Freelance Senior Product Designer - Growing Impact Scale Up

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Senior Product Designer

Company: Simvia

Location: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-07-27

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a critical freelance Senior Product Designer role focused on tackling complex, ambiguous product challenges within a B2B SaaS scale-up environment, specifically for supply chain sustainability and food safety.

• The primary focus is on designing robust, systemic solutions for regulatory compliance (PPWR), prioritizing functional problem-solving and user flow logic over visual polish.

• The role requires close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and domain experts to translate intricate regulatory and operational nuances into usable product features.

• Candidates will be expected to leverage senior judgment to identify risks, drive sound decision-making, and deliver pragmatic design artifacts suitable for a fast-paced scale-up.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core of the role is Product Design, the emphasis on B2B SaaS, regulatory compliance, and complex systemic problem-solving within a GTM context suggests a strong need for understanding how design impacts user adoption, operational efficiency, and ultimately, market success. This aligns with the broader goals of Revenue and Sales Operations in ensuring product-market fit and driving scalable revenue.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Deconstruct Complex Problems: Analyze and define ambiguous, multi-stakeholder product challenges, translating them into clear, actionable product solutions and user flows.

• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Partner effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and Subject Matter Experts to ensure designs are technically feasible, operationally sound, and meet regulatory requirements.

• Prioritize Functional Design: Focus on solving the core product problem and ensuring logical, efficient user journeys, with visual design and UI polish being secondary.

• Exercise Senior Judgment: Proactively identify potential risks, provide constructive feedback, and contribute to strategic decision-making to ensure sound tradeoffs are made in a fast-paced environment.

• Deliver Pragmatic Design Artifacts: Create appropriate design deliverables for each stage of development, ranging from low-fidelity flow diagrams to high-fidelity prototypes, tailored to accelerate decision-making and development velocity.

• Contribute to Regulatory Compliance Solutions: Design user-centric solutions for specific regulatory challenges, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), ensuring clarity and usability for diverse stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Untangle complexity" and "Prioritise substance over polish" highlights a need for a designer who can think systematically and understand the operational impact of design decisions. This requires an understanding of how users interact with software in a business context, which is a key consideration for GTM and Operations teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific educational requirements are listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional product design experience is required, with a proven track record in designing B2B SaaS solutions within complex, high-stakes environments.

Required Skills:

• Advanced Product Design: Deep expertise in user-centered design principles, interaction design, and information architecture for complex B2B SaaS products.

• Systemic Problem Solving: Proven ability to dissect and solve intricate, ambiguous product puzzles that involve multiple systems, stakeholders, and data points.

• B2B SaaS Environment Experience: Demonstrated experience designing for business users, understanding their workflows, pain points, and operational needs within a Software-as-a-Service context.

• User Flow & Wireframing: Proficiency in mapping out complex user journeys, creating detailed wireframes, and defining interaction logic.

• Prototyping: Ability to create functional prototypes (low to high fidelity) to effectively communicate design concepts and test user flows.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively partner with product managers, engineers, and domain experts.

• Regulatory Compliance Design: Experience translating complex regulatory requirements into intuitive and usable product features.

Preferred Skills:

• Scale-up Environment Experience: Previous work in a fast-growing scale-up company, demonstrating adaptability and ability to navigate rapid change.

• Supply Chain or Sustainability Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with the challenges and complexities of food and beverage supply chains, sustainability, or food safety regulations.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within agile development frameworks.

• Data-Informed Design: Ability to leverage user data and analytics to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "problem-solving, not brand, strategy, or UI craft" and "10+ years of product design experience, with a strong track record designing B2B SaaS solutions in high-complexity environments" indicates a need for a designer with strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, akin to those required in operations roles that focus on process optimization and efficiency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies Demonstrating Problem-Solving: Showcase 2-3 in-depth case studies that highlight your ability to tackle complex, ambiguous problems in B2B SaaS environments. Focus on the problem, your process, and the tangible outcomes.

• Systemic Design Examples: Include examples that illustrate your understanding of how different product components interact and how your design decisions impact broader system logic and user workflows.

• Process Documentation Clarity: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing how you translated complex requirements into functional solutions.

