Senior UX Program Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Program Manager

Company: Diversified Services Network, Inc. (DSN)

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX Program Management / Design Operations

Date Posted: August 14, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with occasional onsite work)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead UX Design Operations initiatives to enhance design throughput, consistency, quality, and transparency.

• Implement and manage planning, tracking, and reporting mechanisms for design and engineering processes.

• Collaborate with Design, Research, Product Management, Platform, and Engineering teams to establish scalable operational approaches.

• Drive operational excellence, process improvement, and team enablement across UX engineering and design functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a Design Operations function, focusing on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of UX design teams within a large, established enterprise. The emphasis is on process, scalability, and cross-functional alignment, rather than direct UX design execution. The "Senior" title implies a significant level of autonomy and responsibility for defining and driving strategic operational improvements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Evolve, improve, and simplify design-related processes and workflows to scale across multiple teams and methodologies (Agile to Waterfall).

• Drive clarity and alignment among design, product, and engineering partners and stakeholders through effective program management.

• Promote operational excellence and process improvement across UX engineering and design functions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and optimize work practices within an enterprise structure.

• Establish and manage design-related programs, resources, and processes that yield measurable results in terms of efficiency, quality, and throughput.

• Lead initiatives to adopt standardized design processes, guidelines, and best practices across product teams, strengthening connections and fostering consistency.

• Manage project playbooks, build schedules, track issues/risks, and establish comprehensive communication plans for design and product development initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on process definition, implementation, and continuous improvement, typical of a Design Operations role. The expectation of working with "enterprise structure" and "scalable approaches" suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond individual project management, emphasizing the impact on the broader organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience.

Experience: 8+ years of successful experience as a UX Producer, Program/Project Manager, or Engineering Program/Project Manager, leading large projects through the full product development lifecycle within a large, cross-functional team.

Required Skills:

• Hands-on experience with UX and Design Operations tools such as Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Aha!.

• Proven experience with resource planning and program delivery within complex environments.

• Demonstrated experience working with project playbooks, building detailed schedules, managing issues/risks, and establishing robust communication plans.

• Strong knowledge of project management tools and methodologies, including Agile frameworks and Waterfall approaches.

• Experience managing product development portfolios and working cross-collaboratively with Product Management, Engineering, Platform teams, UX Design, and Research.

• Strong ability to effectively manage cross-functional projects, identify and resolve dependencies, and mitigate bottlenecks.

• Experience in escalating issues and making hard trade-offs between business and customer needs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly.

• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines, adapting as necessary in a fast-paced environment.

• High attention to detail and proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously with minimal supervision.

• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to ensure successful project delivery. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a Fortune 100 company environment.

• Familiarity with design systems and their operational impact.

• Experience with budget management and resource allocation for design initiatives.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and how to operationalize them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific tools like Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Aha! is critical. The experience requirement of 8+ years and the mention of "Fortune 100 company" suggest this role is for a seasoned professional capable of navigating large organizational structures and complex project portfolios. The blend of UX, Program Management, and Engineering Program Management indicates a need for a broad understanding of the product development lifecycle.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of implemented design processes that improved efficiency, quality, or scalability.

• Include case studies demonstrating successful management of complex, cross-functional product development projects.

• Highlight experience in standardizing design workflows, guidelines, or best practices.

• Provide evidence of managing project lifecycles, including planning, execution, risk mitigation, and reporting. Process Documentation:

• Examples of developed project playbooks, communication plans, and risk/issue logs.

• Documentation illustrating how you have driven clarity and alignment among diverse stakeholders.

• Evidence of evolving, improving, and simplifying processes for design and engineering teams.

• Samples of work that demonstrate experience with resource planning and program delivery mechanisms.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Program Manager, the portfolio should demonstrate not just project completion, but the strategic impact of their process improvements. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the "why" behind their process choices and the measurable outcomes achieved. This includes showcasing how they've leveraged tools to enable these processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $114,000 - $121,000 per annum

Benefits:

• 401(k)

• Dental insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Disability insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Health insurance

• Health savings account

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Paid holidays

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with occasional onsite work required, suggesting a need for adaptability within the work schedule to meet project demands and collaborative needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range ($114,000 - $121,000) is within the typical band for a Senior Program Manager role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, especially within a large Fortune 100 company. The benefits package is comprehensive, standard for large corporations, and attractive to professionals seeking stability and comprehensive coverage. The hybrid nature suggests a balance between remote work flexibility and the necessity of in-person collaboration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Diversified Services Network, Inc. operates within a broad range of industries, typical of a large, established conglomerate. As a Fortune 100 company, DSN likely emphasizes stability, structured processes, and a focus on long-term growth and operational efficiency.

