Contracting position available: Senior Data Designer / Technical Service Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Data Designer / Technical Service Designer (Contracting)

Company: Portable

Location: TBC (Collingwood, VIC, Australia / Remote OK within Australia)

Job Type: Contractor

Category: Data Design & Service Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: 6+ Years (Senior Level)

Remote Status: Remote OK within Australia

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive transformational change at the intersection of data, service design, and complex organizational challenges.

• Lead the mapping of intricate data landscapes, identifying Gaps, inconsistencies, and manual workarounds impacting data integrity and flow.

• Design and implement practical data governance frameworks, including principles, roles, decision rights, and AI usage definitions.

• Facilitate cross-functional workshops to achieve stakeholder alignment, build buy-in, and navigate complex organizational dynamics.

• Produce concise, evidence-based deliverables such as process maps, data flow diagrams, governance frameworks, and transition roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Data Designer/Technical Service Designer, emphasizing a blend of technical data understanding with service design principles. The contracting nature suggests a project-based engagement where the candidate will lead specific initiatives with a high degree of autonomy. The focus on "AI Implementation" and "governance frameworks" points towards a modern approach to data management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive discovery and current-state analyses of data landscapes, including data lineage, system integration points, and team-specific data handling processes.

• Identify and document data quality issues, such as duplication, incomplete records, and inconsistent definitions, and critically, their root causes within organizational processes and human behavior.

• Design and document future-state operating models and transition roadmaps, ensuring they are phased, realistic, and aligned with business objectives.

• Define clear roles and responsibilities (e.g., Data Owners, Stewards, Custodians) in a practical, actionable manner that facilitates accountability and ownership.

• Manage individual engagements with minimal oversight, including coordinating stakeholder activities, maintaining project work plans, and diligently tracking progress against defined milestones.

• Contribute expertise to proposal development, including scoping and estimation for projects requiring data design and service design capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of analytical, strategic, and interpersonal skills. The emphasis on "producing deliverables that people actually use" and "building genuine buy-in, not just sign-off" indicates a focus on practical application and stakeholder engagement, moving beyond purely technical documentation. The inclusion of AI in governance design is a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a relevant degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Design, Business, or a related field is typically expected for a senior role of this nature.

Experience: 6+ years of demonstrated experience in roles that combine data, service design, and complex stakeholder management. Experience may stem from service design, business analysis, data strategy, or information management backgrounds; the specific title is secondary to proven capability.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in mapping complex data landscapes and assessing data quality across multi-system environments.

• Proven strong facilitation skills, with a track record of leading workshops that drive progress and achieve tangible outcomes.

• Experience designing practical and adoptable data governance frameworks, operating models, or data strategies, including considerations for AI implementation.

• High comfort level working with ambiguity and in environments with low data maturity, demonstrating the ability to achieve results without a perfect starting point.

• Excellent written communication skills, producing clear, practical, and actionable deliverables that are actively utilized.

• Solid technical literacy, enabling understanding of system architectures, integration points, and data flows without requiring development expertise. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within government, health, legal services, aged care, disability, or other mission-driven sectors.

• Background in business analysis, including proficiency in business requirements documentation and detailed process mapping.

• Familiarity with data reporting, advocacy data, and national/sector-level data standards.

• Experience collaborating with or within digital delivery teams (UX researchers, service designers, developers, project managers).

• Understanding of human-centred design principles and their integration with service design and data strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must-haves" clearly define the core competencies required. The "Nice-to-haves" suggest areas where additional experience would provide a competitive advantage and indicate the types of projects Portable often undertakes. The emphasis on "comfort with ambiguity and low data maturity" is a critical indicator for candidates to highlight their resilience and problem-solving capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least two distinct projects demonstrating the mapping of complex data landscapes and the identification of critical data quality issues and their root causes, with clear visual representations (e.g., data flow diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams).

• Provide examples of designed data governance frameworks or operating models, highlighting the principles, roles, and decision-making processes established, and ideally, how AI was integrated into the design.

