Staff (Ops) Digital Product Designer - Value chain (f/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff (Ops) Digital Product Designer - Value Chain (f/m/d)

Company: Decathlon Digital FR

Location: Paris, Paris, France

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Revenue Operations / Sales Operations / GTM Operations (Focus on operational efficiency within the product design and value chain)

Date Posted: August 14, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the definition and execution of design strategy within the Value Chain, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and user-centricity.

• Drive the implementation of operational initiatives (Ops) for the collective Design team, including OKR setting, cross-unit project management, and continuous improvement frameworks.

• Optimize delivery flows, leveraging AI where applicable, to ensure overall operational effectiveness and resource allocation within the product lifecycle.

• Foster a strong, common design culture and collective intelligence through the facilitation of cross-functional design rituals and knowledge sharing.

• Standardize transverse tools and processes to streamline collaboration between diverse design expertises and Product, Tech, and Data teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Digital Product Designer," has a strong "Ops" component, indicating a focus on the operational framework, processes, and efficiency that support the design function and the broader value chain. The responsibilities lean heavily into establishing and improving how design operates, collaborates, and delivers value, aligning it with GTM and operational excellence principles. The emphasis on "Value Chain" and "operational efficiency" suggests a direct impact on how products are brought to market and delivered.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Support the definition of the design strategy within the Value Chain, aligning with business objectives and sustainability commitments.

• Pilot and deploy operational initiatives for the Design collective, encompassing OKR management, cross-unit projects, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Optimize delivery flows, potentially integrating AI, to enhance operational efficiency across the value chain.

• Facilitate cross-functional design rituals to foster collective intelligence, shared understanding, and a robust common culture.

• Standardize transverse tools and processes to ensure seamless collaboration among various design disciplines and Product, Tech, and Data teams.

• Define and monitor key metrics to measure user satisfaction and the effectiveness of design operations.

• Promote the Design System, guiding designers to make rational decisions that improve the consistency and coherence of user journeys.

• Champion the end-to-end user experience, influencing product strategy at the leadership level.

• Articulate complex problems using a holistic approach, considering interdependencies across multiple products.

• Identify opportunities for product evaluation improvements based on current trends, such as sustainability goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a "Design Ops" or "GTM Operations" focus within the design domain. The emphasis is on creating scalable processes, fostering collaboration, driving efficiency, and measuring impact, which are core tenets of operations roles. This role is less about individual design execution and more about enabling the entire design function and its integration with other business units.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in Product Design, with significant experience in leadership roles, is required. Experience within a Design collective, piloting cross-team initiatives, is essential.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Deep understanding of product design principles, methodologies, and best practices.

• Design Strategy: Ability to define and support strategic design visions and principles for a specific area.

• Service Design: Experience in designing end-to-end user journeys and service ecosystems.

• Digital Product Design: Proficiency in designing digital products and interfaces.

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead teams, initiatives, and influence stakeholders.

• User Experience (UX) Research & Design: Strong skills in understanding user needs, conducting research, and translating insights into design solutions.

• Design Systems: Experience in promoting, maintaining, and leveraging design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal skills for collaborating with and influencing Product, Tech, Data, and other business units.

• Information Architecture: Understanding of how to structure information and design intuitive navigation.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse teams.

• Operational Efficiency: Focus on optimizing processes, workflows, and delivery.

• AI Integration: Understanding or experience in leveraging AI to optimize operational flows.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to define and use metrics to measure user satisfaction and process effectiveness.

• Mentoring: Experience in guiding and developing other designers.

• Strategic Planning: Capacity to identify and shape new opportunities, supporting future product ecosystem changes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a "Tech4Good" or sustainability-focused environment.

• Familiarity with Agile and Lean methodologies.

• Experience with cloud technologies (AWS, GCP) or certifications, given Decathlon's tech stack.

• Fluency in French, in addition to English, for effective communication within the Paris office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level designation, combined with 10+ years of experience and leadership requirements, indicates a senior individual contributor or principal-level role focused on operational strategy and implementation within the design function. The emphasis on "problems complexes et non définis" (complex and undefined problems) and "identifier et façonner de nouvelles opportunités" (identify and shape new opportunities) points to a strategic, forward-thinking operational leader.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case studies demonstrating leadership in defining and executing design strategy within a complex organizational structure.

• Examples of initiatives led to standardize processes, tools, or workflows for a design team or collective, showcasing measurable improvements in efficiency or collaboration.

• Projects that illustrate the ability to articulate complex problems, consider interdependencies across multiple products, and propose holistic solutions.