• Outcome-Oriented Presentation: Demonstrate quantifiable results or significant improvements achieved through your design interventions, even if visual polish was secondary. Focus on efficiency gains, clarity for users, or successful navigation of complexity.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of how you’ve mapped complex user workflows, identified bottlenecks, and designed streamlined solutions.

• System Implementation Support: Illustrate how your design artifacts facilitated clear communication and efficient implementation by engineering teams for complex systems.

• Measurement & Analysis: If possible, show how you’ve incorporated metrics or user feedback to validate and iterate on designs, especially in terms of functional effectiveness and user comprehension.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "structure ambiguity" and "solving hard, systemic product puzzles" means a portfolio should clearly articulate the design process for complex, non-obvious problems. This is directly relevant to operations professionals who often need to demonstrate how they bring structure to chaotic processes and deliver measurable improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a freelance contractor role with a minimum of 3 days per week for an initial 3-6 month period, the compensation will likely be project-based or an hourly/daily rate. Based on market research for Senior Product Designers with 10+ years of experience in Amsterdam for specialized B2B SaaS roles, an estimated daily rate could range from €500 to €800. This estimate considers the seniority, the specialized B2B SaaS and complexity requirements, and the Amsterdam location, which has a high cost of living and competitive tech market.

Benefits:

• Competitive Daily Rate: Compensation commensurate with senior-level expertise and specialized skills.

• Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid model allowing for 3+ days per week in the Amsterdam office, with potential discussion on ramp-up/transition timing.

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven company focused on sustainability and food safety.

• Team Activities & Social Events: Participation in regular team events, hackathons, and social gatherings (e.g., Thirsty Thursday, Boat parties).

• Free Office Lunches: Daily catered lunches provided at the office.

• Travel Compensation: Reimbursement for travel to the office if the distance exceeds 10 km.

• Unique Office Environment: Work from a centrally located Amsterdam office with a rooftop terrace.

Working Hours: The role requires a minimum of 3 days per week, with flexibility to discuss ramp-up or transition arrangements. Standard working hours for a full-time equivalent role are typically 40 hours per week, with the expectation of focused work during the contracted days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available data for freelance senior-level tech roles in Amsterdam and the specific requirements of B2B SaaS and complex problem-solving. It's crucial for candidates to clarify the exact rate and payment terms with Simvia. The benefits listed are typical for contract roles in scale-ups, emphasizing flexibility and a strong team culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software for Supply Chain Management, Sustainability, and Food Safety. Simvia operates within the AgriTech and FoodTech sectors, aiming to revolutionize global supply chains by enhancing transparency, sustainability, and safety. This is a growing market with significant regulatory drivers.

Company Size: 65+ employees. This indicates a mid-stage scale-up environment where processes are evolving, and individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Simvia was founded with a mission to make food and beverage supply chains safe and sustainable. The company manages a substantial volume of agricultural goods and serves a global client base.

Team Structure:

• The product team is structured into three distinct units, with this role being part of the team focused on PPWR compliance.

• This team likely comprises a Product Manager, Engineers, and this Senior Product Designer, working collaboratively.

• There's a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, with designers needing to partner closely with product and engineering. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: The company leverages data to provide clear insights into sustainability and food safety requirements.

• Agile Development: Implied by the "fast-moving area of the product" and "scale-up environment," suggesting iterative design and development cycles.

• Focus on Pragmatism: The design approach prioritizes delivering functional solutions that address complex issues over aesthetic perfection, aligning with operational efficiency goals.

Company Website: https://www.simvia.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on sustainability and supply chain transparency positions it within a critical and growing market. For a designer, this means working on products with tangible real-world impact. The scale-up size suggests an environment where design can directly influence product direction and operational outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, requiring extensive experience (10+ years) and the ability to independently tackle complex, high-level challenges. It is not an entry-level or mid-level position but one that demands seasoned judgment and strategic thinking.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report into the Product team structure, likely working closely with a Product Manager and reporting line within the product development function. Given the freelance nature, direct reporting might be more focused on project deliverables and team lead guidance.

Operations Impact: While the role is in Product Design, its impact on "Revenue Operations" and "GTM" is significant. By designing clear, compliant, and user-friendly solutions for complex B2B SaaS products (especially regulatory ones like PPWR), this role directly contributes to:

• Faster User Adoption: Reducing friction for new customers integrating Simvia's solutions.

