Senior Design Operations Specialist - Enterprise Digital

First Citizens; Raleigh (NC); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent financial institution seeks a Senior Design Operations Specialist to lead the operational strategy for their digital design team. This remote role focuses on optimizing design processes and enhancing team efficiency. Candidates should have extensive experience in User Experience (UX) and strong leadership abilities. The position offers competitive benefits and will shape the future of design within the organization.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience in User Experience (UX) required if degree is held.
• 12 years of experience in User Experience (UX) required if diploma is held.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of the design team’s long-term vision.
• Participate in business planning process including objective setting and budgeting.
• Analyze and optimize design workflows and practices.
• Oversee communication across teams and foster a culture of community.

Skills

Critical Thinking Skills

Communication Skills (verbal / written)

Analytical Skills - Data

Organization Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Advanced UX strategy and design thinking

Digital design, user experience

Wireframing & rapid prototyping tools (e.g., Axure, Figma)

Advanced user research methodologies

Design thinking and human-centered design methodologies

Stakeholder management and influence

Agile development methodologies

Accessible and inclusive design practices

Education

Bachelor's Degree in User Experience (UX)

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Figma

Axure

Job description

Overview

This is a remote position that may only be hired in North Carolina.

We are seeking a Senior Design Operations Specialist to play a critical, hands-on leadership role in defining and scaling the operational strategy for the enterprise digital design organization. You will partner directly with design managers and leaders to ensure the design team is operating at peak efficiency, with clear processes and good morale. You will coordinate work across the design team on cross-functional initiatives, optimize and standardize design processes for design excellence, coordinate design risk mitigation, and manage the systems that enable designers, content strategists, and researchers to focus on high-impact creative work.

This role is a high-level, strategic position focused on scaling the efficiency, impact, and quality of the design organization. You will be a key thought partner to design leadership and responsible for defining and driving the operational strategy across the enterprise digital design team.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic planning and execution (25%)
   • Function as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to design leadership, assisting in the development and execution of the design organization’s long-term vision and operational plan.
   • Participate in the annual and quarterly business planning process for the design team, including objective setting, budgeting, resource forecasting, and portfolio prioritization in collaboration with product, engineering, and strategy.
   • Identify, scope, and drive strategic operational design projects that simplify complexity and scale the design function across the entire company.
   • Define and track KPIs and operational metrics to measure the health, efficiency, and impact of the design team and its processes.
2. Workflow and process optimization (25%)
   • Analyze, redesign, and implement scalable, standardized design workflows, practices, and playbooks (e.g., project intake, design review, handoff, and documentation) to enhance consistency and productivity.
   • Own and manage the governance of core design operations functions, such as tool evaluation/implementation (e.g., Figma, research tools) and knowledge sharing systems.
   • Drive continuous improvement by identifying bottlenecks, managing ambiguity, and implementing solutions to unblock design teams.
   • Collaborate with risk in coordinating the execution of mitigation plans for identified risks relevant to digital design.
3. Resource and Project Portfolio Management (25%)
   • Oversee high-level resource allocation and capacity planning for large, complex portfolios of work, ensuring the right talent is aligned to the most critical business priorities.
   • Collaborate with product managers and design managers to maintain a clear, up-to-date view of overall portfolio health, risks, and dependencies.
   • Work with design leadership to identify and coordinate skill development to ensure the team has the talents needed.
4. Communication and Culture (25%)
   • Oversee high-level communication and ensure alignment across teams; maintain visibility into portfolio health, risks, and dependencies.
   • Collaborate with product managers and design managers to foster a culture of trust, safety, and community that enables great end-to-end experiences.
   • Identify and coordinate opportunities for skill development to ensure the team has the talents needed.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience in User Experience (UX) OR High School Diploma or GED and 12 years of experience in User Experience (UX).

Core Competencies:

• Critical Thinking Skills (Advanced, Required)
• Communication Skills (verbal / written) (Advanced, Required)
• Analytical Skills - Data (Advanced, Required)
• Organization Skills (Advanced, Required)
• Interpersonal Skills (Advanced, Required)
• Adaptability (Advanced, Required)
• Attention to detail (Advanced, Required)

Position Specific Skills:

• Advanced UX strategy and design thinking (Advanced, Required)
• Digital design, user experience, information architecture, and interaction design (Advanced, Required)
• Wireframing & rapid prototyping tools and skills (e.g., Axure, Figma) (Advanced, Required)
• Advanced user research methodologies and data analytics (Advanced, Required)
• Design thinking and human-centered design methodologies (Advanced, Required)
• Enterprise design systems and scalable design solutions (Advanced, Required)
• Stakeholder management and influence (Advanced, Required)
• Emerging technologies, digital trends, and their impact on UX (Advanced, Required)
• Agile development methodologies and practices (Advanced, Required)
• Accessible and inclusive design practices (Advanced, Required)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in design operations
• Experience scaling design systems, research operations, or content operations
• Strong system-thinking approach, with the ability to see how individual projects connect to the larger organizational and business strategy
• Proficiency with JIRA and Confluence for partnering with developers and product partners
• Resiliency and soft skills to communicate respectfully when challenging assumptions and tactful style when receiving feedback
• Ability to adjust communication and storytelling of design decisions to various levels of product, design, and business leadership
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration, communication, and workshop facilitation skills to develop alignment with stakeholders and execute on aligned roadmaps with quality and speed

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.