DESIGN MANAGER SOLUTIONS DEVELOPMENT II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: DESIGN MANAGER SOLUTIONS DEVELOPMENT II

Company: BBVA

Location: TORRE BBVA, Retiro, Capital Federal, Argentina

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Management, Solutions Development

Date Posted: 2025-06-13T00:00:00

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead and manage design initiatives focused on developing innovative solutions within the banking sector.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including finance, legal, data science, and engineering professionals, to drive design strategy and execution.
• Oversee the design process from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs in a complex financial environment.
• Foster a culture of inclusive growth and creativity within the design team and across collaborating departments.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Manage a team of designers, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to ensure high-quality design output.
• Define and execute design strategy for specific solution development projects, translating business requirements into compelling user experiences.
• Lead design research activities, including user interviews, usability testing, and market analysis, to inform design decisions and validate solutions.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of design into the development lifecycle.
• Champion user-centered design principles and advocate for the needs of diverse user groups within the banking context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in design management or a senior design role with leadership responsibilities, preferably within the financial services or a highly regulated industry, demonstrating a strong portfolio showcasing successful design projects and team leadership. Experience leading design projects from concept to launch is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in design leadership and team management, including mentoring and developing design talent.
• Strong understanding of the banking industry, financial products, and regulatory requirements impacting design.
• Expertise in user-centered design methodologies, including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively articulate design decisions to diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with agile development methodologies and working in cross-functional agile teams.
• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation in large organizations.
• Proficiency in relevant design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects demonstrating leadership in solving complex problems within a financial or similarly regulated domain.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and impact, specifically highlighting contributions as a manager or leader.
• Examples of successful collaborations with cross-functional teams, showcasing the ability to influence product strategy and execution through design.
• Visual artifacts demonstrating proficiency in relevant design tools and adherence to design system principles (if applicable).

Process Documentation:

• Detailed documentation of the design process, emphasizing strategic thinking, team management, and stakeholder alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evidence of how user research and testing were integrated into the design process to inform decisions and validate solutions.
• Documentation showcasing the ability to manage design iterations and adapt to feedback while maintaining project vision and quality standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The typical annual salary range for a Design Manager II in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with 2-5 years of relevant experience in the banking sector is estimated to be between ARS $15,000,000 and ARS $25,000,000. This estimate is based on regional salary data for design management roles in the financial industry, considering factors like experience, company size, and the cost of living in Buenos Aires. Specific compensation will depend on qualifications and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and dental insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and training in design leadership and financial services.

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be offered to accommodate project needs and team collaboration across different time zones, relevant to design workflows and creative processes.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Banking. BBVA is a global financial services group providing a wide range of banking products and services. The design function plays a critical role in transforming traditional banking experiences into user-centered digital solutions.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees globally. This indicates a large, complex organization with established processes and a significant design team structure.

Founded: BBVA has over 160 years of history, highlighting a strong legacy and a current focus on digital transformation and innovation in banking.

Team Structure:

• Design teams are likely organized by product line, customer segment, or functional area within the bank.
• Reporting structure may involve layers of design leadership, reporting up through product or technology divisions.
• Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with technology teams (developers, engineers), product management, marketing, legal, and compliance.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on Agile methodologies for product development and design iteration.
• Likely uses Design Thinking frameworks for problem-solving and innovation.
• Strong focus on user research and data-driven decision-making to inform design solutions in the financial context.

Company Website: https://www.bbva.com/es/empleo/

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is a Design Manager II, which typically signifies a mid-level management position responsible for leading a team and managing specific design initiatives. It sits below senior management roles like Senior Design Manager or Director of Design.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager likely reports to a Senior Design Manager or a Head of Design within a specific business unit or product area. They would manage a team of individual contributor designers.

Design Impact: Design has significant influence on product development, customer experience, and business outcomes in a digitally-focused bank like BBVA. This role is pivotal in shaping the user interface and overall experience of banking solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for advancement to higher-level design management roles (e.g., Senior Design Manager, Director of Design).
• Opportunities to specialize in specific areas of banking design (e.g., retail banking, corporate banking, digital payments).
• Development opportunities in leadership, strategic thinking, and financial industry expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site at TORRE BBVA in Buenos Aires. This suggests a traditional office environment, likely a modern corporate building given the company's profile.

Office Location(s): TORRE BBVA, Retiro, Capital Federal, Argentina. This is a central business district location in Buenos Aires.

