# Kaitlin Fink > Design & Operations Leader Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/kaitlinfink I'm a design and product leader with over a decade of experience guiding multidisciplinary teams across healthcare, civic tech, and enterprise SaaS. Whether I’m modernizing a patient portal for millions of veterans or building a design system to scale a growing startup, I bring a blend of systems thinking, empathy, and operational rigor to every challenge. My career has taken me from serving as a Naval officer to leading product design and operations teams at organizations like the Department of Veterans Affairs, Pinterest, and Front. Along the way, I’ve built and scaled teams, led cross-functional initiatives, and delivered user-centered solutions in some of the most complex and high-stakes environments. I thrive in mission-driven organizations where design and technology can make a measurable difference in people’s lives. I'm passionate about mentoring designers, building inclusive teams, and translating business goals into intuitive, human-centered experiences. ## Work Experience ### Staff Design Program Manager + Product Design Manager @ Handshake Jan 2025 – Present ### Life Coach @ Unknown Jan 2020 – Present ### Design Lead, Health @ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 • In the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) leading design initiatives and modernization efforts for MyHealtheVet, the VA’s patient-facing electronic health record. • Overseeing the retirement of the legacy MyHealtheVet portal, migrating users to a more cohesive digital experience on VA.gov. • Championing accessibility and compliance, balancing regulatory requirements with user-centric design principles. • Collaborating with diverse teams to enhance functionalities such as secure messaging, prescription management, and accessing medical records. ### Product Design Manager @ Front Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Francisco Bay Area In my role at Front, I led the transformation of the product design team, focusing on strategic growth and process improvement. I successfully expanded the team from 6 to 15 designers, implemented a structured product development process, and established a design systems team to enhance product quality and efficiency. My efforts directly contributed to a more cohesive and innovative design environment. ### Product Design Manager - Business Interfaces @ Pinterest Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 I led a team of designers dedicated to building effective business tools for advertising campaign management. My focus was on nurturing talent and implementing a three-year UX vision that adapted to the evolving content landscape. Through regular design critiques and strategic reviews, I ensured our projects met high-quality standards and aligned with business goals. ### Design Program Manager @ Pinterest Jan 2019 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco Bay Area ### Product Design Producer @ Pinterest Jan 2016 – Jan 2019 ### Leadership Coordinator + Program Manager @ IDEO Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | Palo Alto, CA • Served as Program Manager for a multi-year project with the County of Los Angeles to redesign their voting system. • Acted as a key liaison between the client and internal teams, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations. • Successfully managed an expense budget, concluding the program $250K under budget. • Planned and executed over 300 qualitative research sessions across various locations to gather community insights. • Fostered a collaborative studio culture by planning engaging events and activities for team building. ### Training Officer @ US Navy Jan 2012 – Jan 2014 | San Diego, CA Surface Warfare Officer on the USS BENFOLD (DDG-65) - Qualified and trusted to stand the following watch stations: Command Duty Officer, Engineering Officer of the Watch, Anti-Air Warfare Commander, Officer of the Deck, Anti-Terrorism Watch Officer - Key player in starting an innovation initiative encouraging the crew to come up with new ideas, solve problems and think critically through The Athena Project, the Learn Warfighter Needs Workshop and PartnerShips. - Planned and executed a combat systems upgrade to include new training, schools and certifications of over 280 sailors while managing a budget of over $300K. - Supervised 21 program mangers across five departments to maintain overall ship readiness above fleet average. - Developed and implemented the ships daily routine and long range operational commitments. - Mentor for junior sailors while balancing competing requirements and a demanding schedule during a 7-month deployment to the Middle East. ### Auxiliary Officer @ US Navy Jan 2010 – Jan 2012 Responsible for a division of ten sailors and maintaining the daily operations of all auxiliary equipment, spaces, and maintenance. Helped prepare and certify the engineering department in three major certifications and an eight month dry-dock ship availability. ### Student Athlete Advisory Committee Member @ NCAA Jan 2007 – Jan 2010 Selected to represent the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the Commonwealth Coast Conference at the National level as one of 25 members of the Division III SAAC Committee. Organized and participated in community service events, sportsmanship seminars, and multi-school conference calls as a school SAAC committee member. Collaborated with representatives from all MASCAC schools to promote and encourage sportsmanship and growth in the conference as a SAAC committee member ### Engineering Cadet- USNS Big Horn @ Military Sealift Command Jan 2009 – Jan 2009 Actively participated in the daily routine of a main propulsion diesel plant through in-port and at-sea watch standing, shipyard maintenance and inspections all machinery spaces. Received a grade of a 4.0 on a rigorous sea-project requiring analysis of all shipboard systems and completion of CAD drawings. ### Engineering Cadet- USNS Dahl @ Maersk Line, Limited Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 Established proficient knowledge in onboard engineering systems through daily upkeep and maintenance of the Gas Turbine main propulsion plant. Participated in an engine room and ship overhaul during a shipyard period, and received a grade of a 4.0 on a descriptive engine room and safety project. ## Education ### B.S. Marine Engineering in Energy Management Minor Massachusetts Maritime Academy ### High School Diploma The Academy of the Holy Cross ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-fink-60b48379 --- Source: https://flows.cv/kaitlinfink JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/kaitlinfink/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-05