Operations Business Partner

Location: Team People

Team: Country Beijing / China

About the Role

At Canva, we're redefining how the world experiences design, and our CJKI region (China, Japan, Korea, India) is at the forefront of this mission with 200+ globally distributed creatives, engineers, product managers, and marketers. We're seeking an Operations Business Partner to supercharge how this dynamic region delivers, connects, and scales. Reporting to the CJKI Chief of Staff with primary focus on China, you'll be the operational heartbeat driving clarity, momentum, and cohesion in our fast-moving, high-stakes environment. This role thrives on building human connections, injecting joy into processes, and partnering with regional leadership and the International Supergroup to elevate performance while embodying Canva's collaborative, innovative culture. You'll drive company alignment through goal stand-ups and seamless stakeholder communication, own regional operations including planning, rituals, and scalable systems, and champion a thriving culture via people initiatives and inclusive experiences. From navigating chaos with calm clarity to designing engaging All Hands and Hackathons, you'll connect dots across disciplines, simplify complexity, and ensure our distributed teams feel united and empowered. This is hands-on work where you'll turn ambiguity into action, foster belonging in hybrid settings, and help CJKI remain a happy, healthy powerhouse within Canva's design revolution. Perfect for natural connectors who love team culture, bias-to-action operators who excel in shifting priorities, and communicators who rally diverse teams without friction. Join our Beijing hub - complete with chef-prepared meals, endless snacks, and Zoom connections to Sydney - to experience Canva's magic of connectivity, creativity, and crazy-big goals. Even if your background doesn't perfectly match, we celebrate diverse skills and want to hear from you. Interviews are virtual; tell us your pronouns and any adjustments needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive company-wide goal alignment for CJKI region through stand-ups, reporting, and stakeholder communication
• Own regional planning, logistics, rituals, and communication cadences to ensure smooth operations
• Strengthen scalable systems and processes to enhance team execution and performance
• Champion culture and people experience by leading initiatives that foster inclusion and connection
• Partner with Regional Leadership to nurture a joyful, supportive, high-performing team environment
• Navigate ambiguity by providing structure, clarity, and confident next steps for teams
• Collaborate across International Supergroup to evolve operating systems and support initiatives
• Design and facilitate org-wide events like All Hands, Hackathons, and goal celebrations
• Craft engaging communications that keep distributed teams informed, connected, and aligned
• Build trust and influence without authority across engineering, product, design, and operations teams
• Role-model Canva's values while supporting China-focused operations within the broader CJKI region

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in operations, program/project management, or equivalent team-enabling roles
• Experience supporting regionally distributed teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments
• Proven track record in driving operational alignment across cross-functional teams including engineering, product, design, and marketing
• Fluency in English with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous, rapidly changing environments
• Experience designing and facilitating team rituals, events, and communication cadences
• Strong organizational skills with expertise in planning, logistics, and process optimization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in APAC regions, particularly China, Japan, Korea, or India
• Familiarity with design-focused tech companies or creative industries
• Background in People Operations or Chief of Staff roles
• Mandarin language proficiency
• Experience with goal-setting frameworks and company-wide alignment processes

Required Skills

• Exceptional communication and storytelling
• Influence without authority
• Cross-functional relationship building
• Ambiguity navigation and prioritization
• Workshop facilitation and meeting management
• Process design and optimization
• Project and program management
• Culture building and team connection
• Strategic thinking with tactical execution
• Bias to action and urgency
• Distributed team collaboration
• Stakeholder alignment and reporting
• Event planning and logistics
• Goal tracking and cadence management
• Inclusion and belonging championing

Benefits

• Equity packages to share in Canva's success
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
• Flexible leave options for recharging and personal needs
• Hybrid work model with beautifully designed hubs in Beijing and Wuhan
• Delicious daily breakfast, lunch, and unlimited snacks at China offices
• Regular team connection opportunities including virtual Sydney syncs
• Delightful work environment fostering creativity and collaboration

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.