• Include case studies of facilitated workshops, detailing the objectives, participant profiles, methodologies used, and the tangible outcomes achieved (e.g., stakeholder alignment, decision-making progress).

• Present deliverables such as process maps, transition roadmaps, or RACI matrices, demonstrating conciseness, clarity, and practical applicability for organizational adoption. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of designing and documenting future-state operating models and transition roadmaps, detailing phased implementation plans and realistic timelines.

• Examples of creating clear documentation for roles and responsibilities (Data Owners, Stewards, Custodians) that are user-friendly and actionable.

• Documentation of stakeholder interview findings and workshop outputs that clearly articulate pain points, current-state practices, and future-state recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this nature, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase completed work but also the candidate's thought process, problem-solving approach, and ability to deliver tangible value in complex, often messy, organizational environments. The emphasis on "practical" and "usable" deliverables is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contracting position with a "day rate" requirement, the salary is variable. Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Data Designers/Technical Service Designers with 6+ years of experience in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, a competitive day rate would likely range from AUD $800 to $1,200+ per day, depending on experience, specific skills, and the project's duration and complexity.

Benefits: As a contractor, standard employee benefits (health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions) are typically not included. However, contractors often benefit from:

• Flexibility in work schedule and location (as indicated by remote OK status).

• Opportunity to work on diverse and impactful projects for a mission-driven organization.

• Potential for high earning rates compared to permanent roles.

• Exposure to cutting-edge approaches in data design and AI implementation.

• Ability to choose engagements that align with professional interests and career development goals.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week is the standard expectation for full-time contract roles. However, flexibility may be negotiable depending on the project phase and specific client needs, with a focus on achieving project milestones and deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical contracting rates for senior-level design and data strategy professionals in major Australian cities, adjusted for the stated experience level and the specialized nature of the role. It's crucial for candidates to specify their availability and desired day rate in their application.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Design, Consulting, Social Impact. Portable operates within sectors focused on social good, utilizing design and technology to address societal challenges and policy failures. This implies a mission-driven, purpose-led culture.

Company Size: 65+ employees. This indicates a medium-sized organization that is established enough to undertake significant projects but agile enough to maintain a close-knit culture.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company description suggests a mature organization with established methodologies and a clear mission.

Team Structure:

• The operations team structure is not explicitly detailed but is implied to be multidisciplinary, comprising researchers, strategists, designers, technologists, and producers.

• This role likely sits within a project-based delivery team, collaborating with individuals from various disciplines.

• Reporting lines are likely project-specific, with direct oversight from a Project Lead or Director, and close collaboration with client-side stakeholders. Methodology:

• Portable employs a blend of research, design, and technology to achieve transformational change. This suggests a human-centred, iterative, and data-informed approach.

• Emphasis on understanding social needs and policy failures as the starting point for engagements.

• Integration of AI is a forward-looking aspect of their methodology, indicating a commitment to leveraging modern tools for analysis and solution development.

Company Website: portable.io

📝 Enhancement Note: Portable's mission of "making transformational change using research, design, and technology" for social good is a key cultural differentiator. Candidates should align their applications with this purpose-driven ethos. The company size suggests a collaborative environment where individual contributions are visible.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level contracting role, implying a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for leading engagements and delivering strategic outcomes. It's suitable for experienced professionals seeking project-based work rather than a traditional career ladder.

Reporting Structure: As a contractor, the reporting structure will be project-dependent. The role likely reports to a Portable Project Lead or Director, with significant interaction and influence over client stakeholders at various levels.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on client organizations by improving their data utilization, governance, and operational efficiency. By untangling people and process problems related to data, this role enables clients to make better decisions, serve their constituents more effectively, and achieve their mission-driven goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Project Leadership: Opportunity to lead multiple complex data and service design projects from inception to completion.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI implementation within governance, advanced data landscape mapping, and complex stakeholder facilitation in mission-driven sectors.

• Networking: Build strong professional relationships with a diverse range of clients in the social impact space.

