AVP, Product Designer, Group Design, Consumer Banking Group

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: AVP, Product Designer, Group Design, Consumer Banking Group

Company: DBS Bank

Location: Singapore - DBS Asia Central

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX Design (with a focus on Financial Services Operations)

Date Posted: August 5, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for complex financial products within the Consumer Banking Group, ensuring designs are user-centric and technically feasible.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, to translate business requirements into intuitive and effective user experiences.

• Advocate for design systems, standards, and best practices across the enterprise, contributing to a cohesive and high-quality design output.

• Actively participate in user testing and post-launch monitoring to iterate and improve product designs based on real-world data and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a 'Group Design' function for the Consumer Banking Group, indicating a strategic, enterprise-wide impact. The emphasis on "delivering real value to real users" and "stuff that gets built" highlights a pragmatic approach to design, focusing on implementation and tangible outcomes rather than purely conceptual work. The context of a large financial institution like DBS suggests a need for robust process, meticulous attention to detail, and strong stakeholder management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate high-level business requirements and complex product ideas into well-defined problem statements, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and compelling presentations for management.

• Design and refine user interfaces and user experiences for complex web applications within the financial services domain, ensuring usability, accessibility, and adherence to design standards.

• Collaborate with Product Managers and Tech Leads to navigate technical constraints, legal restrictions, and operational complexities inherent in a banking environment.

• Conduct and participate in user testing sessions, synthesizing feedback to inform design decisions and validate proposed solutions.

• Articulate design rationale and recommendations clearly and confidently to stakeholders across various departments, building consensus and advocating for user-centered design principles.

• Monitor product performance post-launch, identify areas for improvement, and propose data-driven design enhancements.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and methodologies, with a particular focus on AI integration and efficiency gains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a dual focus on strategic design thinking and hands-on execution. The need to "simplify very complex products and ideas" and navigate "tech systems and legal restrictions of a bank" points to a role requiring significant problem-solving skills and an understanding of operational constraints within a regulated industry. The mention of "crash course in finance and operations" and "check the latest relevant data" indicates a necessity for continuous learning and data-informed decision-making.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for an AVP-level Product Designer role.

Experience: 5-10 years of relevant experience in end-to-end product design, with a significant portion focused on complex web applications.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Design Proficiency: Ability to manage the entire design lifecycle from conceptualization to final implementation, including problem definition, user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Complex Web Application Design: Proven experience designing for intricate, data-rich web applications, particularly within regulated or enterprise environments.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport, articulate design decisions, and influence stakeholders effectively.

• User Testing & Research: Experience planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research and usability testing to inform design strategy.

• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Ability to review relevant data and metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Prioritization & Focus: Skill in prioritizing design efforts, focusing on core UX issues over purely aesthetic enhancements.

• Process Improvement Mindset: A proactive approach to identifying and implementing improvements in design workflows and methodologies, especially in areas like AI.

• Industry Trend Awareness: Curiosity and commitment to staying abreast of current UX trends and best practices.

• Adaptability & Problem-Solving: Ability to think on your feet, improvise, and tackle challenges in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Agile Methodology: Experience working within Agile development frameworks.

• Financial Product Design: Specific experience designing for financial products, particularly within the Treasury domain.

• Behavioral Science: A foundational understanding or keen interest in behavioral science principles and their application in design.

• Community Contribution: Active participation or contribution to the UX community (e.g., speaking at events, publishing articles).

• Personal Projects: A portfolio showcasing personal pet projects that demonstrate passion and initiative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of technical design skills, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal abilities. The emphasis on "designing for complex web applications" and navigating "behemoth tech systems and legal restrictions" suggests a need for designers who are not only creative but also pragmatic and detail-oriented. The preference for Agile and financial product experience indicates a desire for candidates who can quickly integrate into the existing development and business context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your ability to take a complex problem from initial research and ideation through to a deployed solution.

• Problem Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge you addressed in each case study.

• Process Documentation: Detail your design process, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing approaches used.

• System & Standard Adherence: Examples demonstrating how you've worked with or contributed to design systems and adhered to established standards, particularly in complex enterprise environments.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, efficiency gains, or business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in documenting design processes, workflows, and user journeys.

• Highlight any contributions to improving or optimizing existing design or development processes, especially those related to collaboration or efficiency.

• Provide examples of how you've used data and user feedback to refine and iterate on established processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an AVP-level Product Designer role in a large financial institution, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond visual design to showcase strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle within complex organizational structures. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating how designs were implemented and the measurable impact they had.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the AVP title, 5-10 years of experience, and the location in Singapore (a high cost of living area), a competitive salary range for a Product Designer would typically fall between SGD 90,000 - SGD 140,000 per annum. This range can vary based on specific skills, interview performance, and the precise scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Financial Security: Competitive base salary, potential for performance bonuses, and retirement savings plans (e.g., CPF contributions in Singapore).

