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: Dynamic role with clear outcomes and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in design efficiency and influence senior stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Experience in Design Ops and strong data skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Design Ops expert (12-month FTC) London (Hybrid) | Toyota Connected Europe
About the role: 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 · London · employer: TOYOTA Connected
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 · 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
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in improving operational efficiency and managing complex projects. Make sure to tailor it to what Toyota is looking for.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding their design processes and tools. Brush up on your knowledge of Jira, Confluence, and Figma, and be ready to discuss how you've used them to drive clarity and efficiency in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Ops SME · London ·
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Design Ops role. Highlight your experience in improving operational efficiency and working with cross-functional teams, as these are key aspects of what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t forget to mention your data and reporting skills! If you've worked with tools like Jira, Confluence, or Figma, let us know. We want to see how you can bring clarity and structure to our design operations.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your past experiences and how they relate to this role.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at TOYOTA Connected
✨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 ways of working, as this will be key in your discussions. Be ready to share specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully implemented changes.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tools
Since the role involves tools like Jira, Confluence, and Figma, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with them before the interview. If you can, try to showcase your proficiency with these tools by discussing how you’ve used them to track performance metrics or manage workflows in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios
Expect questions about stakeholder management and communication. Think of scenarios where you’ve had to navigate complex relationships or drive clarity in ambiguous situations. Being able to articulate your approach will demonstrate your strong interpersonal skills.
✨Showcase Your Systems Thinking
This role requires a systems-focused mindset, so be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving. Share examples of how you’ve built frameworks or processes that improved visibility and reduced waste in design operations. This will highlight your ability to think critically and strategically.
