Sr. Operations Manager, Design

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 Sr. Operations Manager to join our design studio team and support both design art department operations and broader visual 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 Illustrators, Animators, Visual & Brand designers, and cross-functional teams to deliver programs that are thoughtful, efficient, and aligned to our org’s evolving needs.

As a Sr. Operations Manager, Design Studio you will be responsible for:

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

• Manage intake of Design Studio Art Department projects along with relationship with partners from inception to final delivery. 

• Partnering with illustrators, animators, & visual designers 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 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 Design Studio’s 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 trustworthin