Manager of Digital Product Designer-Austin or San Antonio, TX at H-E-B

Since H-E-B Digital Technology's inception, we've been investing heavily in our customers - digital experience, reinventing how they find inspiration from food, make food decisions, and ultimately get food into their homes. This is an exciting time to join H-E-B Digital-we're using the best available technologies to deliver modern, engaging, reliable, and scalable experiences to meet the needs of our growing audience.

The Manager of Digital Product Designer manages professional individual contributors and / or supervisors who exercise latitude and independence. Often leads one or more departments / teams.

As a Manager of Digital Product Designer, you'll serve as your team's expert and guide and inspire them. You'll help shape design standards and processes, bringing your personal practices to shape our Design culture. Responsible for hiring, firing, and performance / pay reviews. Makes decisions based on business objectives and allocated resources. Establishes operational objectives and work plans and delegates assignments to team. Involved in modifying and executing company policies that affect immediate operations and may also have company-wide impact. Supports the function's (Digital) business strategy by implementing new standards and products, processes, and mid-term business plans.

Once you're eligible, you'll become an Owner in the company, so we're looking for commitment, hard work, and focus on quality and Customer service. 'Partner-owned' means our most important resources--People--drive the innovation, growth, and success that make H-E-B The Greatest Omnichannel Retailing Company.

Do you have a:
HEART FOR PEOPLE... ability to collaborate cross-functionally?
HEAD FOR BUSINESS... skills to uncover user needs to facilitate user-centered design?
PASSION FOR RESULTS... driving strategic prioritization?

We are looking for:

• Design-minded operations leader — guides people or programs in Design Enablement, Design Operations, or design leadership through formal management or strong influence.

• Understands design as a service — designs for peers, engages daily with Partners, and improves how internal teams experience design.

• Balances autonomy and accountability — defines ownership while empowering Partners to deliver outcomes that fit the problem.

• Practical change agent — introduces structure through listening, collaboration, and context rather than prescription.

• Operational thinker — strengthens ways of working that make design visible, repeatable, and scalable across teams.

• Collaborates across disciplines — works fluidly with Design Systems, Design Technology, Product Design, Design Research, and Service Design to align work and priorities.

• Communicates with clarity and respect — writes and presents with empathy, adapting style to the audience and purpose.

• Coaches with curiosity — advances Partner growth through experimentation, reflection, and learning.

• Builds community and culture — contributes to forums, events, and shared practices that strengthen connection and belonging across the design organization.

• Motivated by sustainable impact — builds ways of working that evolve and scale beyond any one team or leader.

What is the work?

Impact — what this role drives
Leads the strategic and operational focus of Design Operations and Design Activation, connecting people, processes, and practices to business outcomes.

• Aligns enablement strategy — operationalizes systems and programs defined by the Sr. Manager, Design Enablement, helping translate priorities into team-level goals and plans.

• Guides evolving structure — ensures Design Operations and Design Activation are aligned to Enablement and Digital objectives, maintaining clear and sustainable practices.

• Connects design to business value — links team priorities to measurable Partner and business outcomes, translating impact into practical stories and data.

• Collaborates across leadership — works with managers in Product Design, Design Research, Service Design, Design Systems, and Design Technology to evolve shared practices.

• Fosters business alignment — deepens the design organization’s understanding of H-E-B’s enterprise context (Retail and Business Operations, HR, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Security) to keep Enablement work relevant, practical, and measurable.

• Models financial stewardship — partners closely with the DesignOps Program Manager on budget and tooling management, ensuring H-E-B invests wisely in Partners and tools.

• Drives reflection and growth — builds reporting and storytelling practices that help teams evaluate progress, celebrate learning, and inform future decisions.

• Trusts but verifies — applies best practices through observation and inquiry, brings confidence to execution, and challenges assumptions with fresh, constructive perspective.

Management / Design & Development — how this role leads

Supports Partner growth, operational excellence, and cross-functional collaboration while ensuring financial and organizational stewardship.

• Leads Designers and Program/Project Managers — guides initiatives, methods, and processes that scale the design organization and elevate Partner craft.

