Experience Design Operations Manager

Empower • Overland Park, KS

5d • $119,700 - $173,625 • Hybrid

About The Position

As an Experience Design Operations Manager, you will lead complex programs and transformation initiatives that improve how Product, Design, Engineering, and Marketing teams deliver customer experiences. You’ll partner across the organization to strengthen delivery execution, improve operational efficiency, and support scalable ways of working that drive measurable business outcomes. Your work will help teams align priorities, reduce delivery friction, and improve the speed and quality of experience development across enterprise initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field; or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of project or program management experience in a matrixed, fast-paced, or regulated environment
• Experience managing cross-functional programs across Product, Engineering, Design, Marketing, or Operations teams
• Strong understanding of program governance, dependency management, and delivery planning
• Experience applying Agile, hybrid, or waterfall methodologies across complex initiatives
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder partnership skills across all organizational levels
• Experience using project, portfolio, or workflow management tools such as Jira, Workfront, Figma, or similar platforms
• Ability to balance multiple priorities while supporting predictable delivery outcomes
• Experience preparing executive-ready updates, reporting, and presentations
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or other advanced degree
• Financial services or highly regulated industry experience
• PMP, Agile, SAFe, or related program management certifications
• Experience supporting experience design, UX/UI, or customer experience organizations
• Background leading enterprise transformation or operational improvement initiatives
• Experience improving intake management, prioritization, or capacity planning processes
• Familiarity with PMO frameworks, delivery standards, and continuous improvement practices
• Experience translating complex delivery data into strategic recommendations
• Strong facilitation skills across executive and cross-functional stakeholder groups
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships that improve execution health and organizational alignment

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-scale programs and transformation initiatives from planning through delivery
• Drive achievement of milestones, OKRs, and Plan of Record commitments across cross-functional teams
• Develop and maintain transformation roadmaps with clear dependencies, timelines, and success measures
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Design, Marketing, Operations, and PMO teams to align priorities and execution plans
• Facilitate governance activities including steering committees, executive reviews, and stage-gate meetings
• Monitor program health, delivery timelines, risks, and dependencies while supporting proactive issue resolution
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance collaboration, delivery efficiency, and operational consistency
• Support adoption of Agile, hybrid, and waterfall delivery practices based on business and regulatory needs
• Prepare executive-level reporting and translate delivery insights into actionable recommendations
• Coach team members and cross-functional partners on delivery practices, stakeholder engagement, and program execution

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) – BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play. BRGs are open to all.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree