Co-op Program Coordinator / Design Operations Lead
Job Description:
Co-op Program Coordinator / Design Operations Lead
The Role
At FCAT—the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology and Fidelity’s core innovation catalyst—you’ll help the organization imagine bold possibilities and bring emerging technologies to life. This hybrid role combines design operations leadership with coordination of our signature student co‑op program, giving you a unique opportunity to shape both team effectiveness and future design talent. You’ll design and optimize the systems, processes, and workflows that keep our creative practice running with clarity, consistency, and impact. At the same time, you’ll lead an immersive co‑op experience rooted in exploration, learning, and community. If you love building scalable structures, elevating design quality, and nurturing early‑career talent, this role offers an exciting chance to influence both the present and future of design at FCAT.
Core Work: Design Ops Lead (50%)
Workflow, Tools & Systems
Build and refine cross‑team workflows; manage timelines, deliverables, and project tracking.
Identify operational bottlenecks and improve team efficiency through platforms, processes, and standard methodologies.
Oversee evaluation, implementation, and maintenance of design tools; manage licenses, integrations, and vendor relationships.
Develop systems for organizing creative assets, files, and shared libraries; uphold scalable governance for design systems.
Maintain clear, proactive communication to keep teams aligned.
Cross‑functional Collaboration, Communication & Culture
Serve as an operational connector across design, product, engineering, brand, and research.
Build project plans, track progress, and remove blockers to maintain momentum.
Reinforce design processes, rituals, and communication workflows that support alignment with product and business priorities.
Foster team culture through rituals, events, and learning opportunities that promote creativity, inclusion, and connection.
Team Operations, Resourcing & Metrics
Support capacity planning, resourcing, and project prioritization.
Lead onboarding for designers and ensure readiness with tools, systems, and processes.
Partner with leadership and recruiting on hiring and team growth.
Define and track operational metrics; synthesize insights to drive continuous improvement.
Quality, Consistency & Craft
Support design QA processes and uphold high‑quality work.
Promote design excellence by reinforcing standards, best practices, and review rituals.
Core work: Co‑op Program Coordination (50%)
University Engagement & Brand Advocacy
Build and maintain relationships with university partners; represent the organization at talent and campus events.
Plan and host open houses, roundtables, and studio tours to promote the co‑op program and attract students.
Program Design & Project Coordination
Design and coordinate co‑op projects aligned with FCAT’s values of discovery and experimentation.
Ensure project experiences balance structure with creative flexibility and align with business or research goals.
Student Experience & Development
Lead onboarding, orientation, and ongoing mentorship for co‑ops.
Provide check‑ins, performance feedback, resources, and documentation to support learning and growth.
Program Operations & Continuous Improvement
Manage recruitment timelines, postings, and interviews.
Maintain program documentation, training materials, and best practices.
Track program metrics and use insights to refine and strengthen the co‑op experience.
The Expertise and Skills You Bring
Proven experience in design operations or project/program management within creative environments, ideally including work with university co-op or internship programs.
Skilled with modern design and collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Monday, Jira, Miro).
Strong organizational, systems-thinking, and planning capabilities, with a track record of coordinating across multiple teams and priorities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for engaging stakeholders from students to senior leaders.
Passion for mentoring emerging talent and fostering an inclusive, collaborative design culture.
Skills
Interpersonal savvy
Emotional intelligence
Systems-thinking
Conflict resolution
Documenting and publishing design standards
Organization and solution driven
Effective advocate for design
The Team
The design team is an integral part of FCAT, bringing forward‑thinking ideas to life through thought‑provoking research and human‑centered philosophies. Our cross-functional group thrives on collaboration and operates with a nimble, small-team approach. Creative problem‑solving is at the heart of our practice—we explore multiple angles, challenge assumptions, and push beyond the obvious to uncover user‑friendly, high‑impact solutions. Passionate about innovation, we continuously seek new ways to understand problems and design outcomes that meaningfully move Fidelity and its customers forward.
The base salary range for this position is $107,000-216,000 USD per year.Placement in the range will vary based on job responsibilities and scope, geographic location, candidate’s relevant experience, and other factors.
Base salary is only part of the total compensation package. Depending on the position and eligibility requirements, the offer package may also include bonus or other variable compensation.
We offer a wide range of benefits to meet your evolving needs and help you live your best life at work and at home. These benefits include comprehensive health care coverage and emotional well-being support, market-leading retirement, generous paid time off and parental leave, charitable giving employee match program, and educational assistance including student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, and learning resources to develop your career. Note, the application window closes when the position is filled or unposted.
Please be advised that Fidelity’s business is governed by the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, ERISA, numerous state laws governing securities, investment and retirement-related financial activities and the rules and regulations of numerous self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, among others. Those laws and regulations may restrict Fidelity from hiring and/or associating with individuals with certain Criminal Histories.
Most roles at Fidelity are Hybrid, requiring associates to work onsite every other week (all business days, M-F) in a Fidelity office. This does not apply to Remote or fully Onsite roles.