Designer: Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Designer: Design Systems Company: Absa Group Location: Absa Towers West, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Design Operations / Product Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-14 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for establishing and maintaining design consistency and efficiency across Absa's digital products and services through robust design system management.
• The Designer: Design Systems will champion the evolution and adoption of design standards and methodologies across UI, UX, and Service Design, driving innovation and reducing time-to-market.
• Key focus areas include building and maintaining Figma component libraries, implementing design tokens for scalability and accessibility, and empowering non-designers through self-service tools and guidelines.
• The position requires a blend of strategic thinking for large-scale project execution and detailed execution to ensure quality and maintain competitiveness in the financial services sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Designer: Design Systems," the responsibilities described, particularly around standardizing processes, enabling scale, reducing costs, and improving quality through systematic design approaches, strongly align with a "Design Operations" or "Product Design Operations" function within a larger GTM or product development context. This role acts as a bridge between design strategy and efficient implementation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Champion and evolve Absa’s design system standards and methodologies across UI, UX, and service design, ensuring alignment with brand identity and user experience goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other designers, to codify and scale design practices that drive innovation, reduce time-to-market, and improve product quality.
• Build and maintain robust Figma component libraries, ensuring consistency, usability, and adherence to accessibility standards across all digital products.
• Apply and advocate for the strategic use of design tokens to ensure scalable, themeable, and accessible design implementation, facilitating seamless integration with development workflows.
• Partner with the Senior Manager Design Systems to mentor and upskill team members, sharing knowledge on new design tools, features, and industry advancements to foster a culture of continuous learning.
• Lead the development of self-service tools and comprehensive guidelines that empower non-designers within the organization to create compelling user experiences that adhere to brand and system guidelines.
• Contribute to customer experience measurement initiatives by analyzing insights from various touchpoints and translating them into actionable improvements for the design system and product development processes.
• Drive adoption of the design system across diverse organizational units, ensuring that design standards are consistently applied and understood by all stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on process standardization, scalability, and cross-functional enablement, which are hallmarks of effective design operations. The mention of "service design" and "customer experience measurement" also suggests a broader operational scope beyond just UI/UX, indicating a need to integrate design thinking into broader business processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degrees and Advanced Diplomas in Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (Required). A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is highly preferred.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in design systems management, product design, UX/UI design, or a related field, with a proven track record in large, complex organizational environments.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Figma, including advanced component creation, variants, auto layout, and library management for scalable design systems.
• Deep understanding of design tokens and their practical application in bridging design and development, ensuring themeability and accessibility.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain comprehensive design system documentation, guidelines, and best practices.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in cross-functional collaboration with product management, engineering, and marketing teams.
• A strong passion for mentorship, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous learning within design and development teams.
• Proficiency in understanding and applying accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) within design systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other design tools and prototyping software (e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).
• Familiarity with front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand integration points.
• Experience in financial services or a similarly regulated industry.
• Knowledge of customer experience measurement methodologies and data analysis.
• Experience in developing and implementing self-service design tools for non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a degree in Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences, while broad, suggests that Absa values a structured, analytical approach to design, aligning with operations principles. The emphasis on Figma mastery and design tokens points to a modern, technically-oriented design operations function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing experience in building, managing, and scaling design systems.
• Demonstrable examples of Figma component libraries, including complex components, variants, and their application across multiple products.
• Case studies detailing the implementation and adoption of design tokens, highlighting their impact on consistency, scalability, and accessibility.
• Evidence of process development for design system contribution and maintenance, including version control and documentation practices.
• Examples of guidelines and tools created to empower non-designers, showcasing ease of use and brand adherence.
• Documentation of how design system elements have been integrated into development workflows.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of established workflows for design system updates, feedback loops, and version releases.
• Include documentation on how design system principles have been taught or disseminated within previous organizations.
• Provide examples of how customer experience measurement insights have informed design system evolution or process improvements.
• Evidence of participation in or management of cross-functional processes for design system governance and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating practical application of design systems, including component libraries and design tokens, is crucial. Applicants should prepare to discuss the processes behind their portfolio pieces, focusing on efficiency, scalability, and cross-functional collaboration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Designer: Design Systems role with 5+ years of experience in Johannesburg, South Africa, the estimated annual salary range is R750,000 - R1,100,000 ZAR. This range accounts for the specialized skills in design systems, Figma mastery, and the strategic importance of this role within a large financial institution.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical aid).
• Retirement savings plan (pension fund).
• Opportunities for professional development, including training, workshops, and conferences.
• Access to Absa's extensive employee wellness programs.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Employee banking benefits and preferential rates.
• Opportunities for career advancement within Absa Group.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, reflecting a full-time commitment. Flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project deadlines, but the role is primarily on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in Johannesburg. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the outcome of the interview process. The benefits package is typical for a large financial institution in South Africa.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Banking. Absa Group is a major financial services provider in Africa, with a significant presence across various banking segments. This industry context means a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, security, and delivering reliable, efficient customer experiences. Company Size: Large Enterprise (Absa Group employs tens of thousands of people globally). This size implies structured processes, potential for specialization, and a need for scalable solutions like design systems. Founded: 1910 (as The National Bank of South Africa, Limited). Absa has a long and established history, suggesting a culture that values stability and long-term growth, while also embracing digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The Designer: Design Systems role supports the Senior Manager Design Systems, indicating a dedicated design systems function within a larger design or digital transformation department.
• The team likely comprises other designers (UX, UI, Service Designers), potentially design technologists, and collaborates closely with product managers, engineering leads, and marketing teams.
• Reporting structure will likely be within a product development, digital, or customer experience division, with clear lines of communication to senior leadership.

Methodology:

• Absa likely employs agile or hybrid methodologies for product development, requiring designers to be adaptable and collaborative.
• The focus on design systems suggests an adoption of component-based design and development, promoting efficiency and consistency.
• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with customer experience metrics playing a key role in informing design strategies and system improvements.

Company Website: https://www.absa.africa/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large financial institution like Absa means navigating established processes and corporate structures. A strong understanding of how design systems integrate into a complex, regulated environment is key. The company's long history suggests a culture that values reliability and evolution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, requiring significant experience and autonomy in managing design system components and advocating for their adoption. It's a specialized role focused on operationalizing design excellence.

Reporting Structure: The Designer: Design Systems reports to a Senior Manager Design Systems. This indicates a clear hierarchy within the design operations function, with opportunities to learn from senior leadership and contribute to strategic design system initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on improving the efficiency of design and development teams, reducing product development costs, and ensuring a consistent, high-quality customer experience across Absa's digital platforms. This operational efficiency directly supports business goals of faster time-to-market and increased customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, accessibility, and design tooling, potentially becoming a lead or principal in this area.
• Leadership: Transition into a Senior Designer or Design Systems Manager role, leading a team and driving the overall design system strategy.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Leverage design operations expertise to move into product management, design strategy, or even related technical roles within the organization.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to learn about new design technologies, front-end development principles, and advanced customer experience analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Design Systems role often leads to specialized leadership or strategic positions, focusing on scaling design processes and influencing product development at a foundational level. Absa, as a large organization, offers diverse avenues for growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Absa Towers West in Johannesburg suggests a corporate office environment. This typically means a professional setting with dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and collaborative areas.

Office Location(s): Absa Towers West, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. This is a central business district location, likely well-connected by public transport and offering access to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative environment where designers work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Access to standard office technology and potentially specialized design software and hardware will be provided.
• The on-site nature of the role encourages face-to-face collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and direct feedback, which is beneficial for design system development and adoption.