• Manages operations and Partner development — ensures Partners have the clarity, tools, and environment to grow their practice and deliver consistently.

• Makes people and business decisions with care — manages hiring, promotions, and Partner support thoughtfully, balancing immediate needs with long-term equity and development.

• Coaches on Enablement and Operations practices — models both human-centered and systems-thinking approaches, helping teams adapt frameworks and rituals to their needs.

• Elevates design and program management craft — improves how design work is scoped, delivered, and measured, enabling greater impact and visibility.

• Navigates organizational systems — anticipates dependencies and aligns work with business priorities across functions.

• Delivers right-sized quality — ensures the right level of excellence for each challenge, balancing speed, clarity, and rigor.

• Acts as a connective leader — serves as a point of contact for stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Research, and Operations, translating priorities into actionable plans.

• Collaborates flexibly and stays curious — works iteratively, evolving structures and routines to meet each team’s maturity while learning from emerging practices.

How we will measure success (first-year focus) — what progress looks like

Establishes clear priorities, connected teams, and a foundation for long-term scalability and impact.

• Focused teams, sustainable pace — both teams operate with visible priorities, right-sized scope, and predictable rhythms.

• Partner growth and alignment — individual goals connect to team, Enablement, and Digital objectives.

• Reporting that informs decisions — early reporting pilots and quarterly narratives clarify progress, learnings, and next steps.

• Stronger connective tissue — more consistent collaboration patterns across Enablement and Design leadership, grounded in shared practices and clear accountability.

• Reflects the H-E-B Way — demonstrates a Heart for People, Head for Business, and Passion for Results by fostering clarity, collaboration, and trust—how we work together to make the lives of Texans better.

What is your background?

• Education and foundation — Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience leading successful projects and mentoring others in design.

• Depth of design experience — 5+ years of impactful digital design experience, demonstrating leadership across people, processes, or programs.

• Operational leadership — background in Design Enablement, Design Operations, or design leadership — improving how teams work through formal management or influence.

• Develops talent — experience helping Partners grow through coaching, feedback, and goal alignment.

• Enterprise fluency — familiarity with how large organizations operate, including collaboration with HR, Retail Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Business Operations, Product, and Engineering.

• Implements scalable practices — ability to establish operational frameworks that improve visibility, accountability, and delivery.

• Tools proficiency — experience with design, research, and project-management tools such as Figma, Confluence, Jira, Airtable, UserTesting, Fable, and Qualtrics.

• Human- and systems-centered design — balances empathy for users and Partners with the ability to design scalable systems and processes.

• Growth and enablement mindset — curious about how people learn and develop; connects Partner experience to business outcomes.

• Industry familiarity — experience in grocery, retail, supply chain, or service design is helpful but not required.

• Proven delivery impact — ability to drive measurable outcomes through research, testing, and collaboration.

Bonuses for this role:

• Experience in both customer-facing and enterprise design environments.

• Background in design strategy, design systems, or operational leadership.

• Demonstrated success scaling practices or frameworks across disciplines.

Do you have what it takes to be an H-E-B Manager of Digital Product Designer?

At H-E-B Digital, great leadership is defined by how we work as much as what we deliver. We’re looking for a manager who leads with curiosity, clarity, and care—bringing structure and humanity to the systems that help design thrive.

• Leads with the H-E-B Way — balances a Heart for People, Head for Business, and Passion for Results in every decision and interaction.

• Thinks in systems — connects people, processes, and tools to reveal patterns and design lasting solutions.

• Navigates complexity calmly — brings focus and structure when priorities shift or ambiguity rises.

• Connects design to impact — uses data, storytelling, and reflection to show how design drives Partner and business results.

• Balances craft and delivery — pursues excellence where it matters most while creating space for experimentation and learning.

• Builds trust through collaboration — aligns diverse perspectives to foster clarity, accountability, and shared progress.

• Communicates with empathy and intent — tailors writing, facilitation, and presentations to meet Partners where they are.

• Models continuous learning — seeks feedback, stays curious, and evolves practices that outlast any one leader.

JDESIGN