Digital Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Digital Product Designer

Company: Alterna Savings

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end digital product design lifecycle for iOS, Android, and responsive web platforms, ensuring a cohesive and engaging user experience.

• Drive user research and validation to translate complex system requirements into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces, adhering to brand standards and accessibility guidelines.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders, product managers, and engineering teams to translate product vision into high-fidelity designs and facilitate seamless developer handoffs.

• Contribute to and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across all digital products and driving continuous improvement of design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior-level Digital Product Designer, indicated by the 5+ years of experience requirement and the expectation to lead the design lifecycle end-to-end, including strategy, research, and execution. The emphasis on contributing to and maintaining a design system, along with driving process improvements, suggests a significant impact on the digital product development methodology.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire product design lifecycle, from initial conceptualization and user discovery through to execution, launch, and post-launch refinement across iOS, Android, and responsive web platforms.

• Develop comprehensive user experience artifacts, including detailed user flows, customer journey maps, service blueprints, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Actively contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the company's design system, ensuring robust documentation, adherence to brand guidelines, and seamless developer handoffs.

• Translate complex business and technical requirements into elegant, simple, and highly usable interfaces, incorporating motion design and micro-interactions to elevate user engagement.

• Conduct and leverage qualitative and quantitative user research, including user interviews, observational studies, and competitive analysis, to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and other stakeholders to align on product vision, ensure technical feasibility, and drive accurate implementation of design specifications.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, and design critiques to foster innovation and gather diverse perspectives.

• Present design rationale, research findings, and strategic concepts clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.

• Ensure all digital product designs rigorously adhere to WCAG (AODA) accessibility guidelines and Alterna's established brand standards.

• Drive continuous improvement of design workflows, methodologies, and tools within the Digital Channels team, promoting efficiency and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic and tactical design execution. The emphasis on "leading the design lifecycle from conceptualization and discovery through to execution and launch" indicates ownership beyond just visual design, encompassing research, strategy, and cross-functional alignment. The responsibility to "drive continuous improvement of design workflows" suggests an impact on process optimization within the design team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a closely related field; equivalent practical experience or relevant certifications will also be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Digital Product Design, UX/UI Design, or a comparable role, preferably within an Agile development environment.

• Demonstrated track record of successfully launching innovative digital products from concept to completion.

• Experience within the financial services or FinTech industry is a significant advantage. Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma is mandatory for all aspects of design and prototyping.

• Proven expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, customer journey maps, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong understanding and application of design thinking methodologies.

• Experience in contributing to or maintaining design systems to ensure UI/UX consistency.

• Proficiency in translating complex requirements into simple, elegant, user-friendly interfaces.

• Solid understanding of WCAG (AODA) accessibility guidelines and their practical application in design.

• Experience conducting user research (qualitative and quantitative) and synthesizing findings into actionable design insights.

• Excellent visual and interaction design skills with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, and detail.

• Demonstrated ability to present design rationale and research findings effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Experience with motion design tools (e.g., After Effects) to incorporate engaging animations and micro-interactions.

• Experience building and maintaining service blueprints and user personas.

• Knowledge of financial services or digital banking products and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "Expert proficiency in Figma (required)" and "Proficiency and experience with prototyping (required)" are critical for candidates to highlight. The preference for financial services experience suggests a need for candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the industry's unique user needs and regulatory considerations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing end-to-end product design projects from ideation to launch.

• Demonstrate experience in solving complex user problems with clear, impactful, and innovative design solutions.

• Highlight the process of translating business and user requirements into functional and aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

• Include case studies that detail your role, the design process, key decisions, user research methodologies, and quantifiable outcomes or lessons learned.

• Showcase proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools through interactive examples or detailed walkthroughs. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have contributed to or maintained design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and documentation for developer handoff.

• Demonstrate understanding of accessibility best practices (WCAG/AODA) and how you integrate them into your design process.

• Illustrate experience with Agile workflows, including collaboration with product managers and engineers, and how design fits into iterative development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end product design," "complex problem-solving," and "impactful user experiences" in the portfolio requirements suggests that hiring managers will be looking for evidence of strategic thinking and measurable results, not just visual aesthetics. The inclusion of "design system contribution" and "Agile environment" points to the need for practical experience in team-based, iterative design processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Digital Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between CAD $90,000 and CAD $130,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and qualifications. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal days, and holidays).

