Director of Launch & Operations
Designer Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech companies using design to improve health, sustainability, or prosperity for people. It backs founding teams, particularly those with design backgrounds, across sectors like fintech, healthcare, climate tech, and developer tools.
About Designer Fund
Designer Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in tech companies leveraging design to drive positive outcomes in health, sustainability, and financial prosperity. Its portfolio spans a wide range of sectors including financial infrastructure (Stripe), preventative health (Omada), collaborative tools (Notion), developer tools (Netlify), product management (Linear), payroll and benefits (Gusto), design tools (Framer), and healthcare infrastructure (Commure), among dozens of other companies across fintech, climate tech, healthcare, EdTech, and AI. The firm also runs 'Designer Founders,' a community and platform highlighting designers who have gone on to found and lead companies, reflecting its focus on backing design-driven founders and design-centric startups from early stages through growth and acquisition.
Skills
About the Role
You will lead a portfolio of complex North American transit-service launches and manage Launch Managers. You will own technology and operational transitions, service performance, partner relationships, and local frontline operations. You will establish operational systems, guide launch quality and KPIs, manage stakeholders, and provide launch-informed input on product priorities.
Requirements
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in a leadership role
- Combination of consulting and operating experience preferred
- Experience scaling teams, launching new lines of business, or integrating acquisitions or service expansions
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Stakeholder management
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and manage multiple tasks
- Bachelor's degree
- Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Launch Managers
- Hire, promote, and performance-manage talent
- Foster operational excellence and partner trust across the expansion team
- Own a portfolio of new launches and ensure services launch on time
- Oversee launch quality and KPIs including on-time performance, rider satisfaction, safety, and cost efficiency
- Define processes that improve technology implementation and operational launches
- Serve as a senior operational counterpart to agency leadership
- Manage change, performance reporting, communication, and service remediation with partners
- Navigate regulatory and contractual environments
- Partner with Operational, Commercial, Legal, Product, and Finance teams
- Provide product-roadmap guidance based on launch and frontline observations
Benefits
- RSU package
- Free medical plans
- 401K matching
