Intermediate Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Intermediate Product Designer

Company: Trade Me

Location: Wellington Central, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-08

Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop elegant, usable, and responsive user interfaces and experiences across digital products.

• Strategically advocate for User Experience (UX), linking design decisions to measurable business outcomes and objectives.

• Foster open collaboration and clear communication with diverse audiences, including stakeholders, product teams, and fellow designers.

• Proactively identify and champion opportunities to leverage AI and Machine Learning (ML) to automate manual tasks and enhance customer journeys.

• Take ownership of the user experience within assigned product "diamonds" (product owner, product manager, lead software engineer), managing time effectively and influencing decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a strong focus on UX/UI design with an emphasis on process, user research, and strategic business alignment, aligning with operations-adjacent roles that support product development efficiency. The explicit mention of AI implementation suggests a forward-thinking approach to operations within the product lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Produce elegant, usable, and responsive user interfaces and experiences, ensuring accessibility standards and technical constraints are met.

• Actively contribute to and help grow the design system and wider design practice, promoting consistency and efficiency.

• Strategically advocate for UX by understanding business unit challenges and objectives, connecting design decisions to measured business impact.

• Clearly communicate design ideas and rationale to diverse audiences, actively seeking and providing feedback, and influencing decisions based on data and best design practices.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with product teams, engineers, and stakeholders, applying design thinking to develop effective design solutions and prioritize efforts.

• Take ownership of the user experience within your designated product "diamond," demonstrating strong time management and influence.

• Identify and champion use cases for AI to remove manual toil, leveraging Trade Me’s internal AI/ML stack to build smarter, self-optimising journeys that scale and drive customer and business value.

• Ideate, prototype, and communicate future design concepts, pushing the boundaries of user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution and strategic operational thinking. The emphasis on "contributing to and helping grow the design system" and "connecting design decisions to their measured business impact" points towards an operations-minded designer who understands the importance of scalable, efficient, and measurable design processes. The AI integration responsibility is particularly noteworthy for operations professionals interested in automation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience are paramount. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience: 4+ years of experience in similar design roles, ideally within an internal team or an agency background.

Required Skills:

• Figma proficiency for design and prototyping.

• Experience with prototyping software.

• A portfolio demonstrating end-to-end project experience.

• Solid understanding of Material Design guidelines for Android.

• Solid understanding of Human Interface Guidelines for iOS.

• Knowledgeable in best practices and hands-on experience in user testing and user research.

• Strong collaborator, proactively seeking open collaboration with other designers, squad members, and stakeholders.

• Strong communicator, able to explain ideas simply and clearly, listen carefully, and proactively improve team communication.

• Curious and driven to understand consumers and their problems deeply.

• Empathetic, objective, and open to a diversity of thought.

• Organized, with the ability to manage time well and deliver on commitments. Preferred Skills:

• Experience contributing to or managing a Design System.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Experience with AI/ML tools and platforms for design optimization.

• Understanding of analytics tools to measure design impact.

• Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 4+ years, coupled with the need for a portfolio demonstrating end-to-end projects, suggests an expectation for a designer who can manage complex initiatives with a degree of autonomy. The emphasis on communication, collaboration, and understanding business objectives is critical for operations-minded candidates who need to articulate the value of design and its impact on business metrics. The AI skill is a significant differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design processes, from initial concept and user research to final implementation and iteration.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or business impact.

• Demonstrate proficiency in core design tools like Figma, including wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.

• Highlight experience with user testing and research methodologies, explaining how insights informed your design solutions.

• Present examples of contributions to design systems, style guides, or component libraries, emphasizing scalability and consistency. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, including methodologies used (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) and how findings were synthesized.

• Document your design process, illustrating how you translate user needs and business requirements into tangible design solutions.

• Provide examples of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, stakeholders) throughout the design lifecycle.

• Showcase your ability to iterate on designs based on feedback, data, and performance metrics.