• Documentation of how design systems were promoted and adopted, highlighting their impact on consistency and designer decision-making.

• Evidence of defining and tracking user satisfaction metrics and using data to drive design operational improvements.

• Examples of mentoring or training other designers, particularly in areas like information architecture or testing methodologies. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of how you have documented design decisions, processes, or best practices to ensure knowledge sharing and impact.

• Examples of workflow design and optimization, particularly those aimed at improving delivery speed or operational effectiveness within a product development lifecycle.

• Demonstrations of system implementation or standardization efforts that facilitated collaboration between design, product, tech, and data teams.

• Evidence of creating or improving processes for measuring performance, user satisfaction, or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role with a strong "Ops" component, the portfolio should emphasize not just design outcomes but the operational frameworks, process improvements, and collaborative structures that enabled those outcomes. Demonstrating an ability to build, scale, and optimize processes is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Paris, France), the experience level (10+ years, Staff/Lead), and the nature of the role (senior digital product designer with significant operational responsibilities), the estimated salary range would be €70,000 - €100,000 per year. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design and operations roles in major European tech hubs, adjusted for the French market and Decathlon's likely compensation structure for such senior positions.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: 2 days of remote work per week, offering flexibility.

• Work Equipment Choice: Freedom to choose your preferred work tool (Mac, Windows, Chromebooks).

• Global Network & International Mobility: Work with local project teams and connect with a global network, with potential for international career paths.

• Skill Development & Mentorship: Opportunities for continuous learning through diverse projects, technologies, certifications, and events, supported by mentorship programs.

• Professional Certifications: Possibility to obtain certifications (e.g., AWS, GCP) from the first year.

• Training: Access to internal and external training programs.

• Employee Shareholding: Opportunity to become a shareholder.

• Performance Bonuses: Monthly and quarterly bonuses.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 35-40 hours per week, with the flexibility of 2 days of remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation considers the seniority, location, and the blend of design and operations expertise required. Benefits are listed as provided, with a note on the hybrid work arrangement indicating 3 days in the office.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail, Sports & Fitness, Technology. Decathlon is a global leader in sports equipment and apparel, leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. The "Value Chain" team specifically focuses on the operational aspects of bringing products to customers.

Company Size: Decathlon Digital has over 2500 technical profiles, with the broader Decathlon company being significantly larger. This indicates a large, established organization with a growing digital footprint.

Founded: Decathlon was founded in 1976. Decathlon Digital's establishment signifies its commitment to digital transformation and innovation.

Team Structure:

• Value Chain Team: This team operates within Decathlon Digital, focusing on the operational excellence of product availability, distribution, and logistics.

• Design Team: A dedicated design collective within Decathlon Digital, likely comprising various specializations (Product Design, Service Design, UX Research, Design Ops).

• Reporting: The role reports to the Head of Product Design for the Value Chain within Decathlon United. This suggests a hierarchical structure with clear leadership in design.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Managers, Global Product Managers (GPMs), Tech Managers, Data teams, and Operations (Ops) stakeholders.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: A core philosophy, ensuring all products and services prioritize user needs and experiences.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing data and metrics to inform decisions, measure success, and drive continuous improvement.

• Agile/Lean Principles: Likely employed for product development and operational processes, promoting flexibility and efficiency.

• Design Ops: Explicit focus on establishing operational frameworks, standardizing tools, and optimizing workflows to support the design function.

• Sustainability Focus: Integrating environmental commitments ("engagements carbone," "durabilité") into product development and operational strategies.

Company Website: https://www.decathlon.net/ (General company) and https://recrutement.decathlon.fr/ (Careers)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Decathlon's dual nature as a major sports retailer and a significant tech player. The "Value Chain" and "Ops" focus of this role are central to Decathlon's mission of making sports accessible through efficient operations and innovative digital experiences. The emphasis on sustainability ("Tech4Good") is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Staff" level position, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant influence and strategic scope. It sits above a senior designer but below a director or head of department, focusing on operational excellence, process optimization, and cross-functional leadership within a specific domain (Value Chain). For operations professionals, this means a role focused on building and scaling the operational infrastructure that supports product design and delivery.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Product Design VALUE CHAIN. This implies direct mentorship and guidance from senior design leadership, with significant autonomy in managing operational initiatives within the specified domain.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of the product value chain, influencing how products are designed, delivered, and how user satisfaction is measured and improved. This includes optimizing delivery flows, standardizing processes, and ensuring seamless collaboration, all of which contribute to revenue generation and customer retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Ops: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in Design Operations, shaping best practices within Decathlon Digital and potentially beyond.

