Consultant, Product Design Manager UX-UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Consultant, Product Design Manager UX-UI Company: Riyadh Air Location: King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Job Type: Full-Time, Other (Fixed-Term Contract) Category: Product Design & User Experience Operations Date Posted: August 12, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design and continuous improvement of end-to-end User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) for all guest and staff-facing digital products and platforms, driving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Drive product design initiatives by creating user-centered personas, storyboards, and prototypes that translate the company's digital vision into tangible, intuitive interfaces.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between Digital, Commercial, Data, Operations, and Guest Experience teams to align digital product enhancements with overarching business objectives and strategic priorities.
• Ensure a seamless, intuitive, and memorable user journey across all digital touchpoints, including web, mobile, and conversational platforms, by applying best practices in UX/UI design.
• Act as a consultant to the organization, providing expert guidance on product design strategies to enhance user engagement and operational effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title "Consultant, Product Design Manager UX-UI" suggests a blend of strategic advisory and hands-on management, the core responsibilities clearly indicate a Product Design Manager role with a strong emphasis on leading the UX/UI function for digital products. The "Consultant" aspect likely refers to the expertise and advisory capacity this role brings to the organization's digital transformation efforts, particularly in aligning user experience with business operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for digital products, from initial concept and user research to detailed UI design and interactive prototyping, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.
• Develop and refine comprehensive user experience strategies, including user journey mapping, information architecture, and interaction design, to optimize user flows and engagement metrics.
• Create and maintain detailed design documentation, including wireframes, mockups, user flows, and interactive prototypes, using industry-standard tools to clearly communicate design intent to stakeholders and development teams.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather insights, validate design decisions, and continuously improve the user experience of digital products, directly impacting operational efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, marketing, data analysts, and operations teams to ensure that digital products are not only user-friendly but also technically feasible and operationally sound.
• Champion a user-centric design culture within the organization, advocating for user needs and best practices in all digital product development initiatives.
• Manage and mentor junior designers, providing constructive feedback and guidance to foster their professional growth and ensure high-quality design output.
• Stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in UX/UI design, digital product development, and the aviation industry to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive differentiation.
• Develop compelling business cases and present design solutions and their potential impact on user engagement, operational efficiency, and business objectives to senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are a synthesis of typical Product Design Manager duties in a digital-first environment, tailored to the aviation context of Riyadh Air. The emphasis on "end-to-end design," "user-centric," and "collaboration with Operations" highlights the critical role UX/UI plays in supporting the airline's business functions and customer experience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Psychology, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in customer-centric environments, with a proven track record in digital product design and user experience.
• At least 4 years of experience in a management or product lead role, demonstrating the ability to lead design teams and drive product strategy.
• Extensive experience in the design and product development lifecycle within an 'agile' organizational framework, understanding iterative development processes.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead and manage the entire product design lifecycle, from concept to launch and iteration.
• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of UX principles, user research methodologies, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing.
• User Interface (UI) Design: Strong visual design skills, including layout, typography, color theory, and the ability to create aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.
• Prototyping Tools Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Balsamiq, Adobe Creative Suite, and Abstract for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Ability to approach design challenges with innovative solutions that balance user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, present design concepts, and articulate design rationale.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity and practical experience working within agile development environments, including Scrum or Kanban.
• Customer-Centric Approach: A strong commitment to understanding and advocating for the user throughout the design process.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the aviation or travel industry, with an understanding of the unique UX challenges and opportunities in this sector.
• Knowledge of conversational UI design principles for chatbot and voice interfaces.
• Experience with design systems and their implementation.
• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand technical feasibility.
• Experience managing design projects with a focus on measurable business outcomes and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are specific, requiring a blend of hands-on design expertise and leadership. The explicit mention of specific prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch, Balsamiq, Adobe Creative Suite, Abstract) is crucial for candidates to highlight their tool proficiency. The "agile" and "customer-centric" requirements are standard for modern digital product roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, demonstrating end-to-end product design capabilities from concept to execution.
• Case studies that clearly articulate project goals, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed, challenges encountered, and the final solution.
• Demonstration of skills in user research, persona development, user journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
• Evidence of problem-solving skills and how design decisions were made to address user needs and business objectives, with a focus on usability and efficiency.
• Examples of collaborative work, illustrating how you've partnered with cross-functional teams (e.g., product management, engineering, marketing, operations) to deliver successful digital products.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user flow diagrams, interaction specifications, and style guides, ensuring consistency and clarity for development teams.
• Provide examples of how you have used data and user feedback to iterate on designs and improve the user experience and operational performance of digital products.
• Illustrate your experience with agile development workflows and how design integrates seamlessly into sprint cycles and product roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Design Manager role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just visual output and demonstrate strategic thinking, process rigor, and demonstrable impact on user experience and business outcomes. The emphasis on "end-to-end," "collaboration," and "data-driven iteration" is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the location (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), the experience level (7+ years, 4+ in management), and the industry (aviation/tech), a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Riyadh, the estimated annual salary could range from SAR 300,000 to SAR 500,000 (approximately USD 80,000 to USD 133,000). This range is highly dependent on the candidate's specific qualifications, negotiation skills, and the company's compensation structure for fixed-term contracts.

