Client: Speridian Technologies
Job Title
Principal Design Operations Manager
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Behavioral Health
Overview
Speridian Technologies is seeing a Principal Design Operations Manager for our State of California Client, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Behavioral Health. This person will be part of a long-term, fully budgeted, state-of-the-art, extremely vast IT modernization project working with a variety of cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
This is a remote role, however, there will be meetings in the Sacramento area several times a year. Candidates are expected to work business hours, Monday-Friday Pacific time zone. All candidates must be based in and work from the US.
Mission
California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is transforming how behavioral health care is delivered across the state. The Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) project represents a historic investment in systems change. Our work enables counties, providers, and state staff to deliver more coordinated, equitable, and outcomes-driven behavioral health services for all Californians. BHT is a once-in-a-generation effort to transform behavioral health service delivery for California’s most vulnerable populations. We are building a team of mission-driven, systems-minded professionals who can steward this transformation.
7 year contract - one year in
> System-minded ---- Process/Framework (strategy for HOW)
We’re seeking a Principal Design Operations Manager to serve as the design process and systems architect behind a high-performing product organization. In this role, you will focus on diagnosing human-centered design discipline problems in productizing and operationalizing HCD insights and tools. In partnership with the HCD Discipline Coach (and others) ensures proper change management occurs to establish org-wide understanding of BHT and institutional knowledge retention.
> 18% for Change (Change and Transformation) - Strategy - Bell Curve Simon Senik
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JD Callouts
Experience 5 years managing design teams.
Over 20+ years working in Design Leadership, UX PM or Design Operations.
> Link to Folio Projects (
Main Callouts from JD
Design Process & Development Frameworks
Cross Functional Alignment (tablet schedule), Production workflow
Managing Design Projects
Design Workflow (Jira Diagram, OneCare Diagram)
Tools
Process Optimization - (Change Management)
Design Systems
Example for each callout
Design Process & Development Framework - Agile / Waterfall
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Managing Design Projects - Schedules, Tracking, Scorecards, Issues/Risks, Stakeholder communication
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
>> Insert Image
Tools - Atlassian (JIRA, Confluence), Assana, Slack, Figma
Insert Comments
>> Insert Image
Process Optimization - Example - Change Management, Dev Handoff, UX Audit/Bug Bashes
Insert Comments
>> Insert Image
Cross Functional Alignment - UX and UX Ops - Change Management, Dev Handoff, UX Audit/Bug Bashes
The following diagram was created for the Digital Products Group - Kindle Fire Tablets UX PM team. There was no clear role and responsibility agreement when I walked in the door. I wanted clear understanding for my team and how success was based on a shared relationship between Design and Operational. This focused Design on the WHAT and with Design's input Ops focused on the HOW.
As a UXer I have worked in roles where one person does both. When I am wearing my Ops hat I only contribute to Design Direction if asked.
Job Title
Principal Design Operations Manager
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Behavioral Health
Hiring Director Callouts
All DHCS/BHT product operation roles are heavy on systems thinking
Experience delivering some system transformation would be good
Development experience of frameworks across a large group of people
Service Design background
May be creating artifacts, may use Figma. Will do the majority of the work with others. Hands on role
Overview
Speridian Technologies is seeing a Principal Design Operations Manager for our State of California Client, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Behavioral Health. This person will be part of a long-term, fully budgeted, state-of-the-art, extremely vast IT modernization project working with a variety of cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
This is a remote role, however, there will be meetings in the Sacramento area several times a year. Candidates are expected to work business hours, Monday-Friday Pacific time zone. All candidates must be based in and work from the US.
Mission
California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is transforming how behavioral health care is delivered across the state. The Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) project represents a historic investment in systems change. Our work enables counties, providers, and state staff to deliver more coordinated, equitable, and outcomes-driven behavioral health services for all Californians. BHT is a once-in-a-generation effort to transform behavioral health service delivery for California’s most vulnerable populations. We are building a team of mission-driven, systems-minded professionals who can steward this transformation.
7 year contract - one year in
PMO?
