Program Manager, Design Systems

About Marcom and the Role

Marcom is the creatively led global team that oversees Apple's consumer-facing marketing. We ensure the flawless development and execution of world-class communications across all media and platforms. Every day, hundreds of millions of Apple customers around the world interact with our products. We drive the strategy and creative work that provide both new and existing customers with simple, engaging, and inspiring marketing experiences.

Interactive's Design Systems team is responsible for the overall health, strategy, and execution of the frameworks and Design Systems libraries used across Apple's marketing platforms (e.g., apple.com). The team's main objective is to help form the vision and focus for One Apple Journey across our myriad digital touchpoints, platforms, and markets.

Description

The Program Manager, Design Systems is the strategic owner of the Digital Design Systems program, they define the vision, strategy, and roadmap to increase adoption, improve quality, and accelerate the work of design and engineering teams. They are the central point of contact, driving alignment between Marcom and partner organizations to ensure the system evolves to meet business goals and creative ambitions. This role is the through-line connecting feature roadmaps, stakeholder needs, and long-term strategy to guarantee the system's continuous success and alignment with Apple's brand.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the Digital Design Systems roadmap (quarterly and yearly), synthesizing input from creative, engineering, and business stakeholders to define priorities and communicate strategy to all levels of the organization.
• Establish and manage the governance model for the design system, defining clear processes for component contribution, versioning, and deprecation to ensure the system remains scalable, coherent, and high-quality.
• Act as the primary evangelist for the design system. Drive adoption and handle change by communicating the value of new tools, components, and standards across Marcom and partner organizations.
• Partner with Design, Engineering, and Production leads to create a smooth implementation of the roadmap. Unblocking teams, managing dependencies, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration to drive program outcomes and ensure timely delivery of system features.
• Define and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the health and impact of the design system (e.g., adoption rates, team velocity, accessibility compliance). Using this data to drive continued improvements and iterations.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 8 years of experience in Program Management, Product Management, or Design Operations within a technology or creative organization, focusing on digital products and platforms.
• Direct, hands-on experience running a design system or component library program in a complex organization. Understanding the unique challenges of governance, contribution, and adoption.
• A demonstrable track record of building strong, collaborative relationships with both creative and technical teams, with an ability to represent and advocate for their work and needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of design systems best practices, tools, applications, and front-end development concepts.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies for managing development cycles.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to influence without authority and build consensus among stakeholders at all levels, from individual contributors to executive leadership.
• Experience with budgeting, financial planning, and operational cost models for technical programs.
• Ability to independently anticipate and solve problems while maintaining focus on program milestones.

Equal Opportunity

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.