At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and scale design operations for innovative automotive experiences.
- Company: Join Toyota Connected Europe, a leader in automotive design.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and impactful projects.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence design strategy and work with senior stakeholders.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
- 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 Specialist: Scale & Optimize (Hybrid London) employer: Toyota Connected Europe
At Toyota Connected Europe, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Design Ops Specialist in our London office, you'll have the unique opportunity to influence large-scale design challenges while partnering with senior stakeholders, all within a hybrid working environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. We are committed to your professional growth, offering clear outcomes and visibility of impact as you help shape the future of design operations in the automotive industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Ops Specialist: Scale & Optimize (Hybrid London)
✨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 might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in improving operational efficiency and managing complex projects. Make sure it’s easy to share when you connect with potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of tools like Jira and Confluence. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions and improve processes 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 engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Ops Specialist: Scale & Optimize (Hybrid London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Design Ops Specialist role. Highlight your experience in improving operational efficiency and working with cross-functional teams, as this is what we’re really looking for!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t forget to mention your data and reporting skills! We want to see how you’ve used tools like Excel or Jira to track performance metrics and improve ways of working. This will help us understand your fit for the role.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities of the role. We appreciate clarity just as much as you do!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Toyota Connected Europe
✨Know Your Design Ops Inside Out
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of Design Operations, especially in complex environments. Brush up on how to improve operational efficiency and ways of working, as this will be key in your discussions.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with data and reporting tools like Excel and Jira. Bring examples of how you've used these tools to track performance metrics or improve processes in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Since stakeholder management is crucial, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can convey complex ideas simply, and be ready to demonstrate your communication skills during the interview.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
This role involves navigating through ambiguity, so think of examples from your past where you've thrived in uncertain situations. Be ready to discuss how you brought clarity and structure to those scenarios.
