Staff Design Program Manger, Seller Experience
Company Description
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy employee, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.
We believe exceptional companies are built by exceptional teams, and we're intentional about it. That means hiring great people, setting them up for success from day one, and giving them real reasons to grow their careers here. We invest in development that goes beyond promotions, and we foster the trust and relationships that help people do their best work together.
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy employee, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.
We believe exceptional companies are built by exceptional teams, and we're intentional about it. That means hiring great people, setting them up for success from day one, and giving them real reasons to grow their careers here. We invest in development that goes beyond promotions, and we foster the trust and relationships that help people do their best work together.
What’s the role?
We're hiring a Staff Design Program Manager to lead Etsy's most complex, cross-functional design programs. Working across the Design and Research organization, you'll partner with Product, Engineering, and Marketing counterparts to turn experience strategy into well-run execution that delivers measurable results for our buyers, sellers, and the business.
At this level, you set objectives, not just deliver against them. As a strategic partner to design and research leaders, you'll identify where teams need stronger operating systems, anticipate risk, and make the case for change, then see the solution through. You'll bring a trusted perspective to cross-functional partners on priorities and tradeoffs, with the mandate and authority to lead change across the organization.
This is a full-time position reporting to the Senior Director of Design Operations.
What is this team like at Etsy?
The Design Operations team is the operational backbone of Etsy's Design and Research organization. We exist to shape the conditions that allow design to thrive: removing noise, creating clarity, and enabling teams to deliver exceptional work. As a Staff DPM, you will partner closely with design and research leadership across multiple groups, including our Seller, Buyer and Marketplace Trust teams, and create the systems and programs that enable their teams to move with speed, ease and quality at the forefront.
What does the day-to-day look like?
- Be a strategic thought partner: Understand the context and intent behind the work, anticipate what's needed to move it forward, and partner closely with leads so execution stays aligned with the broader vision and strategy.
- Own high-stakes programs: Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from planning through delivery. Align workstreams, surface gaps early, and drive toward outcomes tied to business and customer goals. You set the objectives, not just the timeline.
- Create clarity in ambiguous spaces: Bring operational rigor to areas where the problem and the solution are still taking shape. You are energized by that, not slowed down by it.
- Set priorities and roadmaps: Work across Buyer, Seller, and Marketplace Trust teams to align leaders on shared priorities and surface tradeoffs. Maintain a coherent view of work and capacity, and partner on resourcing decisions so teams are staffed against what matters most
- Build the operating model: Partner with the Senior Director of Design Operations to evaluate how teams currently plan, review, and ship work, and introduce scalable frameworks that improve efficiency and quality that are aligned with the wider organization. Maintain the planning cadences, review rituals, and communication structures that give teams high signal and low overhead.
- Anticipate risk and create decision clarity: Surface blockers, tradeoffs, and misalignment before they become problems. Make sure decisions are structured and documented, critical feedback is tracked, and teams leave key moments with clarity and momentum.
- Be the connective tissue across teams: Align Product, Design, Engineering, Creative, and Marketing partners across initiatives. Actively manage dependencies across teams and keep cross-functional collaboration thoughtful and efficient.
- Make impact visible and lead through change: Build dashboards, leadership summaries, and cross-functional updates that turn data into actionable insight and make the design organization's work legible and credible to partners and senior leadership. Guide teams through new tools, workflows, and ways of working, building buy-in through clear communication and empathy for how change lands.
Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require! You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy's discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.
Qualities that will help you thrive in this role are:
- 8+ years in program management, design operations, or a related field within a product development environment.
- Deep fluency with how design teams plan and ship work, including how design intersects with Product, Engineering, and Research across the product development lifecycle. You apply design thinking to your own work and continually bring in best practices to improve programs and processes.
- A track record of driving complex, cross-functional programs end to end, coordinating many stakeholders, prioritizing against broader team commitments, and building new operational frameworks, not just running established ones.
- Experience supporting multiple design teams or sub-groups simultaneously, balancing competing priorities and working styles to keep work coherent and aligned.
- Ability to distill complex problems and act decisively through ambiguity and change, with sound judgment in anticipating risk, framing tradeoffs, and driving documented decisions. You learn from past issues to improve future processes.
- Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills. You present ideas clearly, confidently, and concisely, structuring information so it's easy to digest. You adapt format and depth to the audience so that your message lands and drives towards action.
- Experience on large teams (20+ person design orgs) at technology companies is preferred.
- Familiarity with Jira, Figma, Notion, Claude, and Google Workspace.
Compensation & Benefits
In addition to salary, you'll be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family. Base salary is determined by your location, skills, and experience.
Etsy uses two geographic pay zones to reflect the labor markets where we compete for talent: one called Geo-1, covering the New York City metropolitan area, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle metropolitan area, and one called Geo-2, covering all other U.S. locations. Salary ranges for this role vary by zone and are listed below.
Location
We prioritize candidates based within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office. Depending on proximity, we ask team members to come in once or twice per week. Remote candidates outside commutable distance may be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the expectation of occasional travel to the office. Learn more details about our work modes and workplace safety policies here.
Salary Range:
• Geo-1: 173,000.00 - 235,000.00 USD Annual • Geo-2: 156,000.00 - 212,000.00 USD AnnualWhat's Next
If you're interested in joining the team at Etsy, please share your resume with us and feel free to include a cover letter if you'd like. As we hope you've seen already, Etsy is a place that values individuality and variety. We don't want you to be like everyone else -- we want you to be like you! So tell us what you're all about.
Our Promise
At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship or immigration status, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status**, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law**. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the interview or hiring process, please let your recruiter know and we will work with you to meet your needs. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.