• Illustrate how you've considered accessibility and technical constraints in your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, a portfolio is akin to a "process portfolio." The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just the final output but the process by which that output was achieved. This includes research, collaboration, iteration, and a clear understanding of business impact—all hallmarks of operations excellence. The ability to articulate and demonstrate these processes is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the location (Wellington, New Zealand) and experience level (Intermediate, 4+ years), a competitive salary for an Intermediate Product Designer in New Zealand would typically range from NZD $80,000 to NZD $110,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in New Zealand tech companies, considering the cost of living and the demand for skilled design professionals.

Benefits:

• #AI and Tech: Dedicated AI skilling and opportunities to leverage internal AI/ML stack.

• #Flexibility: Support for finding what works, including a home office setup and utilities allowance.

• Hybrid Work Model: Requirement to come together in person on Mondays and at least one other day a week.

• #Wellness: Resources to support physical and mental wellbeing.

• #Leave: 5 days of wellness leave annually and 10 days of sick leave from day one.

• #Social: Company-paid lunches on payday, regular Friday drinks and nibbles, annual company awards, and celebrations.

• #Learning: On-the-job training, formal training, mentoring, and strong internal mobility opportunities.

• Home Office Setup: Assistance with setting up a comfortable and productive remote workspace.

• Utilities Allowance: Contribution towards home utility costs.

Working Hours:

The role is likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered to support work-life balance. The hybrid model requires specific in-office days for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for operations roles in New Zealand tech. The benefits are extensive and align with a modern, employee-centric approach, which is often a key consideration for operations professionals looking for a supportive work environment. The hybrid model details are crucial for understanding daily operational logistics.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Online Marketplace. Trade Me operates as a dominant online marketplace in New Zealand, facilitating a wide range of transactions from consumer goods to property and automotive.

Company Size: Trade Me is a well-established company with a significant presence in New Zealand. While exact current employee numbers fluctuate, it's generally considered a large-to-medium enterprise within the NZ tech landscape, employing hundreds of individuals.

Founded: Trade Me was founded in 1999, giving it a long history and deep understanding of the New Zealand market and online consumer behaviour. This longevity suggests a stable yet innovative environment.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is likely part of a larger Product and Technology division. Designers work within "diamonds" – small, agile, cross-functional teams comprising a Product Owner, Product Manager, Lead Software Engineer, and designers.

• Designers are expected to collaborate closely with Product Managers on strategy and requirements, and with Lead Software Engineers on technical feasibility and implementation.

• The design practice itself likely fosters a community of practice, with opportunities for designers to share knowledge, feedback, and best practices outside their immediate "diamond." Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum: The "diamond" structure strongly suggests an Agile development methodology, where teams work in iterative cycles (sprints) to deliver value incrementally.

• Design Thinking: The role explicitly mentions applying "design thinking" to develop solutions, indicating a human-centered approach to problem-solving.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The emphasis on "connecting design decisions to their measured business impact" and leveraging analytics implies a data-informed approach to design validation and optimization.

• AI Integration: A proactive focus on AI use cases points towards a forward-thinking methodology that embraces automation and intelligent systems for efficiency and enhanced user experiences.

Company Website: https://www.trademe.co.nz/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Trade Me's position as a leading New Zealand e-commerce platform is crucial. For operations roles, this means dealing with high volumes of users and transactions, requiring robust, scalable, and efficient systems. The "diamond" team structure is a common operational model for product development, emphasizing cross-functional autonomy and rapid iteration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an "Intermediate" Product Designer role. In an operations context, this signifies a professional who can independently manage moderately complex design projects, contribute strategically to product development, and mentor junior designers. They are expected to be proficient in core design tools and methodologies and have a solid understanding of how design impacts business metrics.

Reporting Structure:

The Intermediate Product Designer reports into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design. Within their "diamond" team, they collaborate closely with a Product Manager and Lead Software Engineer, who are peers in terms of project execution within that specific team.

Operations Impact:

The impact of this role is significant, as product design directly influences user adoption, engagement, conversion rates, and overall customer satisfaction—all key operational metrics. By creating "elegant, usable, and responsive user interfaces," this role directly contributes to operational efficiency by reducing user friction, support queries, and increasing task completion rates. The focus on AI implementation further amplifies operational impact by automating processes and scaling solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: Progression to a Senior role would involve leading larger, more complex design initiatives, mentoring a team of designers, and taking on greater strategic responsibility for product areas.