Work Schedule: Primarily Monday to Friday, with standard business hours. While the role is on-site, Absa may offer some flexibility regarding start and end times, provided core collaboration hours are met and project deliverables are achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role emphasizes the importance of direct collaboration and integration with various teams within Absa's corporate structure, facilitating the practical implementation and adoption of design system standards.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A portfolio presentation and in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (Senior Manager Design Systems) and potentially other senior designers or design technologists. Expect questions about your approach to design systems, Figma proficiency, and experience with design tokens.
• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with representatives from product management, engineering, or other key departments to assess collaboration skills and understanding of how the design system impacts their work.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader within the design or digital organization to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision for the design system.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase your design system work. Dedicate sections to component libraries, design tokens, documentation, and case studies on adoption.
• Figma Mastery: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma skills live or through detailed examples of complex component creation, variants, and library management.
• Process Focus: For each project or case study, explain the process you followed, the challenges encountered, and how you overcame them. Highlight how your work improved efficiency, consistency, or scalability.
• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your work where possible. Did your design system reduce design or development time? Improve usability scores? Ensure brand consistency?
• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio as a narrative, explaining the problem, your solution, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a potential design challenge, which could involve creating a new component for the design system, refining existing ones, or outlining a strategy for design system adoption.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and the reasoning behind them, focusing on efficiency, scalability, and accessibility.
• Prepare to discuss how you would handle stakeholder feedback and drive consensus on design system evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely involve demonstrating practical skills and strategic thinking. A well-prepared portfolio that highlights process and impact is crucial for showcasing your capabilities in design operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core tool for this role, requiring mastery of its component libraries, variants, auto layout, and collaboration features.
• Design Tokens: Understanding and working with design tokens (e.g., via Tokens Studio for Figma, or native Figma features) is essential for theming and scalability.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Principle) might be beneficial for specific use cases.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Customer Experience Measurement Tools: Familiarity with tools or platforms used to track and analyze customer experience metrics (specifics unknown, but general understanding is key).
• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards or reports to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified: While not a primary focus, understanding how design systems integrate with development workflows and potentially content management systems (CMS) or other product lifecycle tools would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a solid understanding of design token implementation are non-negotiable for this role. The ability to work within a broader ecosystem of design and development tools is also important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Scalability: A core value will be ensuring design processes are efficient, repeatable, and scalable across the organization.
• Consistency & Quality: Upholding high standards of design quality and ensuring a consistent user experience is paramount.
• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and design systems are accessible to all.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Using data and insights to inform design system evolution and measure its impact.
• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to ongoing learning, iteration, and improvement of design processes and standards.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative approach, working closely with product teams, engineering, and potentially marketing and brand departments.
• Open communication, constructive feedback, and a willingness to share knowledge are likely key aspects of the team's collaboration style.
• The role requires influencing without direct authority, necessitating strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on efficiency, consistency, and collaboration aligns with core operational principles. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values in their past work and how they would contribute to Absa's culture.

<h3>⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities</h3> **Challenges:** - **Adoption and Buy-in:** Ensuring widespread adoption of the design system across a large, complex organization with potentially siloed teams and established workflows. - **Maintaining Consistency:** Keeping the design system up-to-date and consistent as product requirements evolve and new features are introduced. - **Balancing Specialization and Generalization:** Catering to the needs of both specialized design teams and non-designers who require simplified tools and guidelines. - **Integration with Legacy Systems:** Navigating the integration of design system components with existing or legacy product architectures.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Advanced Design Systems Practices: Gaining deeper expertise in areas like accessibility, theming, and design system governance.
• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Learning from various departments (product, engineering, data analytics) to understand the broader impact of design operations.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead projects, mentor junior designers, and potentially manage aspects of the design system.
• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest advancements in design tools, methodologies, and best practices in design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges will revolve around the operational aspects of implementing and scaling a design system within a large enterprise. Growth opportunities are significant due to the strategic importance of design systems in modern product development.

<h3>💡 Interview Preparation</h3> **Strategy Questions:** - "How would you approach gaining buy-in for a new design system from diverse stakeholder groups within a large financial institution?" - "Describe your process for managing design system updates and ensuring consistent adoption across multiple product teams." - "Walk us through how you would establish and maintain a robust Figma component library for a growing product suite." - "How do you leverage design tokens to ensure scalability, accessibility, and theming capabilities in a design system?" - "What strategies would you employ to empower non-designers to effectively use design system resources?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Absa's digital strategy and how does a design system fit into that?"
• "How do you see yourself contributing to Absa's culture of collaboration and continuous learning?"
• "Describe a time you had to influence senior stakeholders to adopt a new design process or tool."
• "How do you approach balancing the needs of different user groups (e.g., internal teams, end-customers) when designing system components?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the 'Why': Clearly articulate the problem your design system work solved or the opportunity it addressed.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visual examples of components, libraries, and tokens. Demonstrate the system's functionality and impact.
• Process is Key: Detail the steps you took, the tools you used (especially Figma), and the decisions you made, explaining the reasoning behind them.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics related to efficiency gains, consistency improvements, or reduced development time.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific components, token architecture, or your approach to documentation and governance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your understanding of design operations principles, your Figma proficiency, and your ability to manage complex projects and stakeholders. Focus on articulating the "how" and "why" behind your design system work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Designer: Design Systems position at Absa Group:

• Submit your application directly through the Absa careers portal via the provided URL.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience with design systems, Figma mastery, design tokens, and cross-functional collaboration. Select case studies that best demonstrate your process improvement and scalability achievements.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your years of experience, specific skills (Figma, design tokens, etc.), and quantifiable achievements related to design systems. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Absa Group's digital products, brand guidelines, and any publicly available information on their design philosophy or customer experience initiatives.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design system process, demonstrating your Figma capabilities, and preparing answers to common design operations and stakeholder management questions.

⚠️ 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.