Design Program Manager

Yahoo serves as a trusted guide for hundreds of millions of people globally, helping them achieve their goals online through our portfolio of iconic products. For advertisers, Yahoo Advertising offers omnichannel solutions and powerful data to engage with our brands and deliver results.

About the Role

We’re looking for a highly organized and proactive Design Program Manager (DPM) to join our design operations team and support both UX research (UXR) operations and broader design org programs. In this role, you’ll drive the systems, tools, and processes that enable high-quality research at scale—while also leading strategic initiatives that strengthen how our design team works, connects, and communicates. You’ll partner closely with UX researchers, designers, and cross-functional teams to deliver programs that are thoughtful, efficient, and aligned to our org’s evolving needs.

As a Design Program Manager, you will be responsible for:

UXR Operations
You’ll partner closely with the Head of UXR to build the infrastructure that enables high-quality, efficient, and compliant research at scale.

• Partnering with researchers to identify and recruit representative participants and panels for research studies.

• Managing participant recruiting logistics—including screeners, NDAs, scheduling, and communications.

• Overseeing participant incentive processing, ensuring accurate allocation and fulfillment.

• Managing research tooling and vendor relationships, including training and contracts.

• Supporting annual budget planning, including headcount, tools, vendors, and team programming.

• Serving as a primary point of contact for the UXR Center of Excellence (resourcing, training, tooling, and contracts hub).

• Maintaining and enforcing standards around data governance, privacy (PII), research ethics, and compliance policies at Yahoo.

• Leading the implementation and team adoption of a self-serve design testing process.

• Establishing, optimizing, and maintaining up-to-date documentation and best practices, including guidelines, standards, templates, and resources like the Research Ops Playbook.

Ad Hoc Projects
You’ll work on a variety of evolving projects and priorities—including, but not limited to:

• Partnering with design and operations leadership on special projects and org-wide initiatives.

• Driving projects from planning through rollout—defining timelines, aligning stakeholders, assigning owners, and ensuring delivery.

• Identifying and implementing operational efficiencies and scalable, repeatable processes.

• Setting up and managing tool integrations and workflows to improve team coordination and streamline collaboration.

• Supporting the consistent communication of priorities, updates, and standards across and beyond the design org.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in design operations, project management, or a related field.

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Proficient with project management tools such as Jira and Asana—with a passion for using tools and systems to drive efficiency and clarity.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and skilled at creating clarity for others.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, systems-oriented mindset; motivated by improving workflows and team effectiveness.

The material job duties and responsibilities of this role include those listed above as well as adhering to Yahoo policies; exercising sound judgment; working effectively, safely and inclusively with others; exhibiting trustworthiness and meeting expectations; and safeguarding business operations and brand integrity.

At Yahoo, we offer flexible hybrid work options that our employees love! While most roles don’t require regular office attendance, you may occasionally be asked to attend in-person events or team sessions. You’ll always get notice to make arrangements. Your recruiter will let you know if a specific job requires regular attendance at a Yahoo office or facility. If you have any questions about how this applies to the role, just ask the recruiter!

Yahoo is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, gender, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected category. Yahoo will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. Yahoo is dedicated to providing an accessible environment for all candidates during the application process and for employees during their employment. If you need accessibility assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please submit a request via the Accommodation Request Form (

) or call . Requests and calls received for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace strengthens Yahoo and deepens our relationships. When you support everyone to be their best selves, they spark discovery, innovation and creativity. Among other efforts, our 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) enhance a culture of belonging with programs, events and fellowship that help educate, support and create a workplace where all feel welcome. Check out our diversity and inclusion (

) page to learn more.

The compensation for this position ranges from $90,750.00 - $188,750.00/yr and will vary depending on factors such as your location, skills and experience.The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary annual bonus or commissions. Our comprehensive benefits include healthcare, a great 401k, backup childcare, education stipends and much (much) more.

Currently work for Yahoo? Please apply on our internal career site.