Product Design Program Manager

OpenAI

. Partner with design leadership to identify and implement programs, processes, and tools that help the team operate more effectively across multiple product workstreams.

Posted 5/22/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $216,000 - $240,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Partner with design leadership to identify and implement programs, processes, and tools that help the team operate more effectively across multiple product workstreams.
Lead operational planning and execution for key initiatives, including team-wide rituals, hiring coordination, onboarding, resource allocation, and internal communications.
Build and maintain scalable systems that support team growth, executional excellence, and strong collaboration with research, engineering, and product counterparts.
Oversee asset management practices across the design organization, ensuring shared libraries, templates, and systems are version-controlled, accessible, and consistently used.
Manage external vendors and contractors—handling onboarding, scoping, resourcing, contract workflows, and performance tracking to extend the team’s capacity with quality and accountability.
Partner closely with Product and Engineering Operations to align OKRs, roadmaps, and delivery milestones.
Help manage intake, prioritization, and resource planning for design work across a fast-moving and highly collaborative product environment.
Drive clarity around ownership, roles, and execution timelines—ensuring the right people are in the loop at the right time.
Facilitate retrospectives, team health check-ins, and continuous improvement efforts to help the team operate at its best.
Jump in where needed—whether that’s standing up a new system, running a sprint planning session, onboarding a vendor, or troubleshooting a tool.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Have 8+ years of experience in design operations roles within high-growth tech environments.
Have built and scaled 0-1 operational systems across multidisciplinary teams—balancing long-term vision with hands-on execution.
Have a flexible orientation toward process–understanding when it's most effective, how and when to advocate for it, and what it can't do
Are deeply familiar with the design and product development process—from early research and concepting through delivery and iteration.
Have experience managing shared design tools, assets, and libraries to support consistency and efficiency at scale.
Are skilled at vendor and contractor management, with a focus on enabling seamless collaboration and high-quality outcomes.
Are highly organized, action-oriented, and comfortable getting in the weeds to get things done.
Are a strong communicator and collaborator, experienced in working with senior leadership, technical partners, and designers of all levels.
Thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy solving problems in real time to help teams move forward.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.

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Hard Skills & Tools

design operationsoperational planningresource allocationasset managementvendor managementcontract workflowsOKRssprint planningprocess improvementdesign tools

Soft Skills

collaborationcommunicationorganizational skillsproblem-solvingaction-orientedflexibilityleadershipteam facilitationprioritizationexecution excellence