Program Manager/Design System Lead

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Contractor to serve as the Design System Lead for the IOP UX team. This role is critical to the success of the Ohio Design System and the migration of all IOP websites to Contentful.

The Design System Lead will report to IOP leadership and own day-to-day design system operations, including facilitating design meetings and driving product roadmap priorities. The design system directly shapes the usability and consistency for the state of Ohio websites — getting this right is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and Evolve the Design System Manage Design Operations meetings and processes to oversee the structured addition and enhancement of the design system. Own and prioritize the product roadmap.
• Establish, Document, and Communicate Standards Define design guidelines, patterns, and standards. Develop and maintain comprehensive, accessible documentation that supports both designers and developers.
• Manage Stakeholders Collaborate closely with designers, developers, and executives to understand needs, gather feedback, and drive alignment across teams.
• Build Community Foster a healthy, engaged design system community through regular feedback loops, communication, and contribution processes.
• Ensure Accessibility and Inclusivity Advocate for inclusive design practices. Ensure the system meets accessibility standards and serves the needs of diverse users.
• Governance and Quality Develop and enforce processes for component reviews, documentation standards, and quality assurance to keep the system reliable, consistent, and scalable.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience as a Design System Lead, Product Manager, or in a closely related role
• Deep understanding of design systems, component-based architecture, and design tokens
• Proven experience collaborating effectively with design and engineering teams
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence without formal authority
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and driving clarity in complex, fast-moving environments
• Track record of shipping products and incorporating user feedback into iterations

Highly Desired Qualifications

• Hands-on familiarity with design system tools such as Figma and Storybook
• Background in UX/UI design, frontend engineering, or design leadership
• Experience scaling design systems across multiple product teams

Why This Role Matters

The Ohio Design System underpins the usability, consistency, and accessibility of IOP digital experiences. Your work will directly influence how citizens and internal users interact with critical websites during and after the Contentful migration.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume highlighting relevant design system and product leadership experience.