Company Size: Fortune 100 company, indicating a very large organization with extensive resources, established hierarchies, and potentially complex internal processes.

Founded: While not specified, being a Fortune 100 company implies a long history, suggesting a mature organizational culture with established norms and a focus on reliability and sustained performance.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Manager of Program Management within the User Experience Design Operations team.

• This team likely collaborates closely with various product development functions, including Design, Research, Product Management, Platform Engineering, and broader Engineering departments.

• The structure implies a matrixed environment where program managers coordinate efforts across multiple specialized teams. Methodology:

• Emphasis on improving design throughput, consistency, quality, and transparency through operational enhancements.

• Focus on establishing scalable approaches and adopting standardized design processes and guidelines.

• Driving operational excellence, process improvement, and team enablement through cross-functional collaboration.

• Utilizing a blend of Agile and Waterfall methodologies, indicating a need for adaptability and experience with different project management frameworks.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Operating within a Fortune 100 company suggests a need for candidates who can navigate large, complex organizations. The culture likely values process adherence, measurable results, and strong cross-functional collaboration. The UX Design Operations team's role is to be a linchpin, ensuring that design efforts are efficient and aligned with broader business and engineering objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Senior" role, indicating a professional with significant experience (8+ years) capable of operating with a high degree of independence and ownership, particularly in areas where program strategy is still evolving. It suggests a level of strategic contribution beyond tactical execution.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the Manager of Program Management, the Senior UX Program Manager will have direct responsibility for leading and implementing key operational initiatives. While not a people management role, it requires influencing and guiding cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the efficiency, quality, and scalability of UX design within the organization. By improving design throughput and consistency, this role contributes to faster product development cycles, better user experiences, and ultimately, enhanced customer satisfaction and business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in Design Operations, UX program management, or specific areas of product development lifecycle management.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Manager of Program Management role or lead larger, more strategic programs within the organization.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in advanced program management techniques, new operational tools, and best practices in UX and product development. The Fortune 100 environment likely offers structured learning and development programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation and the Fortune 100 context suggest that growth opportunities will be tied to demonstrating leadership in process improvement, strategic program management, and successful navigation of complex organizational dynamics. Candidates should look for opportunities to take on larger scopes of responsibility and influence organizational best practices.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, allowing for remote work with occasional onsite requirements in Peoria, IL, or Chicago, IL facilities. This suggests a blend of independent work and collaborative in-person sessions.

Office Location(s): Peoria, IL and Chicago, IL. The hybrid nature allows flexibility in daily work location, but candidates should be prepared for occasional travel or presence at these company sites for key meetings, workshops, or team events.

Workspace Context:

• The role requires proficiency with digital collaboration tools (Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Aha!) enabling effective remote and hybrid teamwork.

• The environment likely involves close collaboration with diverse teams (Design, Research, Product, Engineering), necessitating strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Expect a structured, process-oriented environment common in large corporations, balanced with the dynamic nature of product development cycles.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet deadlines and project demands. The hybrid model offers some autonomy in structuring the workday, but deliverables and collaborative needs will drive the schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature is a key aspect, offering flexibility. However, "occasional onsite work" implies that candidates should be prepared for mandatory in-office days for specific project phases, team-building events, or critical stakeholder meetings. Understanding the company's specific hybrid policy and expectations for onsite presence will be important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience with UX program management, process improvement, and tool proficiency. Expect questions about past projects and challenges.

• Cross-functional/Team Interviews: Interviews with peers or stakeholders from Design, Product, and Engineering to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to influence across teams. Case studies or scenario-based questions are probable.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to present and discuss key projects, focusing on your role, the processes you implemented, challenges overcome, and measurable outcomes.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to assess strategic thinking and overall fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process Impact: Showcase how your process improvements led to tangible benefits (e.g., reduced cycle time, increased design quality, better cross-functional alignment). Use metrics wherever possible.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Clearly explain how you leveraged tools like Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Aha! to manage projects, facilitate collaboration, and track progress.

• Case Study Structure: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach/process, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the results achieved.

• Tailor to DSN: Research DSN's products and apparent operational challenges to tailor your presentation. Highlight how your skills can address their specific needs in enhancing UX Design Operations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design/Improvement Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to design or improve a process for a specific UX challenge. Focus on your thought process, stakeholder engagement, and scalability.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Practice answering questions about how you would handle disagreements, align priorities, or communicate complex information to diverse groups.