Benefits:

• Fixed-Term Contract: Position is for a 12-month fixed-term contract, offering a defined period of employment with potential for extension or conversion.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for the employee and potentially dependents.
• Annual Leave: Standard annual leave entitlement as per Saudi labor law and company policy.
• Potential for Performance Bonuses: While not explicitly stated, performance-based incentives might be offered.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and access to design conferences or resources to enhance skills.
• Relocation Assistance: If applicable for international candidates, there may be support for relocation to Riyadh.
• Access to Company Facilities: Potential use of company amenities and resources.

Working Hours:

• The role is full-time, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week, Monday to Friday. Specific working hours may align with Riyadh Air's operational schedule, potentially with some flexibility depending on project demands and team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market data for Riyadh and the specified experience level. The "Consultant" aspect might imply a slightly higher compensation structure or a focus on project deliverables. Benefits are standard for a professional role in Saudi Arabia, with the fixed-term contract being a key differentiator.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Aviation and Travel Technology. Riyadh Air is a new, digitally native airline aiming to revolutionize air travel by establishing Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub. This context means a fast-paced, innovative, and forward-thinking environment. The operations and customer experience are heavily reliant on seamless digital integration.

Company Size:

• As a newly established national airline, Riyadh Air is in a significant growth phase. While the exact employee count isn't provided, it's expected to scale rapidly to support its ambitious launch and expansion plans. This implies a dynamic environment with opportunities to shape processes and culture from the ground up.

Founded:

• Riyadh Air was established in 2021 as part of Saudi Vision 2030, with operations expected to commence in 2023. Its founding is driven by a strategic national imperative to diversify the economy and position Saudi Arabia as a global connector.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design Manager will likely be part of a broader Digital or Product Development team. This team will include Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, Researchers, and potentially Content Strategists.
• The reporting structure would typically place the Manager under a Head of Digital, VP of Product, or Chief Digital Officer.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with strong working relationships expected with teams in Commercial, Marketing, IT, Data Analytics, Customer Experience, and Operations to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to digital product development and user journeys.

Methodology:

• Riyadh Air aims to be a "digitally native airline," implying a strong adoption of modern digital product development methodologies. This would include Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban) for iterative development, a focus on data-driven decision-making, and a commitment to continuous improvement through user feedback and performance analytics.
• Emphasis will be placed on user-centric design principles, customer journey mapping, and creating seamless, intuitive digital experiences.

Company Website:

• www.riyadhair.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Riyadh Air's mission as a digitally native airline and its role in Saudi Vision 2030 is key. This context suggests a culture focused on innovation, technology adoption, and a strong emphasis on customer experience powered by digital solutions. The "consultant" aspect implies a need for strategic thinking and influence across departments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role represents a senior-level position within the product design and user experience domain. It's a management role that requires both strategic oversight and the ability to guide and mentor a design team. The "Consultant" title suggests a level of authority and expertise that influences company-wide digital strategy.

Reporting Structure:

• The Product Design Manager will likely report to a senior leader within the Digital or Product organization, such as a Head of Digital Product, Director of UX/UI, or Chief Product Officer. They will manage a team of UX/UI designers.