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuing education.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Employee discounts on Alterna Savings products and services. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 38 hours per week, with potential for some flexibility. On-site work is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Digital Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in major Canadian cities like Toronto and Ottawa, considering the financial services industry. Actual compensation will be determined by the employer. The mention of "38 hours per week" aligns with common Canadian full-time employment standards.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Credit Union)

Company Size: 1,000-5,000 employees (based on LinkedIn data for Alterna Savings)

Founded: Alterna Savings was founded in 1902, bringing over a century of experience in financial services and a member-centric approach.

Team Structure:

• The Digital Channels team likely comprises product managers, UX/UI designers, developers, QA testers, and potentially business analysts, all working collaboratively.

• The Digital Product Designer will report into a Design Lead, Product Lead, or Head of Digital Channels.

• Close collaboration is expected with product management, engineering, marketing, legal, and compliance teams to ensure cohesive product development and alignment with business objectives. Methodology:

• Alterna Savings emphasizes a member-centric approach, aligning with its cooperative financial institution model.

• The company operates within an Agile environment, indicating iterative development cycles, cross-functional teamwork, and a focus on continuous delivery.

• Design thinking methodologies are actively employed to foster innovation and user-centric solutions.

• A strong commitment to brand standards and digital accessibility (WCAG/AODA) is integral to their digital product development process.

Company Website: https://www.alterna.ca/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's long history (over 115 years) and cooperative, member-owned structure are key cultural differentiators. This suggests a focus on long-term relationships, community impact, and potentially a more stable, less volatile environment compared to some tech startups. The "Good in Banking®" slogan reinforces a values-driven approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Digital Product Designer

• This role represents a senior individual contributor position within the design function. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. The scope includes leading complex design initiatives and influencing product strategy. Reporting Structure:

• The Digital Product Designer likely reports to a Design Manager, Product Lead, or Head of Digital Channels. This structure provides a clear reporting line for guidance, feedback, and career development within the Digital Channels team. Operations Impact:

• The role directly impacts Alterna's digital offerings, influencing member acquisition, engagement, retention, and satisfaction. By creating intuitive and accessible digital experiences, the designer contributes to the financial well-being of members and the overall success and competitiveness of Alterna Savings in the digital banking landscape. Growth Opportunities:

• Advance to a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, taking on more strategic responsibilities and team leadership.

• Specialize in areas such as UX research, interaction design, or design systems at a deeper level.

• Transition into Product Management roles, leveraging design expertise to define product strategy and roadmaps.

• Develop expertise in the financial services industry, becoming a subject matter expert in digital banking innovation.

• Participate in industry conferences and training to stay abreast of emerging design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years of experience" and the responsibility to "lead the design lifecycle" position this as a senior role. Growth opportunities would likely involve increased leadership, strategic influence, or specialization within the design field or the financial services domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Alterna Savings operates with a hybrid work model, but this specific role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement to work from one of their specified office locations. This suggests a collaborative office environment with opportunities for in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario. Candidates are expected to work from one of these locations.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated areas for design activities.

• Access to standard design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.), is expected.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineering teams will be present, facilitating knowledge sharing and effective teamwork. Work Schedule:

• Full-time employment with typical office hours (approximately 38 hours per week). While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start/end times, subject to team needs and manager approval.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation signifies a preference for in-person collaboration, which is common in financial institutions for roles involving sensitive data, team cohesion, and direct stakeholder engagement. Candidates should be prepared for a structured work environment within a corporate setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, approach to problem-solving, and cultural fit with Alterna Savings.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, walk through key case studies, and potentially complete a design exercise or discuss hypothetical design scenarios relevant to Alterna's business. This assesses practical skills, design thinking, and communication abilities.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with stakeholders from Product Management and Engineering to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of technical constraints and business needs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate end-to-end product design, complex problem-solving, and impactful outcomes.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration, testing), key decisions made, and the results or impact achieved. Use clear visuals and concise descriptions.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio includes examples that showcase your advanced skills in Figma, including complex prototyping, component usage, and potentially design system contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).

• Address Accessibility: Explicitly mention how you incorporated WCAG/AODA guidelines into your designs.

• Tailor to Alterna: Research Alterna Savings and its digital offerings. If possible, frame your project examples to resonate with the challenges and opportunities in the financial services sector.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to articulate your design process clearly and justify your design decisions with user-centered reasoning and business objectives.

• Practice presenting your portfolio concisely, focusing on the "why" behind your design choices.

• Familiarize yourself with Alterna Savings' digital products and the broader FinTech landscape.