• Strategic Influence: Influence the strategic direction of product design and operational processes for the Value Chain, impacting a critical part of Decathlon's business.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen expertise in collaborating with Product, Tech, and Data teams, broadening understanding of the entire digital product ecosystem.

• Sustainability Integration: Develop expertise in integrating sustainability goals into operational and design processes.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Guide and mentor junior designers, contributing to the growth of the design collective.

• Potential Advancement: Possible progression to roles like Head of Design Operations, Principal Product Designer, or lead roles in specific product domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" designation and the operational focus suggest a career path that bridges individual contribution with strategic operational leadership. It's an opportunity to build the "engine" that drives design and product delivery, a critical function in any large GTM organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Paris, France, and offers a hybrid work arrangement, indicating a mix of on-site collaboration and remote flexibility. Decathlon Digital has offices in Paris, Lille, and Amsterdam.

Office Location(s): Paris, France. Specific office address details would typically be provided by the hiring team.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Paris office likely serves as a hub for innovation and collaboration among Decathlon Digital teams, fostering a dynamic work environment.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a choice of work equipment (Mac, Windows, Chromebooks) and the opportunity to work with modern design and operational tools.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with design, product, and tech teams, alongside virtual collaboration with a global network. The emphasis on "rituals" and "collective intelligence" suggests a culture that values structured interaction.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule with 2 days of remote work per week. This provides a balance between dedicated focus time at home and collaborative engagement in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and the emphasis on collaboration suggest a modern work environment designed to balance individual productivity with team synergy. The choice of equipment further indicates a focus on employee comfort and efficiency.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess overall fit, experience, and motivation.

• Technical/Design Challenge: Expect a case study or practical exercise focused on operationalizing a design process, improving a workflow, or solving a complex Value Chain problem. This might involve presenting a strategy for a design initiative or a proposal for process standardization.

• Portfolio Review: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on your leadership in operationalizing design, your experience with cross-functional collaboration, and your ability to articulate complex problems and solutions. Be prepared to discuss your role in driving efficiency and implementing best practices.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interviews: Meetings with potential peers and design leadership to assess collaboration style, leadership potential, and alignment with Decathlon's values (e.g., "Tech4Good," sustainability, inclusivity).

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Operational Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the operational challenge, the process you designed or optimized, the tools and methods used, and the measurable impact on efficiency, collaboration, or user satisfaction.

• Showcase Leadership in Process: Demonstrate your ability to lead initiatives that standardize tools, define strategies, or improve workflows for a design collective.

• Complexity & Holism: Present case studies that illustrate your ability to tackle complex, undefined problems and consider interdependencies across multiple products within the Value Chain.

• Data & Metrics: Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Show how you defined and used metrics to measure success and drive continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Mentorship: Provide examples of how you fostered collaboration, shared knowledge, and mentored other designers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Operationalize Design: Be ready to outline how you would set up an operational framework for a new design initiative or improve an existing one within a Value Chain context.

• Process Optimization: Prepare to discuss how you would identify bottlenecks in a delivery flow and propose AI-driven or other operational solutions.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Practice articulating how you would gain buy-in from Product, Tech, and Data teams for new processes or tools.

• Design System Advocacy: Prepare to explain how you would promote and ensure adherence to a design system to drive consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Ops" aspect of this role means interviewers will be looking for evidence of process thinking, strategic implementation, and the ability to scale design operations. The portfolio and interview answers should reflect this operational mindset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (likely used by the design team), and potentially specialized tools for service design or journey mapping.

• Project Management & Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking initiatives, OKRs, and workflows.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily interaction and cross-functional communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel for tracking user behavior and satisfaction metrics.

• BI & Dashboarding Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or internal Decathlon tools for visualizing operational performance and user satisfaction data.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not a direct CRM role, understanding CRM principles is beneficial as the Value Chain likely interfaces with customer data.

• Workflow Automation: Potential use of tools for automating repetitive tasks within design or delivery processes.

• AI/ML Platforms: Given the mention of AI, familiarity with platforms or concepts related to AI integration for operational optimization is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily in Product Design, the "Ops" and "Value Chain" focus implies a need for proficiency in tools that manage projects, track performance, facilitate collaboration, and potentially integrate with AI for process optimization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A foundational value, ensuring all operational decisions and design processes prioritize the end-user.