Operations Impact:

• The UX/UI design directly impacts the operational efficiency and customer satisfaction of Riyadh Air. By creating intuitive interfaces for both guests (booking, check-in, in-flight experience) and staff (operational tools, internal platforms), this role influences customer loyalty, reduces support costs, and streamlines internal processes. A well-designed digital product can significantly enhance brand perception and drive revenue through improved conversion rates and customer engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Head of UX/UI, Director of Product Design, or a more senior digital leadership role as the airline expands.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the digital product strategy and design ethos of a new, ambitious airline from its inception.
• Skill Specialization: Develop expertise in aviation UX, digital transformation, and managing design within a rapidly growing organization.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broad experience by working closely with various departments, understanding the operational nuances of the airline industry.
• Project Leadership: Lead significant digital product initiatives and contribute to the airline's overall success and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential within a nascent, high-impact organization. The opportunity to shape a digital-first airline's user experience from the ground up is a compelling career advancement prospect for a seasoned design leader.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• The role is based at King Khalid International Airport, suggesting a modern, professional office environment within the airline's operational hub. This setting likely fosters collaboration and provides direct insight into the aviation ecosystem.

Office Location(s):

• The primary location is King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is the capital and largest city, offering a vibrant urban environment with a growing economy and significant investment in infrastructure and technology.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative workspace designed to encourage interaction among design teams and with other departments. Access to cutting-edge design tools and technology is expected, supporting a creative and productive workflow. The environment will likely be dynamic and fast-paced, reflecting the startup nature of the airline.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with operational teams will be frequent, providing valuable context for design decisions.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours, likely Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week. Given the nature of the aviation industry and the ambition of Riyadh Air, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines or critical launch phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working at an airport location can offer unique advantages for an airline professional, providing proximity to operations and a tangible connection to the core business. The environment is expected to be high-energy and focused on rapid development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the Talent Acquisition team to assess qualifications and fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, leadership style, and understanding of UX/UI principles in a business context.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to present a portfolio case study or complete a design challenge that demonstrates your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your rationale. This is a critical stage for demonstrating your impact and strategic thinking.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from other departments (e.g., Product Management, Operations, Marketing) to assess collaboration skills and understanding of business integration.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit within Riyadh Air's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, leadership capabilities, and impact. Prioritize projects relevant to digital products, customer experience, and complex systems.
• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the user research and design process, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and measurable outcomes (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion, reduced user errors).
• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Emphasize instances where you led a design team, mentored junior designers, or collaborated effectively with diverse cross-functional teams. Showcase your ability to influence stakeholders and advocate for user-centered design.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: While not explicitly presenting tools, ensure your portfolio work reflects mastery of prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs. This could include improvements in conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores, or operational efficiency gains.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Riyadh Air's Vision: Research the company's mission, values, target audience, and its role in the aviation industry.
• Anticipate UX/UI Problems: Think about common user pain points in air travel (booking, check-in, baggage tracking, in-flight services) and how digital solutions can address them.
• Practice Articulating Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process methodically, explaining your choices and how they align with user needs and business goals. Focus on your problem-solving approach.
• Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions: Expect questions about how you handle feedback, manage conflicting priorities, and communicate design decisions to non-design stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior design role like this will heavily focus on the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their strategic thinking and impact. Demonstrating a robust, data-informed design process and strong collaborative skills will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Balsamiq, Abstract. Proficiency in at least one of these core suites is essential. Figma is increasingly becoming an industry standard for collaborative design.
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, or Hotjar for usability testing, heatmaps, and user feedback collection.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for managing design tasks within agile sprints and collaborating with development teams.
• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams for day-to-day team communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for tracking user behavior, conversion rates, and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools for creating dashboards and reports to communicate design impact and gather insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM or automation systems, understanding how UX/UI design integrates with platforms like Salesforce (for customer data) or marketing automation tools is beneficial for a holistic product view.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools (Figma, Sketch, Balsamiq, Adobe Creative Suite, Abstract) are critical. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency and preferred tools for different stages of the design process. Understanding how design connects to analytics and broader business systems is also important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of guests and staff through exceptional digital experiences. This value drives all design decisions.
• Innovation & Digital Transformation: Embracing new technologies and methodologies to create a leading-edge, digitally native airline experience.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively across diverse teams to achieve shared goals, fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared ownership.
• Excellence & Quality: Striving for the highest standards in design, execution, and user experience, ensuring a seamless and memorable journey for all users.
• Agility & Adaptability: Being responsive to change, iterating quickly based on feedback, and embracing a flexible approach to product development.