• Tool-Specific Questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with the required tools in detail, including specific features you've utilized for program management and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role. Candidates should prepare detailed case studies that highlight their ability to operationalize design processes, manage complex projects, and drive measurable improvements. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and decision-making rationale, especially when balancing business needs with customer experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UX design collaboration, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency in its project management and collaboration features is key.

• Azure DevOps: Used for work item tracking, agile planning, and CI/CD pipelines. Experience in managing UX work within this platform is valuable.

• Confluence: For documentation, knowledge sharing, and process guidelines. Ability to create and maintain comprehensive documentation for design operations.

• Aha!: Product roadmap and strategy tool. Understanding how to align UX initiatives with product roadmaps and strategic goals.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with tools that can track design project progress, resource utilization, and team output. Specific tools not mentioned but likely integrated within Azure DevOps or other enterprise reporting suites.

• Ability to generate reports and dashboards that communicate the impact and efficiency of UX operations to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly a CRM role, understanding how UX initiatives integrate with product development and potentially customer feedback loops (often managed via CRM or related systems) is beneficial.

• Familiarity with workflow automation within tools like Azure DevOps or other project management platforms to streamline design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Deep familiarity with Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Aha! is non-negotiable. The candidate must demonstrate not just usage, but strategic application of these tools to improve operational efficiency, facilitate collaboration, and drive transparency in the design and product development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Scalability: A core value will be driving processes that are efficient, repeatable, and can scale across a large organization.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships with Design, Product, Engineering, and Research teams is paramount.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing metrics and data to inform process improvements and demonstrate impact.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for program success and proactively addressing challenges.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to constantly evaluating and refining operational processes for better outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive and communicative, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

• Facilitative, helping teams work through challenges and reach consensus.

• Structured, using established methodologies and documentation to guide collaboration.

• Empathetic, understanding the needs and perspectives of different functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within a Fortune 100 Design Operations team likely emphasizes structure, process, and measurable results. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of how to achieve buy-in and drive change in a large, established organization, balancing the need for standardization with the agility required for product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: Implementing new processes or changes within a Fortune 100 company can be slow and require significant stakeholder management and buy-in.

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Aligning the operational needs of UX Design with the priorities and methodologies of Product Management and Engineering can be complex.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the ROI of design operations improvements can be challenging but is critical for demonstrating value.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Tools: Continuously learning and adapting to new versions of tools or new technologies that can enhance design operations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Program Management Certifications: Pursuing PMP, Agile certifications, or specialized UX program management training.

• Design Operations Workshops & Conferences: Engaging with industry leaders and peers to learn about emerging best practices and tools.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into Product Management, Engineering, and Research functions within DSN.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders or to mentor junior team members within the operations function.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach challenges related to organizational change management and driving adoption of new processes. Highlighting a proactive approach to continuous learning will be key.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you implemented a new process within a large organization. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on stakeholder buy-in, change management, and measurable outcomes).

• "How would you go about establishing scalable design operations processes for a product team that currently lacks them, using tools like Figma and Azure DevOps?" (Focus on your methodology, assessment, and implementation plan).

• "Imagine there's a conflict between UX design timelines and engineering release schedules. How would you facilitate a resolution and ensure alignment?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and trade-off analysis). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Diversified Services Network, Inc., and why are you interested in this Senior UX Program Manager role specifically?" (Research company mission, values, and recent news).

• "How do you see Design Operations contributing to the success of a Fortune 100 company like DSN?" (Connect your role to broader business objectives).

• "Describe your experience working in hybrid or remote environments. How do you ensure effective collaboration and team cohesion?" (Highlight your adaptability and communication strategies). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio pieces as narratives of problem-solving and impact.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use data to back up your claims about efficiency gains, quality improvements, or risk reduction.

• Focus on Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, not just the team's achievements.

• Demo Tool Usage: Show, don't just tell, how you used Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Aha! to manage projects and facilitate processes.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, trade-offs made, and lessons learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to articulate your understanding of Design Operations as a strategic function that enables product teams. Connect your experience with the specified tools to practical applications that drive efficiency and quality in UX development.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Program Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience in UX/Engineering Program Management, specifically mentioning your work with cross-functional teams, full product development lifecycles, and the required tools (Figma, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Aha!). Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 key projects that best showcase your ability to implement and improve design operations processes, manage complex projects, and drive measurable results. Be ready to present these with clear articulation of the problem, your solution, your role, and the impact.

• Research DSN: Understand the company's business, its industry, and its apparent organizational structure. Consider how your role fits into a large, established enterprise.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare for behavioral questions using the STAR method, and practice articulating your approach to process improvement, stakeholder management, and tool utilization.

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