• Methodology Development: Contribute to refining Portable's methodologies for data design and service transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contracting role, it offers significant opportunities for professional growth through leadership on challenging projects and the application of advanced methodologies. Candidates should frame their experience in terms of project leadership and impact delivered.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Portable has a head office in Collingwood, VIC. The role description also mentions remote work from co-working spaces and homes across Australia, suggesting a hybrid or fully remote-friendly approach for contractors.

Office Location(s): Collingwood, VIC, Australia. The "TBC" and "Remote OK within Australia" indicate flexibility for candidates located elsewhere in Australia.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration will likely occur through a mix of digital tools (for remote work) and in-person meetings (at the Collingwood office or client sites, if required).

• Access to Portable's internal knowledge base and potentially subject matter experts across research, design, and technology.

• The work environment is described as mission-driven, suggesting a culture of purpose and impact.

Work Schedule: While a 40-hour week is standard, the contracting nature and project-based work may allow for some flexibility in daily scheduling, provided deliverables are met and stakeholder availability is accommodated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The flexibility offered by this contracting role, including remote work within Australia, is a significant draw. Candidates should be prepared for a dynamic work environment that balances independent work with collaborative project efforts.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV, LinkedIn profile, availability, and day rate.

• Portfolio Presentation/Discussion: A key stage likely involving a presentation of past work, focusing on data landscape mapping, governance design, and facilitation successes. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio, explaining their approach, challenges, and outcomes.

• Skills-Based Interview: Discussion focused on specific capabilities, problem-solving scenarios related to data complexity and organizational dynamics, and how AI can be applied.

• Cultural Fit/Values Alignment: Assessment of alignment with Portable's mission and values, particularly regarding social impact and collaborative working styles.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your core competencies in data mapping, governance design, and stakeholder facilitation. Prioritize projects that show a clear problem, your solution, and measurable impact.

• Focus on Process & Outcome: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and methodology, the challenges encountered (especially ambiguity and low data maturity), the solutions implemented, and the tangible outcomes or benefits achieved. Quantify impact where possible.

• Highlight AI Integration: If AI was part of your solution or analysis, explicitly detail its role, the benefits it brought (e.g., accelerating analysis, enhancing insights), and any governance considerations.

• Showcase Deliverables: Be prepared to show examples of your deliverables (process maps, diagrams, governance frameworks) and explain their practical use by stakeholders.

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio pieces as compelling narratives that showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to drive change.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions that present hypothetical complex data or organizational challenges and ask how you would approach them, focusing on your process and decision-making.

• Facilitation Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would handle difficult stakeholder negotiations or align diverse teams with competing priorities.

• AI Governance: Prepare to discuss your understanding of AI's role in data management and the ethical/governance considerations involved.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes practical demonstration of skills through a portfolio and the ability to articulate your approach to complex problems. Strong storytelling and clear articulation of impact are vital for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Data Mapping & Visualization: Tools like Lucidchart, Miro, Visio, Draw.io for process and data flow diagrams. Potentially specialized data cataloging or lineage tools if experienced.

• Collaboration Platforms: Miro, Mural for cross-functional workshops. Slack, Microsoft Teams for communication.

• Documentation & Project Management: Confluence, Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for managing work plans and deliverables.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with interpreting data from various sources; direct experience with specific BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is less critical than understanding data structures and quality.

• Ability to analyze data quality reports and identify systemic issues. CRM & Automation:

• While not a CRM administration role, understanding how data flows into and out of CRMs and other core business systems is essential for mapping data landscapes.

• Awareness of automation principles and tools to identify opportunities for process improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires proficiency with visualization and collaboration tools essential for service design and data mapping. While deep technical expertise in specific data platforms isn't the primary focus, a strong understanding of system architectures and data flows is critical. Candidates should be adept at using tools that facilitate collaboration and clear documentation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to using skills for social good and making a positive impact on societal challenges.

• Human-Centred: Understanding that data problems are fundamentally people and process problems, requiring empathy and user-centric solutions.