300 - DSS Digital systems
Product - HCD,
> System-minded ---- Process/Framework (strategy for HOW)
We’re seeking a Principal Design Operations Manager to serve as the design process and systems architect behind a high-performing product organization. In this role, you will focus on diagnosing human-centered design discipline problems in productizing and operationalizing HCD insights and tools. In partnership with the HCD Discipline Coach (and others) ensures proper change management occurs to establish org-wide understanding of BHT and institutional knowledge retention.
> 18% for Change (Change and Transformation) - Strategy - Bell Curve Simon Senik
You’ll be responsible for operationalizing insights across capabilities, support research strategy, planning, and execution, and implementing scalable solutions that support both HCD excellence and cross-functional cohesion.
Success in this role means helping BHT build mechanisms for operationalizing shared understanding of insights, and ensuring the inform product strategies through focusing on what matters, reducing the drag of misalignment and ambiguity, and strengthening the connective tissue between product, policy, program, and delivery.
> Product Cycle - Workflow
What You'll Do
> Product Cycle - Workflow
What You'll Do
Establish mechanisms to productize and operationalize HCD insights
> Atlassian - Discovery Product
> Atlassian - Discovery Product
Architect and evolve scalable, cross-functional design operations systems that embed human-centered design (HCD) across the product lifecycle
> UI Path
> UI Path
Identify and diagnose gaps in design execution, workflow, and collaboration that hinder the application of HCD insights and tools
> Mozilla
> Mozilla
Operationalize design research, insights, and methods into repeatable processes, toolkits, and frameworks for product teams
> Research and Product - Kellogg Product Strategy
> Research and Product - Kellogg Product Strategy
Partner closely with UX, product, engineering, and leadership to enable consistent design quality and integration of HCD principles
> Workflow and QA
> Workflow and QA
Define and measure operational success metrics for design maturity, team productivity, and impact
> Design Maturity ( IXFD) UX Strategy Course, Team Productivity and Impact (Points in Scrum)
> Design Maturity ( IXFD) UX Strategy Course, Team Productivity and Impact (Points in Scrum)
Champion change management and cultural shifts required to integrate design more deeply into product development processes
> Oh yes. Positioning UX in the Business, Rhythm
> Oh yes. Positioning UX in the Business, Rhythm
Collaborate across disciplines to ensure that design systems, tooling, and documentation infrastructure support efficient workflows and strong user outcomes
> Design Systems -
> JIRA - into the digital products group
> Statement of Process
> Design Systems -
> JIRA - into the digital products group
> Statement of Process
You’ll Thrive in This Role If You...
Are a systems thinker who knows how to build structure without bureaucracy
> build structure without Bureaucracy - Engineering / Design
> build structure without Bureaucracy - Engineering / Design
Have the judgment to know when a standard adds value — and when it doesn’t
> keep it simple
> keep it simple
Can lead through influence, bringing consistency without controlling decision-making
> influence without authority (Healthy teams)
> influence without authority (Healthy teams)
Are energized by solving problems that live at the intersection of strategy, process, and delivery
> see diagram
> see diagram
Required Qualifications
10+ years in product design operations, product design, or systems leadership roles in complex organizations
> Head of UX for MSN (large matrixed org)
> Head of UX for MSN (large matrixed org)
Experience implementing product operating models, frameworks, and team-wide delivery practices
> MSN
> Amazon Digital Products Group
> Mozilla
> UI Path
> MSN
> Amazon Digital Products Group
> Mozilla
> UI Path
Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration, especially with program, policy, and project functions
Demonstrated success diagnosing organizational friction and designing effective, scalable solutions
> MSN
> Amazon Digital Products Group
> Mozilla
> UI Path
> MSN
> Amazon Digital Products Group
> Mozilla
> UI Path
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, especially for executive and non-technical audiences
> Stakeholder Reporting
> OnePage
> Stakeholder Reporting
> OnePage
Preferred
Experience in public sector, or highly regulated private industries such as healthcare, finance, etc.
