Design Program Manager

Role: Design Program Manager (DPM)Location: Gothenburg, Sweden (Office-first with some WFH flexibility)Travel: Approx. 2–3 trips per year to ChinaLanguage: Fluent English (spoken and written)OverviewTechnicon Design Sweden has an exciting opportunity for a highly organized and strategic Design Program Manager to join our clients Technology & Innovation team. The DPM will manage creative programs, optimize operational processes, and ensure smooth collaboration across cross-functional teams. This role acts as the operational backbone for the design team, overseeing the entire design lifecycle and ensuring projects are delivered on time and to a high standard.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and maintain project plans, timelines, and milestones. Coordinate dependencies between design and development teams. Manage intake and prioritization of design requests. Identify and resolve bottlenecks proactively. Ensure teams have necessary resources and information. Act as the main point of contact for project status, risks, and decisions. Align stakeholders on goals, deliverables, and success metrics. Document and share program updates, roadmaps, and retrospectives. Track progress and ensure timely, high-quality delivery. Foster an environment where designers can focus and excel. Required Qualifications5+ years in Program Management, Project Management, Design Operations, or similar roles within design/UX/digital product development. Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional projects from concept to launch. Strong understanding of design and development processes (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, engineering handoff). Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects. Proficiency with tools like Jira, Figma, Excel. Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills. Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change. Nice to HaveExperience in automotive, software, consumer tech, or innovation environments. Familiarity with agile methodologies and product development lifecycles. Experience with headcount and capacity planning for design teams. Bachelor’s degree in Design, Business, Communications, or Computer Science. Personal AttributesStrong drive, leadership, and communication skills. Independent yet collaborative team player. Methodical, analytical, and flexible under tight deadlines.