• Collaborative: Working effectively across diverse teams and with clients to achieve shared goals.

• Pragmatic & Actionable: Delivering practical solutions and tangible outcomes that organizations can actually use and implement.

• Forward-Thinking: Embracing new technologies like AI to enhance capabilities and drive innovation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect, requiring the ability to work effectively with researchers, strategists, designers, technologists, and client teams.

• Emphasis on facilitating open dialogue, navigating differing perspectives, and building consensus among stakeholders with varying data literacy and priorities.

• A culture that values clear communication, evidence-based decision-making, and a shared commitment to the project's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with Portable's mission-driven approach and their emphasis on human-centred design and pragmatic solutions. The ability to collaborate effectively and facilitate diverse groups is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Organizational Complexity & Ambiguity: Untangling deeply ingrained human and process issues that manifest as data problems in organizations with potentially low data maturity.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Facilitating consensus among diverse groups with competing priorities, varying data literacy, and potentially resistance to change.

• Defining AI Governance: Establishing practical and responsible frameworks for AI usage within organizations, balancing innovation with risk.

• Delivering Usable Outputs: Ensuring that designed frameworks and documentation are adopted and utilized effectively, rather than becoming shelf-ware.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Social Impact Sectors: Gaining extensive experience and insights into the unique data and operational challenges of government, health, and non-profit organizations.

• Advanced AI Application: Further developing expertise in applying AI tools and methodologies within data governance and service design contexts.

• Methodology Refinement: Contributing to and learning from Portable's established research, design, and technology methodologies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with experts in research, strategy, and technology to broaden skill sets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are also opportunities for growth. Candidates who thrive in ambiguous environments and enjoy solving complex, human-centric problems will find this role rewarding. Highlight your experience in tackling similar challenges.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to map a complex data landscape in an organization with siloed departments and inconsistent data definitions. What was your approach, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on methodology, tools, and stakeholder engagement).

• "How would you design a data governance framework for an organization that is new to formal data management and is also exploring AI adoption? What are the critical components and considerations?" (Focus on practicality, AI integration, and phased implementation).

• "Imagine you're facilitating a workshop with senior executives and frontline staff regarding data quality issues. How would you ensure everyone's voice is heard and that you achieve a shared understanding and commitment to action?" (Focus on facilitation techniques, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Portable's mission and our work in social impact? How does your approach to data and design align with this?" (Research Portable's projects and values thoroughly).

• "How do you approach working with organizations that have low data maturity or significant legacy issues?" (Demonstrate comfort with ambiguity and a pragmatic, step-by-step approach).

• "Describe your experience with AI. How do you see it impacting data strategy and governance, and what are the key risks to consider?" (Show awareness of current AI trends and responsible implementation). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, clearly articulate the client/context, the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodology and tools used, the key challenges, your solution, and the tangible outcomes/impact.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (diagrams, maps, framework outlines) to support your explanations. Ensure they are easy to understand quickly.

• Storytelling: Weave a narrative that highlights your problem-solving skills, your ability to navigate complexity, and your impact. Focus on the "why" behind your decisions.

• AI Focus: If AI was involved, explain its role, the data considerations, and any governance aspects.

• Deliverables: Be ready to discuss the practical application and usability of the deliverables you produced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating your ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical, actionable insights for diverse stakeholders, all within the context of driving social impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your CV and LinkedIn profile, clearly outlining your relevant experience.

• Provide your availability, including your earliest possible start date and preferred capacity (e.g., full-time contract).

• State your day rate clearly in your application.

• Prepare your portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that showcase your expertise in data landscape mapping, data governance design, and stakeholder facilitation. Be ready to present these projects, highlighting your approach, challenges, and outcomes, with a specific focus on how you deliver actionable, usable solutions.

• Research Portable: Understand their mission, the types of projects they undertake, and their commitment to social impact. Tailor your application to reflect an alignment with their values.

• Practice your narrative: Be prepared to articulate your experience and approach in a clear, concise, and compelling manner, ready for interview discussions and portfolio walkthroughs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.