Design Workspace Context:

• The work environment likely includes dedicated workspace for the design team, potentially with areas for collaboration, critique, and focused work.
• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including potentially specialized hardware for design tasks.
• Opportunities for in-person collaboration with team members and cross-functional partners within the office setting.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. The schedule will likely be standard business hours, though flexibility may be needed for meetings or project deadlines, particularly when collaborating with teams in different time zones. This requires managing a design workflow that accommodates in-person collaboration and potentially remote interactions with global teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, design management skills, and fit with the banking sector.
• Portfolio Review/Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, focusing on leadership in design projects, strategic thinking, and the impact of their work within complex environments.
• Panel Interviews: Interviews with members of the design team, hiring manager, and potentially cross-functional partners (e.g., Product, Engineering) to assess technical skills, collaboration abilities, and cultural fit.
• Design Challenge/Case Study Discussion: May involve a design challenge related to banking or a detailed discussion of a complex project from the candidate's portfolio to evaluate problem-solving and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Clearly articulate your role and responsibilities as a design manager in each project.
• Focus on the strategic decisions you made and the impact of those decisions on the project and business outcomes.
• Showcase your ability to lead a team, manage stakeholders, and navigate the complexities of working in a large organization.
• Present case studies that demonstrate your understanding of user needs in the financial sector and how you addressed them through design.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking and problem-solving process, not just the final design output.
• Be prepared to explain your design decisions and rationale, considering the specific constraints and requirements of the financial industry.
• Practice articulating your approach to managing a design project from start to finish, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration.

ATS Keywords: Design Management, Design Leadership, Solutions Development, Banking, Financial Services, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Product Design, Design Strategy, Agile, Design Thinking, User Research, Usability Testing, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Portfolio Management, Design Systems, Collaboration, Innovation, Digital Banking, Fintech, Argentina, Buenos Aires, TORRE BBVA.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Likely proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, used for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. Expected skill level is high proficiency, including managing design files and libraries for a team.
• Experience with collaborative design platforms that facilitate real-time teamwork and feedback.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools for collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as Jira, Confluence, or Trello, used for project management and task tracking.
• Handoff tools like Zeplin or InVision Inspect for communicating design specifications to developers efficiently.
• Documentation tools for maintaining design systems, style guides, and component libraries, ensuring consistency across products.

Research & Testing:

• Tools for conducting user research, such as UsabilityHub, Optimal Workshop, or similar platforms for surveys, card sorting, and tree testing.
• Prototyping tools for creating interactive prototypes for user testing, such as InVision, Marvel, or the prototyping features within primary design tools.
• Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to measure the performance of design solutions and identify areas for improvement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of banking customers, ensuring that design solutions are intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy.
• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the exploration of new design approaches to enhance the banking experience and stay ahead in a competitive market.
• Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative environment where designers work closely with product, engineering, and business teams, sharing knowledge and building solutions together.
• Impact: Focusing on delivering design solutions that not only meet user needs but also drive business value and contribute to the company's strategic goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, with designers embedded in or working closely with agile product teams.
• Regular design critique sessions to provide and receive feedback, fostering continuous improvement and a shared understanding of design quality.
• Knowledge sharing and documentation practices to ensure consistency and maintain a shared understanding of design principles and patterns across the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Designing solutions within the highly regulated and complex environment of the banking industry, balancing user needs with compliance requirements.
• Driving Innovation: Introducing innovative design solutions within a traditional sector, requiring strong advocacy and the ability to demonstrate the value of design.
• Scaling Design: Managing design processes and ensuring consistency across a large organization with multiple product lines and teams.
• Adapting to Technology: Staying current with rapidly evolving digital technologies and integrating them into design solutions effectively.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of financial services design (e.g., payments, lending, wealth management).
• Access to training and resources on design leadership, strategic thinking, and navigating complex organizational structures.
• Potential for participation in industry conferences and workshops focused on design in the financial sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through your design process for a complex project, highlighting how you led the team, managed stakeholders, and incorporated user research and feedback.
• Discuss your approach to problem-solving and how you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints in a financial context.
• Explain how you utilize design systems and ensure consistency across multiple products or features.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research BBVA's values and strategic priorities, particularly in digital transformation and innovation. Be prepared to discuss how your approach to design aligns with these values.
• Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration practices, and how design impact is measured within the organization.
• Be ready to discuss your experience working in cross-functional teams and how you build relationships with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your portfolio presentation around 2-3 key projects that best showcase your design leadership and impact in complex environments, ideally within the financial sector or a similar industry.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role as a manager, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable impact of your design solutions.
• Focus on telling a compelling story that highlights your strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and ability to deliver results through design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Customize your portfolio and resume to highlight your design management experience, leadership skills, and any relevant experience in the banking or financial services industry, with a focus on managing design projects and teams.
• Prepare detailed case studies that clearly articulate your role, process, and impact on key design initiatives, especially those involving complex problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration.
• Research BBVA's digital transformation strategy and design approach to tailor your application and prepare for discussions on how your experience aligns with their goals and culture.
• Be ready to discuss your experience leading and mentoring design teams, managing project timelines, and collaborating with stakeholders across different departments.