• Work-Life Integration: Paid time off, flexible work arrangements where applicable, and a supportive work environment.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, conferences, and internal workshops.

• Team & Social Activities: Regular team dinners, drinks, and monthly creative days, fostering a strong team culture.

• Employee Assistance Program: Support services for personal and professional challenges.

Working Hours: This is a full-time role, typically requiring around 40 hours per week. While the core hours are standard, the description implies a focus on producing high-quality work, suggesting that dedication and flexibility may be needed to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Singapore, considering the AVP title and experience level. Benefits are standard for a large financial institution and are inferred from industry practices. The "Creative Day" mentioned is a specific perk that enhances the employee experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (DBS Bank is a leading financial services group with a significant global presence).

Founded: 1968 (DBS Bank has a long history, indicating stability and established processes, but also a need for continuous innovation to remain competitive).

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the DBS enterprise design team, which focuses on redefining internal tools and collaborative platforms for various banking functions (e.g., bankers, credit risk managers, credit controllers).

• This team is distinct from product-specific design teams and likely operates with a more centralized, strategic mandate, focusing on common platforms and design systems.

• Collaboration is key, involving designers, engineers, product managers, and various business stakeholders across different departments. Methodology:

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding user needs and delivering impactful, empathetic solutions. The company slogan "Live more, Bank less" and "make banking invisible" underscores this.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The role requires checking "latest relevant data" and monitoring product performance, indicating a reliance on analytics and metrics.

• Efficiency & Simplification: The core mission involves simplifying complex products and ideas, driving efficiency through design and technology.

• Agile Principles (Implied): The mention of "Agile methodology" as a bonus point suggests that Agile practices are prevalent in the development environment.

Company Website: https://www.dbs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: DBS Bank's culture is characterized by innovation within a traditional industry, aiming to make banking seamless and customer-centric. The "enterprise design team" context suggests a focus on scalable solutions and consistent user experiences across the organization's internal tools, which is critical for operational efficiency in a large bank.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Assistant Vice President (AVP) signifies a mid-to-senior level role. At this level, individuals are expected to contribute significantly to strategic design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and manage complex projects with a high degree of autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The role is within the "enterprise design team" and likely reports to a Design Lead or Head of Design within that group. Collaboration will extend across various Consumer Banking Group functions.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of internal banking operations by simplifying complex systems and enabling employees (bankers, risk managers, etc.) to serve customers better. This translates to improved productivity, reduced errors, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of financial product design, AI-driven design solutions, or design system architecture.

• Leadership: Progress to Senior Product Designer, Lead Designer, or management roles within the enterprise design team or product-specific design groups.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader experience across different business units within DBS, understanding diverse operational needs and user challenges.

• Continuous Learning: Leverage company-provided training, workshops, and industry events to stay at the forefront of design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The AVP title suggests a trajectory towards greater responsibility and strategic influence. Growth opportunities are likely tied to demonstrating leadership in design execution, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration within the complex ecosystem of a large financial institution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in "DBS Asia Central," implying a modern, professional office environment typical of a major financial institution. This setting is likely designed to foster collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Singapore - DBS Asia Central. This indicates a central business district location, likely with good public transport access.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a mix of open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially quiet zones for focused work, facilitating both team interaction and individual deep work.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially internal collaboration platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for interaction with designers, engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders through meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.

Work Schedule: This is a regular, full-time position. While core hours will apply, the nature of design work and project deadlines may require flexibility. The emphasis on producing work that "gets built" suggests a results-oriented environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role in a major financial hub like Singapore suggests a professional, structured, and collaborative environment. The emphasis on "headphones-on, trying to avoid eye contact" for focused work, balanced with team activities, points to a culture that respects individual work styles while valuing team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session with design leadership or senior designers to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your process, rationale, challenges, and outcomes for each case study.

• Design Challenge: You might be given a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual exercise to solve a specific design problem relevant to DBS's business. This assesses your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to work under time constraints.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, or business stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and understanding of business context.

• Final Round: Potentially with higher-level management to discuss strategic fit and overall impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design capabilities, especially those involving complex systems or financial products.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the constraints, your decisions, and the measurable results. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Implementation: Emphasize projects where your designs were successfully built and launched, demonstrating your ability to work with technical teams and navigate real-world constraints.

• Showcase Process: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methodologies. Explain why you chose certain approaches.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of your designs.

• Tailor to DBS: Research DBS's mission, values, and recent initiatives. Connect your experience and case studies to their goals, particularly "Live more, Bank less."

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research the domain (consumer banking, digital finance) and any specific constraints provided.

• Define the Problem: Spend time clearly defining the user and business problem before jumping into solutions.