• Prepare to discuss how you handle feedback, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and manage competing priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design, complex problem-solving, and impactful user experiences" is a critical requirement. Candidates should prepare to present detailed case studies that highlight their strategic thinking, research capabilities, and ability to deliver measurable results, especially using Figma.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert proficiency required for all UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration activities. This is the core tool for this role.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Familiarity with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator is an asset for asset creation and manipulation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned as a primary design tool, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and reporting dashboards is crucial for data-informed design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design responsibilities, but an understanding of how user data is managed within systems like CRMs might provide context for user journey mapping and personalization efforts.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) used in Agile environments for task tracking and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a required tool. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency in Figma, including its collaborative features, component libraries, and prototyping capabilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: Working effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders is paramount. This involves open communication, active listening, and a willingness to share ideas and feedback.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical design practices, ensuring user privacy, and being transparent in design decisions and research findings. This aligns with Alterna's cooperative values.

• Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives within the team and from users, and ensuring designs are inclusive and accessible to all members.

• User Advocacy: A deep empathy for users and a commitment to solving their problems through thoughtful, user-centered design.

• Action-Oriented: A proactive mindset ("get stuff done" attitude) with strong organizational skills to drive projects forward efficiently.

Collaboration Style:

• The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, acting as a bridge between user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

• Expect regular participation in design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and sprint reviews within an Agile framework.

• A culture of continuous improvement suggests an openness to feedback and iterative refinement of both designs and design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Alterna Savings explicitly highlights "Collaboration, Integrity, and Respect" as core values. The description for "Who You Are" further reinforces these, emphasizing being "Action-Oriented," a "User Advocate," and "Collaborative." Candidates should prepare to speak to these values in their interviews.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: In the financial services sector, balancing the drive for innovative digital experiences with strict regulatory compliance and security requirements can be challenging.

• Translating Complex Systems: Simplifying complex financial products and processes into intuitive user interfaces requires significant analytical and design skill.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across multiple departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Legal) requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Maintaining Design System Scalability: As the product suite grows, ensuring the design system remains robust, up-to-date, and effectively utilized by the team presents an ongoing challenge.

• Adapting to Evolving Technology: Staying current with the latest design tools, UX trends, and mobile/web technologies in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge of financial services, digital banking, and credit union operations through project work and company resources.

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in specific areas like motion design, complex prototyping, or advanced user research techniques.

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a leadership role, mentoring junior designers and influencing design strategy.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to product management, engineering best practices, and business strategy through close collaboration.

• Professional Development: Access to training, workshops, and potentially conferences related to UX/UI design and the FinTech industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the specific context of the financial services industry and the demands of a senior design role. Growth opportunities focus on both vertical (leadership) and horizontal (specialization, industry knowledge) development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a digital product. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses ownership, process, problem-solving, and impact)

• "How do you approach translating complex financial requirements into simple, user-friendly interfaces?" (Tests understanding of the industry and simplification skills)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints. How did you find the right balance?" (Evaluates strategic thinking and trade-off management)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and meet WCAG/AODA standards?" (Checks for crucial compliance knowledge) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Alterna Savings and the financial services industry?" (Gauges passion and research into the company)

• "How do you embody our core values of Collaboration, Integrity, and Respect in your design work?" (Assesses cultural fit)

• "Describe your experience working in an Agile environment. How do you collaborate with product managers and engineers?" (Evaluates team dynamics and workflow understanding) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes. Show, don't just tell.

• Figma Focus: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma features you used, especially for prototyping, component management, or design system contributions.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling stories of problem-solving and user advocacy. Explain the "why" behind your decisions.

• Metrics: Quantify the success of your designs whenever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impacts or lessons learned.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure you cover key points efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific responsibilities of the Digital Product Designer role, emphasizing Figma, user-centered design, financial services context, and core company values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Digital Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Alterna Savings careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features 2-4 of your strongest end-to-end product design projects, with a specific emphasis on your expertise in Figma and complex problem-solving. Tailor your project selection to highlight relevant experience, such as financial services or complex system design.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5+ years of experience in digital product design, UX/UI, and Agile environments. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., Figma, user research, design systems, WCAG, prototyping, Agile) and quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for your portfolio projects. Prepare to discuss your experience with user research, design thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. Familiarize yourself with Alterna Savings' values and digital products.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Alterna Savings, its mission ("The Good in Banking®"), its cooperative model, and its digital banking offerings. Understand the competitive landscape for credit unions and financial institutions in Canada.

⚠️ 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.