Collaboration Style:

• The airline's operations and ambitious goals necessitate a highly collaborative environment. Expect frequent and open communication with product managers, engineers, marketers, and operational stakeholders. The design team will likely operate with a shared understanding of project goals and a collective responsibility for successful product delivery. Feedback is expected to be constructive and integrated into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Riyadh Air's values as a "digitally native" airline will shape its culture. Expect a focus on innovation, agility, and a strong customer-centric approach. The collaborative style will be crucial for integrating design insights across various operational departments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to and contributing to the rapid scaling of a new airline, which can involve evolving processes and priorities.
• Balancing Innovation with Operational Needs: Designing cutting-edge digital experiences while ensuring they are practical, scalable, and integrate seamlessly with existing or developing airline operations.
• Defining a New Brand Identity: Establishing a unique and compelling digital brand experience for a new airline in a competitive market.
• Cross-Departmental Alignment: Ensuring consistent user experience across all touchpoints, which requires strong influence and collaboration with diverse stakeholders who may have different priorities.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively managing expectations and communicating design rationale to a broad range of stakeholders, from technical teams to executive leadership.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Deep dive into the complexities and nuances of aviation industry UX, understanding the specific needs of travelers and airline operations.
• Digital Transformation Leadership: Gain hands-on experience in shaping the digital strategy of a major new enterprise.
• Global Exposure: Work within a diverse, international team and contribute to a project with global reach and impact.
• Advanced Design Methodologies: Opportunity to implement and refine cutting-edge UX/UI practices in a real-world, high-stakes environment.
• Mentorship: Potentially learn from experienced leaders in digital product development and aviation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a startup or a company undergoing significant transformation, offering immense learning opportunities. The growth opportunities are directly tied to the airline's ambitious vision and the candidate's ability to contribute to its digital success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a significant UX/UI redesign for a digital product. What was the problem, your approach, the key challenges, and the measurable impact on user behavior or business metrics?"
  • Preparation: Focus on a project that showcases your end-to-end process, leadership, and data-driven decision-making. Quantify the results.
• "How do you ensure your design decisions are aligned with business objectives and operational constraints, especially when collaborating with non-design teams like Operations or Commercial?"
  • Preparation: Emphasize your collaboration strategies, communication skills, and how you build consensus and advocate for user needs while respecting business realities.
• "Imagine you need to design a new feature for Riyadh Air's mobile app that improves the check-in process. Walk us through your design thinking process, from understanding user needs to presenting your final concept."
  • Preparation: Be ready to articulate your approach, including research methods, user journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and how you would gather feedback.
• "What are your thoughts on building and maintaining a design system for a new airline? What are the key components and benefits?"
  • Preparation: Demonstrate an understanding of design systems, their role in consistency, scalability, and efficiency, and how they support both UX and development teams.
• "How do you stay current with the latest UX/UI trends and technologies, and how do you integrate them into your work?"
  • Preparation: Mention specific resources, conferences, blogs, or communities you follow and how you apply new learnings.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Riyadh Air and its mission to transform air travel?"
  • Preparation: Research the company's vision, values, and its role in Saudi Vision 2030. Connect your passion to their goals.
• "How would you describe your management style, and how do you foster creativity and productivity within a design team?"
  • Preparation: Highlight your leadership philosophy, focus on mentorship, constructive feedback, and creating a supportive, collaborative environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative, guiding the interviewer through the problem, your process, and the solution.
• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the "so what?" – what difference did your design make? Use metrics and data to back up your claims.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. Be prepared to interact with your portfolio if requested.
• Explain Your Role: Be precise about your individual contributions, especially in team projects.
• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you would handle specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, strong collaboration skills, and a clear understanding of Riyadh Air's business context. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager UX-UI position:

• Submit your application through the Riyadh Air careers portal via the provided URL.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and specifically highlights projects demonstrating leadership in end-to-end UX/UI design, cross-functional collaboration (especially with operations), and quantifiable impact on user experience or business metrics. Tailor your case studies to showcase relevant skills for the aviation industry if possible.
• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to emphasize your 7+ years of customer-centric experience and 4+ years in management/product lead roles. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Product Design," "UX/UI," "Agile," "Figma," "Sketch," "collaboration," and "stakeholder management." Clearly list your achievements and responsibilities in previous roles.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and problem-solving approach. Prepare specific examples from your career that align with the potential interview questions outlined above. Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Riyadh Air's mission, values, current digital offerings, and its strategic importance within Saudi Arabia. Understand how a "digitally native" airline operates and what differentiates it. This will help you tailor your responses 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.