• Show Your Process: Document your thought process, assumptions, and design decisions, even if you don't complete every stage of the design.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your solution concisely and confidently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a role like this will likely be rigorous, focusing on both design craft and the ability to operate effectively within a large, complex organization. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount, serving as the primary evidence of your capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (or similar industry-standard tools). Figma is increasingly becoming a dominant platform for collaborative design.

• Wireframing Tools: Balsamiq, Axure RP, or features within Figma/Sketch.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides for management presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or similar) for tracking user behavior on web applications.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (or internal BI tools) for analyzing performance data and creating dashboards.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly designing the CRM/automation tools, understanding how they function and integrate with user-facing applications is beneficial. Experience with Salesforce or other enterprise CRM systems could be advantageous.

• Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence for project management and documentation. Slack or Microsoft Teams for communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern collaborative design tools like Figma is highly valued. Experience with data analysis and visualization tools is crucial given the emphasis on data-informed design and measuring impact within a financial institution. Familiarity with Agile project management tools is also expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: Driven by the mission to "Live more, Bank less" and make banking invisible, prioritizing user needs and seamless experiences.

• Innovation & Agility: Willingness to explore new technologies (like AI) and adapt processes to stay ahead in a competitive financial landscape.

• Simplicity: A core value of simplifying complexity for users and internal operations.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together across departments to achieve common goals, as evidenced by team activities and cross-functional responsibilities.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using data and insights to inform design choices and measure success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical/business realities.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of opinions and ideas, but also a willingness to accept better solutions, fostering a constructive feedback culture.

• Shared Learning: Participation in user testing, team dinners, and creative days promotes knowledge sharing and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: DBS Bank promotes a culture of innovation within a structured financial environment. The design team's role is to inject user-centricity and design thinking into the development of internal tools, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills to align diverse stakeholder perspectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The primary challenge is distilling highly complex financial products and banking operations into intuitive, user-friendly experiences.

• Navigating Constraints: Balancing user needs with stringent regulatory requirements, technical limitations, and legacy systems within a large bank.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and maintaining consistent design vision across multiple departments and stakeholders with potentially competing priorities.

• Driving Adoption: Ensuring that designed solutions are not only built but also effectively adopted and utilized by internal users.

• Staying Ahead: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements (e.g., AI) and evolving user expectations in the digital financial space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like interaction design, information architecture, service design, and UX strategy.

• Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of financial products, banking operations, risk management, and regulatory frameworks.

• AI in Design: Exploring and applying AI tools and methodologies to enhance design processes and product features.

• Leadership Development: Pathways to lead design projects, mentor junior team members, and influence design strategy at an enterprise level.

• Industry Exposure: Attending relevant industry conferences, workshops, and potentially pursuing certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant due to the nature of the industry and the company's scale. However, these challenges also present excellent opportunities for professional growth, particularly in developing expertise in financial technology and enterprise-level design strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a highly complex product or system. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and impact).

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business requirements, especially in a regulated industry like banking?" (Highlight your negotiation and compromise skills, and how you advocate for the user).

• "Walk us through a project where you collaborated closely with engineers and product managers. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Emphasize your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities).

• "How do you incorporate data and user feedback into your design process?" (Provide specific examples of how data influenced your decisions). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about DBS Bank's mission to 'Live more, Bank less,' and how would your design philosophy align with this?" (Research the company thoroughly and connect your values to theirs).

• "How would you contribute to our enterprise design team's goal of redefining internal tools?" (Show understanding of the team's mandate and how your skills can add value).

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you approach collaboration." (Align your answer with the collaborative culture described). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Prepare a clear narrative for each case study: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.

• Be the Guide: Don't just present slides; guide the interviewer through your thought process, decisions, and rationale. Explain why you did what you did.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss anticipated impact or qualitative improvements.

• Address Constraints: Be ready to discuss any challenges, trade-offs, or limitations you faced and how you addressed them.

• Showcase Adaptability: Demonstrate your ability to adapt your process and solutions to different project needs and constraints.

• Enthusiasm for DBS: Express genuine interest in DBS's mission and the specific challenges of designing for the financial industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, communication prowess, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, regulated, and collaborative environment. The portfolio is your primary tool, so practice presenting it smoothly and confidently.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this AVP, Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the DBS Careers portal link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience with complex web applications, end-to-end design processes, and any relevant financial services or enterprise software design work.

• Resume Optimization: Quantify your achievements on your resume using metrics where possible. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Product Design," "UX Design," "Design Systems," "Stakeholder Management," and "Web Applications."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes clearly and concisely. Prepare specific examples that showcase your problem-solving skills, collaboration, and ability to deliver impactful designs.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research DBS Bank's mission, values, recent news, and the specific goals of the enterprise design team. Understand their "Live more, Bank less" philosophy and how design contributes to it.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding salary and specific benefits, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application process.