> Do have some experience with Policy and Privacy - Meta
> Do have some experience with Policy and Privacy - Meta
Understanding of behavioral health policy, service delivery systems, or public funding models
> ...
System Thinking
> ...
System Thinking
Systems thinking is a way of understanding and solving complex problems by examining how the parts of a system interact with and influence one another over time. Rather than focusing only on individual components in isolation, systems thinking considers the whole structure, patterns, relationships, and dynamics within a system.
Key aspects of systems thinking:
Holistic view: Looks at the system as a whole rather than just its parts.
Interconnections: Focuses on relationships, feedback loops, and interdependencies.
Patterns over time: Analyzes trends and behavior over time, not just isolated events.
Causality: Identifies root causes rather than symptoms, often through causal loop diagrams or stock-and-flow models.
Emergent behavior: Recognizes that the whole system can behave in ways that are not obvious from the individual parts.
Example:
In product development, systems thinking helps teams understand how design, engineering, user behavior, and business outcomes influence one another—leading to more sustainable and scalable solutions.
Would you like a version of this tailored for a specific context (e.g., design systems, organizational change, product strategy)?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JD Callouts
Experience 5 years managing design teams.
Over 20+ years working in Design Leadership, UX PM or Design Operations.
> Link to Folio Projects (
Main Callouts from JD
Design Process & Development Frameworks
Cross Functional Alignment (tablet schedule), Production workflow
Managing Design Projects
Design Workflow (Jira Diagram, OneCare Diagram)
Tools
Process Optimization - (Change Management)
Design Systems
Example for each callout
Design Process & Development Framework - Agile / Waterfall
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Managing Design Projects - Schedules, Tracking, Scorecards, Issues/Risks, Stakeholder communication
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
>> Insert Image
Tools - Atlassian (JIRA, Confluence), Assana, Slack, Figma
Insert Comments
>> Insert Image
Process Optimization - Example - Change Management, Dev Handoff, UX Audit/Bug Bashes
Insert Comments
>> Insert Image
Cross Functional Alignment - UX and UX Ops - Change Management, Dev Handoff, UX Audit/Bug Bashes
The following diagram was created for the Digital Products Group - Kindle Fire Tablets UX PM team. There was no clear role and responsibility agreement when I walked in the door. I wanted clear understanding for my team and how success was based on a shared relationship between Design and Operational. This focused Design on the WHAT and with Design's input Ops focused on the HOW.
As a UXer I have worked in roles where one person does both. When I am wearing my Ops hat I only contribute to Design Direction if asked.
Design Process & Development Framework - Agile / Waterfall
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Design Process & Development Framework - Agile / Waterfall
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Insert Comments
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Callouts
UX Stewardship - Culture, Design Thinking, Design Principles
Culture
• Facilitate team scrum ceremonies (stand-up, sprint planning, retros, etc)
- Software development experience (Agile)
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Design Thinking
Insert certification
Design Principles
Insert certification
Insert certification
Development Framework - Agile / Waterfall
• Facilitate team scrum ceremonies (stand-up, sprint planning, retros, etc)
- Software development experience (Agile)
I'm a certified Scrum Master
• Facilitate team scrum ceremonies (stand-up, sprint planning, retros, etc)
- Software development experience (Agile)
I'm a certified Scrum Master
Workflow - Milestones, Change Management
• Evolve, document and model team mechanisms
• Evolve, document and model team mechanisms
Description text
Business Review / Schedules - workback plans
• Compose design program PRFAQ’s, business review docs, and work-back plans
- Navigation for complex organizations
- Navigation for complex organizations
Tools - JIRA, ASANA, FIGMA etc
• Making sure org has tools and resources to be successful.
MUST Haves: Asana/JIRA knowledge
Quip/Google Sheets/ Tech savy
- JIRA, Asana, Writing skills *Set up JIRA at Amazon, Tools
https://quip.com/
Research experience would be helpful
• Making sure org has tools and resources to be successful.