• Improved Customer Retention: Ensuring users can effectively navigate and comply with regulations, leading to greater satisfaction.

• Streamlined Sales Cycles: Providing a product that is easier to understand and demonstrate, supporting sales efforts.

• Operational Efficiency for Clients: Helping clients meet compliance needs efficiently, enhancing their perception of Simvia's value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become an expert in supply chain sustainability and regulatory compliance design within the food and beverage industry.

• Scale-up Experience: Gaining valuable experience in a high-growth environment, understanding how design scales with business expansion.

• Project Leadership: Leading the design for critical features and complex problem spaces, showcasing end-to-end ownership.

• Potential for Extension/Future Roles: A successful 3-6 month engagement could lead to contract extensions or future opportunities, depending on business needs and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section is crucial for framing how a design role contributes to broader business objectives, aligning with the goals of operations professionals. The growth opportunities emphasize skill development in a niche but critical industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work setting with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration for at least 3 days per week. The office is located in the center of Amsterdam.

Office Location(s): Amsterdam, Netherlands (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 120, 1012 SH). The office offers a central location and a rooftop terrace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on in-office days suggest a culture that values face-to-face interaction for complex problem-solving and team cohesion.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed, expect standard design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) and collaboration platforms. The role requires pragmatic artifact creation, implying the need for efficient tool usage.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, engineers, and other team members, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: A minimum of 3 days per week is required in the Amsterdam office. The exact schedule and ramp-up/transition timing can be discussed. This flexibility, combined with the hybrid nature, aims to balance focused design work with collaborative team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and specific office attendance requirement are key details for a freelance role, ensuring candidates understand the on-site expectations. The mention of the rooftop terrace and team activities hints at a vibrant, social office culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess experience and alignment with the role's core requirements (B2B SaaS, complexity, problem-solving).

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session where you'll walk through your case studies, focusing on how you tackled ambiguous problems, your systematic approach, and the impact of your designs. Be prepared to discuss your process and decision-making rationale in detail.

• Team Collaboration/Problem-Solving Exercise: Potentially a session with the Product Manager and/or Engineers to discuss a hypothetical complex problem or to assess your collaborative style and how you approach design challenges within a team setting.

• Cultural Fit & Logistics: Discussion around your availability, preferred working days, and how you would integrate into the existing team and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Complexity & Ambiguity: Select case studies that specifically showcase your ability to structure unstructured problems and navigate regulatory or systemic complexities.

• Focus on "Why" and "How": Clearly explain your thought process, the constraints you faced, and the rationale behind your design decisions. Prioritize process and problem-solving over polished final visuals.

• Showcase Pragmatism: Demonstrate that you can create the right artifacts for the right stage of work, not necessarily a fully polished final product.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Even for a freelance role, if you can point to efficiency gains, successful compliance navigation, or improved user understanding as a result of your design, it’s highly valuable.

• Be Ready for Technical/Operational Questions: Since it's B2B SaaS, expect questions about how your designs integrate with existing systems or impact client operations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand PPWR: Familiarize yourself with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to grasp the context of the product team's work.

• Prepare for Systemic Design Scenarios: Think about how you would approach designing for systems with multiple stakeholders, data inputs, and regulatory constraints.

• Articulate Your Process: Practice explaining your design methodology concisely, emphasizing adaptability and pragmatism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "problem-solving, not brand, strategy, or UI craft" means interviewers will be looking for a designer who thinks like an operations professional – focused on process, efficiency, and tangible outcomes. Your portfolio should reflect this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms for creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes. Figma is very common in scale-ups.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, or Trello for team communication, project management, and documentation.

• Design Systems (Knowledge of): While not explicitly stated as a requirement to build one, understanding how design systems contribute to consistency and efficiency in B2B SaaS is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar, to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not directly a design tool, understanding how data is presented and interpreted can aid in designing for reporting and compliance dashboards.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (Understanding): Awareness of how CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) integrate with product usage and how design choices can impact data capture for sales and operations.

• Workflow Automation Tools (Contextual): Understanding the principles of workflow automation is relevant, as the design must integrate seamlessly into automated processes for regulatory compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core is design, the context of B2B SaaS and regulatory compliance means familiarity with systems that manage data, workflows, and user interactions is a significant advantage. The role requires designing for these systems and processes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on making a tangible positive impact on supply chains, sustainability, and food safety.