• Specialization: Opportunities to specialize in areas like UX Research, Design Systems, or AI-driven design.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Design Lead or Management role, overseeing a team of designers and shaping the design strategy for Trade Me.

• Cross-functional Moves: The strong emphasis on collaboration and business understanding could open doors to Product Management or other GTM (Go-To-Market) operations roles.

• AI/ML Design Expertise: Developing specialized skills in designing with AI/ML will be highly valuable and create unique career paths.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates, understanding the "impact" section is key. This role directly influences operational efficiency and business outcomes through user experience. The growth opportunities highlight pathways that align with both specialized design expertise and broader operational leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Trade Me operates with a hybrid work model. While remote work is supported with allowances, the company values in-person collaboration, requiring employees to be in the office at least two days a week (Mondays and one other day). This suggests a blend of focused individual work (remote) and collaborative team engagement (office).

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at Level 5, 2 Market Lane, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand. This central Wellington location offers accessibility and proximity to other businesses and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to facilitate collaboration, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions, especially on designated in-office days.

• Technology Enabled: As a tech company, expect modern office infrastructure and access to the necessary tools and technology to support design work, both in-office and remotely.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model ensures regular face-to-face interaction with design peers, product teams, and stakeholders, fostering a strong team dynamic and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule:

The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing individuals to structure their workdays to balance focused individual tasks with collaborative team activities, aligning with the need for efficient process execution and communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a critical operational detail. Understanding the in-office requirements and the company's philosophy on balancing remote and in-person work is important for individuals assessing their preferred work style and how it aligns with operational needs for collaboration and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Submission: Submit resume, cover note, and portfolio link.

2. Initial Screening: Review of application, portfolio, and alignment with experience requirements.

3. Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: Discussion about experience, motivations, and cultural fit.

4. Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or in-depth discussion of portfolio case studies. This is where the understanding of process, impact, and collaboration will be assessed.

5. Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members ("diamond" peers) and other stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, engineers) to assess collaboration and communication skills.

6. Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, Head of Design) to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies. For each case study, detail the problem, your specific role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or business impact.

• Process Over Polish: While aesthetics matter, hiring managers are keen to see your thought process. Explain why you made certain design decisions, how you incorporated user feedback, and how your work contributed to business goals.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced user errors, improved engagement). This is crucial for operations-minded candidates.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase instances where you collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Tailor to Trade Me: Research Trade Me's products and user base. Consider how your skills and experience can address their specific challenges and contribute to their vision.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the "Why": If given a design challenge, focus on understanding the underlying business problem and user needs before jumping into solutions.

• Process Focus: Be prepared to walk through your design process, even for a hypothetical problem. How would you approach research? What would be your key hypotheses? How would you validate your solutions?

• AI Application: Given the role's emphasis, be ready to discuss how AI could be leveraged to solve the problem or improve the user experience.

• Concise Communication: Practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely, as time will likely be limited.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are critical for operations professionals. This section emphasizes demonstrating process, measurable impact, and collaborative problem-solving, which are transferable skills from operations roles. The "operations impact" lens is key for showcasing value.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Software: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with other dedicated prototyping tools might be beneficial.

• Design System Tools: Experience contributing to or managing design systems, which often involves tools for component management and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel to understand user behaviour and measure the impact of design changes.

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms that facilitate A/B testing to validate design hypotheses and optimize user journeys.

• Heatmapping/Session Recording Tools: Tools like Hotjar or FullStory can provide qualitative insights into user interactions on the interface.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) or customer data platforms might inform user segmentation or personalization strategies can be advantageous.

• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools like Jira, Confluence, or Asana is expected for cross-functional team integration. AI & ML Stack:

• Understanding how to leverage Trade Me's internal AI/ML stack to build smarter journeys. This implies a need for designers to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI in product development and how to design interfaces that work effectively with AI-driven features.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, the technology stack is a direct indicator of the operational environment. Proficiency in Figma is a must. The emphasis on analytics, A/B testing, and especially the "AI/ML stack" points to a data-driven and technologically advanced operational approach to product design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bias for Action: A proactive approach to problem-solving and execution, characteristic of efficient operations.