• Operational Excellence: A strong emphasis on efficiency, continuous improvement, and optimizing workflows to deliver value reliably.

• Collaboration & Collective Intelligence: Fostering an environment where diverse teams work together, share knowledge, and leverage collective expertise.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on metrics and insights to guide strategy, measure impact, and refine processes.

• Sustainability & Impact: A commitment to creating positive environmental and social impact ("Tech4Good"), integrated into operational and design considerations.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take ownership of complex problems and drive initiatives independently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration between Design, Product, Tech, and Data teams is paramount, facilitated by standardized processes and open communication.

• Ritualized Interaction: Regular, structured meetings and rituals (e.g., design critiques, OKR reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions) are used to foster alignment and collective problem-solving.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback and continuous iteration on processes and outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on documenting decisions and sharing insights to build a shared understanding and elevate team practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Decathlon's culture appears to balance a strong mission-driven purpose (sports accessibility, sustainability) with a pragmatic, data-informed approach to operational execution. This role is key to embedding these values into the day-to-day operations of the design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Addressing complex, undefined problems within a large, global organization with diverse products and stakeholders.

• Driving Operational Change: Implementing new processes and standardizing tools across multiple teams and geographies, requiring strong change management skills.

• Balancing Design & Ops: Effectively merging the strategic and creative aspects of product design with the rigorous demands of operational efficiency.

• AI Integration: Identifying and implementing AI solutions effectively to enhance operational flows without compromising design quality or user experience.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent adoption and buy-in for operational standards across different departments (Product, Tech, Data, Ops).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Ops Skills: Deepen expertise in building scalable design operations frameworks, process optimization, and toolchain management.

• Strategic Leadership: Develop strategic thinking and leadership capabilities by influencing product and operational roadmaps.

• Sustainability in Tech: Gain hands-on experience integrating sustainability goals into digital product development and operations.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Hone leadership and mentoring skills by guiding junior designers and contributing to team development.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending industry conferences, workshops, and gaining certifications relevant to design, operations, and technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior operational roles in large tech companies, requiring a blend of strategic vision, practical execution, and strong interpersonal skills to drive change.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and implement a design strategy for the Value Chain that incorporates sustainability goals?" (Focus on process, metrics, and stakeholder alignment).

• "Describe a time you standardized tools or processes for a design team. What was the challenge, your approach, and the measurable outcome?" (Highlight operational impact and leadership).

• "How would you leverage AI to optimize delivery flows within the Value Chain, and what are the potential risks and mitigation strategies?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking and operational problem-solving).

• "What metrics would you propose to measure user satisfaction and the operational efficiency of the design process for the Value Chain, and how would you track them?" (Showcase data-driven approach and understanding of KPIs). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our mission and values, how would you ensure your operational initiatives align with Decathlon's commitment to sustainability and accessibility?" (Connect personal approach to company mission).

• "How do you foster collective intelligence and a strong design culture within a distributed or cross-functional team?" (Discuss collaboration strategies and facilitation skills).

• "Describe your experience working with Product and Tech counterparts. How do you ensure alignment and drive shared objectives?" (Highlight stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentations around the "problem, solution, impact" framework, emphasizing the operational aspects of your contributions.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly state the operational problem, the process you designed or improved, the tools used, and the quantifiable results (e.g., % improvement in delivery time, reduction in errors, increase in user satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Operational Thinking: Highlight your role in defining strategy, standardizing processes, managing workflows, and leveraging data or AI for efficiency.

• Focus on Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led initiatives, mentored others, or influenced stakeholders to adopt new operational approaches.

• Tailor to Value Chain: Whenever possible, draw parallels between your past experiences and the challenges of the Value Chain at Decathlon.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of Design Operations principles, the ability to drive strategic initiatives, and a clear, data-backed approach to measuring impact within a large organizational context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Customize your Resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience, specifically calling out leadership roles, experience in operationalizing design processes, cross-functional collaboration, and any work related to efficiency, AI integration, or sustainability. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your ability to lead operational initiatives, solve complex problems, drive process improvements, and measure impact. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the operational challenge, your strategic approach, the implemented solution, and quantifiable results.

• Prepare for Case Studies/Challenges: Anticipate questions about process design, workflow optimization, stakeholder management, and how you would leverage data or AI. Practice articulating your thought process and solutions clearly and concisely.

• Research Decathlon: Understand Decathlon's mission, values, and its digital transformation journey. Familiarize yourself with their commitment to sustainability and accessibility, and consider how your operational expertise can contribute to these goals.

⚠️ 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.