• Pragmatism & Efficiency: Valuing practical solutions that drive results quickly, prioritizing substance and functionality over perfection.

• Collaboration: Working closely and effectively with product managers, engineers, and domain experts to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Informed: Using data and insights to guide decision-making and validate solutions.

• Adaptability: Thriving in a fast-paced, evolving scale-up environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with engineering and product management.

• Constructive Feedback: An environment where team members can push back constructively and engage in open discussions to arrive at the best solutions.

• Shared Ownership: A culture where the entire team shares responsibility for the success of the product, with a focus on collective problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "pragmatism," "efficiency," and "impact" directly mirrors the core values of Revenue Operations and Sales Operations. This role seeks a designer who thinks with a similar operational mindset.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Structuring Ambiguity: The primary challenge is taking ill-defined, complex problem spaces (like regulatory compliance) and turning them into clear, actionable product designs.

• Balancing Complexity and Usability: Designing for intricate B2B SaaS workflows and regulatory nuances while ensuring the end-user experience remains intuitive and efficient.

• Pace of a Scale-up: Adapting to a fast-moving environment where priorities can shift, and rapid iteration is necessary.

• Prioritizing Substance Over Polish: Shifting focus from purely aesthetic design to the core functional integrity and logical flow of the product.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Regulatory Design: Gaining specialized knowledge in designing for complex regulations like PPWR.

• Supply Chain & Sustainability Domain Expertise: Developing a strong understanding of the food and beverage supply chain and its sustainability challenges.

• Scale-up Design Practices: Learning how to effectively design and iterate within a rapidly growing company.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Mastery: Enhancing skills in working with diverse teams (product, engineering, domain experts) to achieve complex product goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a designer who can operate with the same strategic and analytical rigour as an operations professional, focusing on process improvement and problem resolution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to untangle a highly ambiguous product problem. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on structuring ambiguity, systemic thinking, and pragmatic solutions.)

• "How do you balance the need for functional complexity in B2B SaaS with creating a user-friendly experience, especially when dealing with regulations like PPWR?" (Showcase your ability to translate complex requirements into usable flows.)

• "Imagine you're working on a feature for PPWR compliance. What are the first steps you'd take, and who would you collaborate with?" (Demonstrate your approach to problem definition and cross-functional teamwork.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Simvia's mission to make supply chains more sustainable and safe?" (Connect your passion to the company's purpose.)

• "How do you see your role as a Senior Product Designer contributing to the success of a B2B SaaS scale-up?" (Highlight your understanding of impact beyond just UI.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you ensure effective collaboration with remote and in-office team members." (Address the work arrangement requirements.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Complexity: Start your portfolio walkthrough with your most challenging B2B SaaS or regulatory design case studies.

• Emphasize Your Process: Clearly articulate the steps you took to understand the problem, define requirements, explore solutions, and collaborate with stakeholders. Use diagrams and flowcharts where appropriate.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use your artifacts (wireframes, flows, prototypes) to illustrate your points, but focus your commentary on the why and how behind the design.

• Highlight Pragmatism: Explain how you tailored your deliverables to the project's needs and how you prioritized functional integrity over exhaustive polish.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If your case studies include any metrics on efficiency, adoption, or successful navigation of complexity, present them clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe your ability to think analytically and strategically, much like an operations professional. Your portfolio presentation should reinforce this by showcasing your structured approach to problem-solving.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Simvia careers portal (https://simvia.recruitee.com/o/freelance-senior-product-designer-growing-impact-scale-up).

• Customize Your Portfolio: Select and prepare 2-3 case studies that specifically highlight your experience with complex B2B SaaS problem-solving and regulatory design. Ensure they demonstrate your process, pragmatic approach, and ability to structure ambiguity.

• Optimize Your CV: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 10+ years of product design experience in B2B SaaS, your skills in systemic problem-solving, and any relevant domain knowledge. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to complex challenges, and your understanding of Simvia's mission. Be ready to discuss your availability for at least 3 days per week in Amsterdam.

• Research Simvia: Understand their mission, industry, and the implications of PPWR. This will help you ask insightful questions and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.