• Strong Communication: Clear, open, and effective communication is vital for cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder alignment.

• Open Collaboration: A willingness to work together, share ideas, and provide/receive feedback openly, fostering a dynamic and productive team environment.

• Curiosity and Learning: A drive to understand users and problems deeply, coupled with a proactive approach to continuous learning and skill development, especially in new technologies like AI.

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for the user experience and project outcomes, demonstrating accountability and a commitment to results.

• User-Centricity: A deep empathy for users and a commitment to creating solutions that meet their needs effectively and improve their experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely within "diamonds" with Product Managers and Engineers, requiring a collaborative style that bridges different disciplines.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment where feedback is actively sought, given constructively, and used to iterate and improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the design team and wider organization.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are often influenced by data and measured impact, requiring a collaborative approach that integrates analytical insights into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values and collaboration style are critical for understanding the operational rhythm and team dynamics. "Bias for action," "strong communication," and "ownership" are direct translations of operational excellence principles into a design context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Objectives: Effectively integrating user experience demands with technical constraints and business goals to create solutions that are both desirable and viable.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring the design system remains robust, scalable, and up-to-date as the product suite and team grow.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Designing intuitive and effective user experiences that leverage AI without overwhelming or confusing users, while also achieving operational efficiency goals.

• Measuring Design Impact: Continuously demonstrating the ROI of design efforts through data and metrics to justify resources and influence strategic decisions.

• Navigating Hybrid Work: Maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient workflows within a hybrid work model, ensuring consistent collaboration and communication.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Skilling: Dedicated training programs to enhance understanding and application of AI in design.

• Design System Contribution: Opportunities to deepen expertise in building and maintaining scalable design systems.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product management, engineering processes, and business strategy through close collaboration.

• User Research Techniques: Advanced training in qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies.

• Mentorship: Access to senior designers and leaders for guidance on career development and skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying challenges and growth opportunities is essential for operations professionals looking for roles where they can make a tangible impact and continue to develop their skills. The AI integration challenge and opportunities are particularly relevant for those interested in operational efficiency through technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting priorities between user needs and business objectives. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, data used, and collaboration.)

• "How would you approach designing a feature that leverages AI to automate a manual customer process here at Trade Me? What would be your key considerations?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI's potential and user-centric design.)

• "Walk me through your process for advocating for UX within a cross-functional team, especially when facing resistance or differing opinions." (Highlight communication, persuasion, and data-driven arguments.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Trade Me? What interests you about our platform and our approach to product design?" (Research Trade Me's mission, values, and recent product developments.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Share examples of proactive communication and team engagement.)

• "Describe a project where you used data to inform or validate your design decisions. What metrics did you track, and how did they influence your approach?" (Emphasize your analytical and operations-minded thinking.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Process Visualization: Use diagrams, flowcharts, or annotated screenshots to visually explain your design process and decision-making.

• Quantify Impact: Clearly present metrics and results. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with others—Product Managers, engineers, stakeholders—and how that collaboration contributed to the outcome.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and alternative solutions considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for operations candidates transitioning into or applying for design roles. The focus on process, data, collaboration, and quantifiable impact directly aligns with operations skill sets and expectations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Intermediate Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Trade Me careers site.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate end-to-end design processes, measurable business impact, and experience with cross-functional collaboration. Specifically, showcase any experience with AI/ML applications in design or process automation.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 4+ years of experience, proficiency in Figma and user research, and any contributions to design systems or operational efficiency improvements through design. Use keywords like "UX," "UI," "responsive design," "user testing," and "AI implementation."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and how your work drives business value. Be ready to discuss your portfolio case studies in detail and prepare thoughtful questions about Trade Me's product strategy and design operations.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Trade Me's platform, its market position in New Zealand, and its stated values (especially "bias for action," "collaboration," and "curiosity"). Understand their hybrid work model and any recent product innovations.

⚠️ 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.

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