At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and scale design operations for innovative automotive and digital projects.
- Company: Join Toyota Connected Europe, a leader in automotive design.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and impactful project involvement.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with senior stakeholders and drive meaningful change.
- Why this job: Directly influence design processes and tackle complex challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in Design Ops and strong data skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re hiring a Design Operations expert to build and scale the operational backbone of Toyota Experience Design (TxD). Our design teams work across digital products, in-car experiences, and strategic initiatives, partnering with product, engineering, and business stakeholders across Europe and globally. As the organisation grows, we’re looking for someone to bring clarity, structure, and performance visibility to how design operates and scales.
This is a systems-focused role, responsible for improving how we plan, prioritise, deliver, and measure design work, ensuring our design teams can operate efficiently while maintaining high quality.
What you’ll be doing:
- Define and evolve a lightweight design operating model across various design teams.
- Improve how work is planned, scoped, and delivered.
- Support quarterly planning, prioritisation, and roadmap alignment.
- Improve visibility of capacity, demand, and dependencies.
- Build and maintain clear reporting frameworks.
- Track key design performance metrics.
- Reduce waste, duplication, and coordination overhead.
- Facilitate communication across distributed teams.
What we’re looking for:
- Experience in Design Ops operating in complex, cross-functional organisations.
- Track record of improving ways of working and operational efficiency.
- Strong data and reporting skills (Excel, Jira dashboards, etc).
- Comfortable working with tools like Jira, Confluence, Airtable, Figma, and AI.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams and dependencies.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Strong commercial awareness: understands cost, budget, efficiency, trade-offs, etc.
- Systems thinker with a pragmatic, outcome-focused approach.
- Comfortable working in ambiguity and driving clarity.
- Focused on enabling teams, not controlling them.
What this role is not:
- Not a tooling rollout or transformation programme.
- Not a people management position.
Why join us:
- Work on complex, large-scale design challenges across automotive and digital.
- Partner directly with senior stakeholders and influence how design operates within Toyota Connected Europe.
- Opportunity to shape and scale a high-impact design function.
- Time-boxed role with clear outcomes and visibility of impact.
Design Ops SME employer: Tesla
At Toyota Connected Europe, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Design Ops SME, you will have the unique opportunity to influence and shape the operational backbone of our design teams while working in a hybrid environment in London. We offer a supportive atmosphere that encourages professional growth, with access to complex design challenges and direct partnerships with senior stakeholders, ensuring your contributions are both meaningful and impactful.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Ops SME
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the design ops space, especially those at Toyota Connected Europe. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you've got a portfolio or examples of your work, bring them along to interviews. Demonstrating how you've improved operational efficiency in past roles can really set you apart.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how you would tackle planning, prioritisation, and reporting frameworks. Being ready with specific examples will show you're the systems thinker they need.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Ops SME
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Design Ops. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your relevant projects and achievements!
Showcase Your Systems Thinking:Since this role is all about improving operational efficiency, we’d love to see examples of how you’ve tackled complex challenges in previous roles. Share specific instances where you’ve implemented systems-focused solutions that made a real difference.
Highlight Your Data Skills:We’re keen on candidates who are comfortable with data and reporting tools. Make sure to mention your experience with Excel, Jira, or any other relevant tools. If you’ve created dashboards or reports that improved visibility, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tesla
✨Know Your Design Ops Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the principles of Design Operations. Brush up on your experience with tools like Jira, Confluence, and Figma, as well as your understanding of how to improve operational efficiency. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've successfully implemented changes in complex environments.
✨Showcase Your Systems Thinking
This role is all about systems and processes, so be prepared to demonstrate your ability to think critically about how design teams operate. Bring examples of how you've defined or evolved operating models in the past, and be ready to discuss how you can bring clarity and structure to Toyota's design operations.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Since strong stakeholder management is key, think of instances where you've effectively communicated with various teams. Prepare to share how you’ve facilitated communication across distributed teams and managed multiple workstreams, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed.
✨Quantify Your Achievements
When discussing your past experiences, use data to back up your claims. Highlight key performance metrics you've tracked and improvements you've made in previous roles. This will show that you not only understand the importance of data but also know how to leverage it to drive operational success.
