers.
UX Program Managers collaborate closely with these disciplines as well as cross-functional partners in Engineering and Product Management.
Teams are likely structured around specific product areas, such as Google Ads, with dedicated UX teams supporting these products.

Methodology:

Google emphasizes a "Focus on the user" principle, indicating a strong user-centered design approach.
The UX team plays an integral part in gathering user insights to inform design decisions.
Collaboration across UX disciplines and with engineering and product management is a key aspect of their methodology.
Experience with user-centered development tools and methodologies is a requirement for this role.

Company Website: https://www.google.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information like size, industry, and founding date are publicly available. The description of the UX team structure and methodology is derived directly from the job posting and typical practices at large technology companies with established UX organizations. The emphasis on user-centered design and cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet of Google's product development philosophy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned as a Program Manager within the UX organization, typically falling within a mid-to-senior level based on the 4+ years of required experience. It involves managing projects and processes rather than being an entry-level design role.

Reporting Structure: UX Program Managers likely report to a UX Manager or a Director within the UX Programs & Operations function, depending on the specific team structure within Google Ads. They will work closely with UX leads, Product Managers, and Engineering Managers.

Design Impact: While not directly creating design artifacts, this role significantly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the UX team. By streamlining processes, managing resources, and tracking metrics, the UX Program Manager enables designers to focus on creating impactful user experiences for a critical Google product area used by billions.

Growth Opportunities:

Advancement to Senior UX Program Manager or Lead UX Program Manager roles, potentially managing larger programs or teams.
Specialization in specific areas like UX strategy, operational excellence, or design systems program management.
Opportunities to move into broader program management roles within Google or leadership positions within UX operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis is based on the required experience level and the nature of the responsibilities. Typical career progression within large tech companies for program management roles involves taking on more complex projects, leading initiatives, and potentially managing other program managers.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site office environment in New York, NY. Google offices are typically designed to foster collaboration and innovation, often featuring open workspaces, meeting rooms, and amenities.

Office Location(s): New York, NY, United States. Google Engineering has a significant presence in New York City, likely with multiple office buildings that house various teams, including those working on Google Ads.

Design Workspace Context:

The workspace will likely be designed to support collaborative work among UX team members and cross-functional partners.
Access to necessary design tools, collaboration platforms, and technology infrastructure for project management and communication.
Opportunities for in-person interaction, whiteboarding sessions, and team meetings to facilitate program execution and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule, likely with core hours for team collaboration and meetings. While on-site, there might be some flexibility depending on team norms and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Information about the work environment is based on the specified location and general knowledge of Google's office setups, which are known for being collaborative and well-equipped. The focus is on how the physical space supports the program management function within a UX team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit.
Potential follow-up calls with a hiring manager or team members to discuss experience and program management approach.
Interviews will likely include behavioral questions, situational questions related to project management within a UX context, and potentially a case study or portfolio review focusing on program management successes.
Expect questions about how you handle complex projects, manage stakeholders, mitigate risks, and implement process improvements.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Instead of a traditional design portfolio, prepare case studies that detail your experience managing UX projects.
Structure case studies to highlight the problem you addressed (operational challenge, project complexity), your approach (planning, process implementation, stakeholder management), the outcomes (project success, efficiency gains, metrics impacted), and your key learnings.
Clearly articulate your role and responsibilities within each project and how your program management skills contributed to the result.

Challenge Preparation:

Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical program management challenge within a large-scale UX organization like Google.
Practice articulating your thought process for planning, resource allocation, risk assessment, and stakeholder communication in a complex environment.
Consider how you would measure the success of your program management initiatives and present data-driven insights for improvement.

ATS Keywords: Program Management, UX Program Management, UX Operations, Project Management, User Experience, UX Design, User Research, Content Strategy, UX Engineering, Product Development Lifecycle, Data Analysis, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Cross-functional Collaboration, Operational Excellence, Process Improvement, UX Metrics, Resource Optimization, Agile, Waterfall, Design Thinking, Google Ads, AdTech, User-Centered Design, Team Coordination, Communication, Planning, Execution, Reporting, Analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and preparation tips are tailored to a program management role within a large tech company's UX organization. The focus is on demonstrating relevant program management skills, experience, and a solid understanding of the UX domain from an operational perspective, rather than design skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While this role is not hands-on design, familiarity with common design tools used by the teams you support is beneficial. This might include:

Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (for understanding design workflows and deliverables)
Project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello, internal Google tools) for planning and tracking.
Spreadsheet software (Google Sheets, Excel) for data analysis and reporting.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Google Meet, internal communication tools) for team communication and stakeholder engagement.
Documentation platforms (e.g., Confluence, Google Workspace) for process documentation and knowledge sharing.
Tools used for design handoff to engineering (e.g., Zeplin, Figma's developer handoff features) for understanding the workflow.

Research & Testing:

Familiarity with tools used for user research (e.g., user interview platforms, survey tools) and usability testing (e.g., remote testing platforms) is helpful for understanding the UX process.
Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, internal metrics dashboards) for tracking product and user behavior data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are a mix of general program management/collaboration tools and design-specific tools that a UX Program Manager would likely interact with or need to understand to effectively support the design teams. The emphasis is on tools related to workflow, communication, and data analysis within a UX context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

User Focus: Deep commitment to understanding and prioritizing the needs of the users of Google Ads products.
Collaboration: Strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork between UX, Engineering, and Product Management.
Impact: Drive to deliver measurable value for both users and Google's businesses through effective design and operational efficiency.
Continuous Improvement: A culture of assessing and refining processes to enhance the quality and speed of UX delivery.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse teams.
Likely involves regular meetings, planning sessions, and cross-functional syncing to ensure alignment and smooth project execution.
Emphasis on open communication and proactive problem-solving to address challenges within the UX workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The design values and collaboration style are inferred from Google's stated principles ("Focus on the user") and the nature of a program management role supporting multiple disciplines. Collaboration and a focus on impact are crucial for this type of position.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and dependencies across different product areas within Google Ads.
Implementing process improvements and driving change within a large, established organization with potentially ingrained workflows.
Balancing the needs and priorities of different UX disciplines (Design, Research, Content Strategy, etc.) while ensuring overall program success.
Tracking and demonstrating the tangible impact of UX initiatives through data and metrics in a business-critical product like Google Ads.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunities to gain deep experience in program management within a leading technology company and a high-impact product area.
Exposure to advanced program management methodologies and tools used at scale.
Potential for mentorship from experienced program managers and leaders within Google.
Access to internal training and resources for professional development in program management, leadership, and potentially specialized areas like AdTech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are based on the complexity of working within a large organization like Google and managing programs for a critical product like Google Ads. The growth opportunities highlight the benefits of working in such an environment, including exposure to best practices and potential for significant career advancement within program management.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your experience managing projects that involved various stages of the UX process (research, design, testing, implementation). Provide specific examples from your past roles.
How do you ensure effective collaboration between UX designers, researchers, content strategists, and engineers throughout a project lifecycle?
Describe a time you identified a bottleneck or inefficiency in a UX process and how you went about addressing it.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Google's culture and values, particularly those related to collaboration, innovation, and user focus. Be ready to discuss how your approach aligns with these values.
How do you handle working with diverse teams and navigating different communication styles within a large organization?
Discuss your experience working in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Prepare 2-3 detailed case studies of significant UX programs or projects you have managed. Focus on the "what," "how," and "impact" of your program management efforts.
Clearly articulate the problem or opportunity, your planning process, how you managed the team and stakeholders, challenges you faced and how you overcame them, and the outcomes or results of the program.
Use visuals (e.g., timelines, process diagrams, data charts) to illustrate your approach and impact where appropriate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to help candidates specifically prepare for a program management role within a large tech company's UX team. It emphasizes demonstrating relevant experience through specific examples and focusing on the operational aspects of managing design projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Customize your resume to highlight your program management experience within UX or design organizations, using relevant keywords from the job description.
Prepare case studies or examples that demonstrate your ability to plan, execute, and manage complex projects, particularly those involving cross-functional design teams.
Research Google's Google Ads products and understand the scale and complexity of the platform to demonstrate your interest and understanding during interviews.
Be ready to discuss your approach to process improvement, data analysis for decision-making, and stakeholder management within a design context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

UX Program Manager, Google Ads