Design Program Manager – AI Transformation, Foundations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Colorado, +4 more states.

📋 Description

• Take charge of program management for AI Transformation and Design Foundations projects, encompassing AI methodology, AgenticOps, AI education, governance, adoption, and cross-portfolio design readiness.

• Develop roadmaps, track milestones, manage risks and dependencies, maintain decision logs, create reporting mechanisms, and establish operating rhythms for AI-driven Foundations initiatives.

• Oversee the coordination of product design, design systems, research, content strategy, engineering, security, AI, and Design Ops workstreams.

• Set up governance models for AI design practices, including intake processes, prioritization, review schedules, adoption tracking, and ensuring leadership visibility.

• Collaborate with Design Technologists and Design Engineers to implement practices, tools, agent skills, prototypes, and standards effectively.

• Monitor adoption rates, risks, dependencies, and impacts across AI design initiatives, highlighting decisions and trade-offs for leadership consideration.

• Create program playbooks, communication strategies, and operational frameworks.

• Identify and resolve blockers related to processes, ownership, tooling, decision-making, and cross-functional alignment, facilitating paths forward.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven experience in design program management, design operations, product operations, UX program management, product program management, or similar roles within a product-centric organization.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs involving design, product, engineering, research, operations, or platform teams.

• Experience in spearheading transformation, adoption, capability-building, or change management initiatives across multiple teams.

• Skilled in creating roadmaps, operating models, program documentation, reporting systems, and decision-making frameworks.

• Strong knowledge of product design, user-centered design methodologies, design systems, research, or product development processes.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, partner management, and executive reporting capabilities.

• Ability to structure ambiguous challenges, manage conflicting priorities, and drive progress with minimal supervision.

• Comfortable using AI-assisted tools and inquisitive about AI’s impact on design practices, product development, and team operations.

• Preferred: experience in leading AI, transformation, design systems, design quality, design operations, or capability-building programs.

• Preferred: familiarity with AI tools, agentic workflows, automation, or emerging design technologies.

• Preferred: experience with adoption metrics, maturity models, governance frameworks, enablement strategies, or organizational change initiatives.

• Preferred: knowledge of Figma, Jira, GitHub, design systems, design tokens, research operations, or design-to-engineering workflows.

• Preferred: experience collaborating with security, legal, procurement, platform, or AI teams.

• Work location eligibility includes positions in the U.S. and/or Canada.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contributions.

• Paid parental leave.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Basic life insurance.

• Potential availability of restricted stock unit grants.

• 10 paid holidays for each full calendar year.

• 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

• 1 paid day off for the employee’s birthday.

• Paid year-end holiday shutdown.

• 4 paid days off for personal wellness.

• 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year for non-exempt employees.

• Flexible vacation time off policy without a defined limit for eligible exempt employees.

• 80 hours of sick time off provided at the time of hire and each January 1st thereafter.

• Up to 80 hours of unused sick time can be carried forward.

• Additional paid leave for critical or emergency family matters.

• Optional 10 paid volunteer days each full calendar year.

• Potential annual bonuses for non-sales roles.

• Sales incentive compensation may be available for employees on a sales plan.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.