At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and scale design operations for innovative automotive and digital experiences.
- Company: Join Toyota Connected Europe, a leader in automotive innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and impactful projects.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to drive real change.
- Why this job: Tackle complex design challenges and influence design strategy directly.
- Qualifications: Experience in Design Ops and strong data skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ 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: Toyota Connected Europe
At Toyota Connected Europe, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our hybrid London office offers employees the chance to engage in meaningful design challenges while partnering with senior stakeholders, ensuring ample opportunities for professional growth and influence within the automotive and digital sectors. With a focus on operational efficiency and a supportive environment, we empower our teams to thrive and make a significant impact on the future of design.
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 that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in improving operational efficiency and managing complex projects. Make it easy for them to see what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding their design processes and tools. Familiarise yourself with Jira, Confluence, and Figma, and be ready to discuss how you've used these in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
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. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; provide examples of how you've improved operational efficiency in previous roles. We want to see your track record in action!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to read and get straight to the point.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you're serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Toyota Connected Europe
✨Know Your Design Ops Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the principles of Design Operations. Brush up on how to improve operational efficiency and how to define a lightweight design operating model. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role at Toyota Connected Europe.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since strong data and reporting skills are crucial for this role, prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with tools like Excel, Jira, and Confluence. Bring examples of how you've used data to track performance metrics or improve processes in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
This role involves working closely with various stakeholders, so be prepared to discuss your approach to stakeholder management. Think of specific instances where you’ve successfully facilitated communication across teams or influenced decision-making.
✨Embrace Ambiguity and Drive Clarity
The job description mentions working in ambiguity, so be ready to share examples of how you've navigated unclear situations in the past. Highlight your systems-thinking approach and how you’ve brought clarity to complex projects.
