Operations Manager
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 be the force that keeps our services running reliably for the communities that depend on them. This is a high ownership boots-on-the-ground role where you will lead daily operations, tackle real-time challenges, and continuously elevate the rider and driver experience. This is a fully in-person position with the expectation that you will be onsite 4-5 days per week.
Requirements
- Operationally experienced, with a background in people management, logistics, customer service, or process-oriented work
- Relationship oriented, earning trust from drivers, riders, teammates, and city partners
- Hands-on and proactive, preferring to be in the field
- Tactical and strategic, able to problem-solve issues and think long term
- Deep understanding of fixed-route transit challenges including time-point adherence, breakdown escalations, and run scheduling logistics for large-scale operations
- Comfortable working around Class B/Class A vehicles and understand safety, maintenance, and maneuvering requirements for 35-to-45-foot coach buses
- Proven track record of managing and retaining professional CDL drivers, emphasizing safety and compliance (DOT/FMCSA)
- Able to commute to the Tulare area 4-5 days a week
Responsibilities
- Run the daily onsite operations of the service to provide riders with safe, reliable, and accessible transportation
- Make informed, real-time decisions about fleet, driver supply, compliance, rider needs, and unexpected issues
- Guide and support drivers, building strong relationships, addressing concerns, and ensuring they feel equipped to deliver great service
- Turn rider and community feedback into tangible improvements and collaborate with internal teams on operational improvements
- Use data and technology to understand service performance, diagnose problems, and implement solutions
- Act as the operational bridge between city partners, drivers, and Via central teams
Benefits
- Free medical plans
- 401K matching