Director, Design Operations

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

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We're hiring a Head of Design Operations to lead and strengthen the operational foundation of Etsy's Design and Research organization. You'll be a strategic partner to design leadership and a hands‑on practitioner. You'll lead a small team while personally owning our highest‑leverage programs. This role is for someone who is energized by the work of building, not just running, the systems that let creative teams do their best work.

The Design and Research org is 130+ people strong and supports every part of the Etsy buyer and seller experience. As our Design Ops leader, you'll shape how this organization plans, prioritizes, collaborates, and grows. You'll partner closely with leaders across Product, Engineering, Brand, and our cross‑functional Ops community to ensure Design is a meaningful driver of the business.

This is a full‑time position reporting to the VP of Design and Research. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package.

For this role we are considering candidates based in the United States. Candidates living within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office Hub may be the first to be considered. For candidates within commutable distance, Etsy requires in‑office attendance once or twice per week depending on proximity. Etsy offers different work modes to meet the variety of needs and preferences of our team.

Learn more details about our work modes and workplace safety policies here.

Etsy’s Design and Research organization is a 130+ person team that includes product designers, content designers, researchers, and operations. The team reports to the CPTO. We partner closely with Product, Engineering, Analytics, Brand, and Marketing to shape the experiences of millions of buyers and sellers around the world.

Design Operations is a small but central function within the org. We provide the systems, rituals, and partnerships that allow designers to focus on craft. This is a moment of transition for the function, and you’ll have a meaningful runway to shape what comes next.

• Lead and grow the Design Ops team. You’ll manage a small team of Design Ops practitioners, coaching them to grow their craft and impact. You’ll also help shape the future of the function, including hiring as the team evolves.
• Set the operating rhythm. You’ll establish the planning, prioritization, and review cadences that help our Design and Research organization stay aligned and effective. This includes resetting team rituals and work‑tracking systems. You’ll also evolve the operating model that supports both the buyer and seller sides of the marketplace.
• Own high‑leverage programs personally. As a working leader, you’ll lead one or two strategic programs at any given time. These might include AI training and enablement for the design team, scaling our intake and capacity systems, or evolving how we review and ship work.
• Partner with design leadership. You’ll serve as a thought partner to the Design and Research leadership team. You’ll consult on team health, help make decisions, and co‑create new initiatives. You’ll bring clarity and focus to ambiguous problems and help leaders make sharper bets.
• Steward the design tool stack and budget. You’ll own our design tooling strategy and partner with Procurement to select and adopt tools that improve collaboration, craft, and AI fluency. You’ll manage vendor relationships and ensure we’re getting strong return on our investments.
• Build bridges across Operations. You’ll…