MUST Haves: Asana/JIRA knowledge
Quip/Google Sheets/ Tech savy
- JIRA, Asana, Writing skills *Set up JIRA at Amazon, Tools
https://quip.com/
Research experience would be helpful
Digital Devices Group
Back Story
New Leadership coming over from Microsoft to focus on the phone (Jae Park - 2025 at Ford)
FireTV - Burley (now at Reddit)
Related: Amazon Phone Review
Back Story
New Leadership coming over from Microsoft to focus on the phone (Jae Park - 2025 at Ford)
FireTV - Burley (now at Reddit)
Related: Amazon Phone Review
Overview
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the studio as well with our Internal functional partners in Product, Engineering and Release Management as well as Partner UX Leadership. Those building extended business app or integrated solutions for the tablet.
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the studio as well with our Internal functional partners in Product, Engineering and Release Management as well as Partner UX Leadership. Those building extended business app or integrated solutions for the tablet. Example: Shopping (Amazon.com), Books, Audio, Goodreads, Photos, Music etc. I also spoke to colleagues who had left the studio and moved to other parts of the company.
Foundational
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the .
Alignment
After a couple weeks
Governance
After a couple weeks
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the studio as well with our Internal functional partners in Product, Engineering and Release Management as well as Partner UX Leadership. Those building extended business app or integrated solutions for the tablet.
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the studio as well with our Internal functional partners in Product, Engineering and Release Management as well as Partner UX Leadership. Those building extended business app or integrated solutions for the tablet. Example: Shopping (Amazon.com), Books, Audio, Goodreads, Photos, Music etc. I also spoke to colleagues who had left the studio and moved to other parts of the company.
Foundational
After a couple weeks of observations and conversations up and down the .
Alignment
After a couple weeks
Governance
After a couple weeks
Foundational
2. Product Cycle and Schedule
Insert information around schedules
>> Insert spreadsheet
Fun Fact: XX%
Ask me about: My thoughts on Scrum, Spri
Insert information around schedules
>> Insert spreadsheet
Fun Fact: XX%
Ask me about: My thoughts on Scrum, Spri
3. Roles and Responsibilities Definition (UX Point, ORAP)
Review cycles in previous Amazon and over 30 at Microsoft I had the understanding at a manager you need to set clear expectations and responsibilities for your team. In addition, Having worked on the UX Career stage profiles while Office Design Team.
Note: This Framework Diagram was reviewed and influenced UX Operation orgs at Microsoft, Google, UI Path.
Related: Roles and Responsibilities - UX Point Person
DELIVER QUALITY DESIGN SOULTIONS ON TIME
Review cycles in previous Amazon and over 30 at Microsoft I had the understanding at a manager you need to set clear expectations and responsibilities for your team. In addition, Having worked on the UX Career stage profiles while Office Design Team.
Note: This Framework Diagram was reviewed and influenced UX Operation orgs at Microsoft, Google, UI Path.
Related: Roles and Responsibilities - UX Point Person
DELIVER QUALITY DESIGN SOULTIONS ON TIME
Heading
5. Review Models and Cadence
Insert information reviews
On Device Reviews - Related; Carnival Cruise Executive Reviews
UX Partners - Outcomes, Feedback, Visibility into review content (Shopping), Sharing with UX POC which increased their influence in their orgs. Knowledge
Ask me about:
Insert information reviews
On Device Reviews - Related; Carnival Cruise Executive Reviews
UX Partners - Outcomes, Feedback, Visibility into review content (Shopping), Sharing with UX POC which increased their influence in their orgs. Knowledge
Ask me about:
6. Reporting Criteria
Insert information reviews
On Device Reviews - Related; Carnival Cruise Executive Reviews
UX Partners - Outcomes, Feedback, Visibility into review content (Shopping), Sharing with UX POC which increased their influence in their orgs. Knowledge
>> Insert Diagram
Ask me about:
Insert information reviews
On Device Reviews - Related; Carnival Cruise Executive Reviews
UX Partners - Outcomes, Feedback, Visibility into review content (Shopping), Sharing with UX POC which increased their influence in their orgs. Knowledge
>> Insert Diagram
Ask me about:
Alignment
After a couple week
After a couple week