Freelance Senior Product Designer (Contract - 3 Months)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Senior Product Designer (Contract - 3 Months)

Company: Treatwell

Location: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-06

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for remote flexibility within the Netherlands)

🚀 Role Summary

• Seeking a highly skilled and collaborative Freelance Senior Product Designer to contribute to Treatwell's SaaS product development for a 3-month contract.

• This role requires a hands-on approach to problem-solving and design execution across the full product lifecycle, from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and implementation within a scale-up environment.

• The designer will be instrumental in translating complex business operations into intuitive user experiences for salons and beauty professionals.

• Successful candidates will demonstrate strong communication, a detail-oriented mindset, and the ability to proactively contribute to a dynamic, internationally distributed team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job type is listed as 'CONTRACTOR' and the location is Amsterdam, the 'location_type' is 'TELECOMMUTE' and it's noted that the role is for an "internationally distributed team". This suggests a hybrid approach is likely acceptable, with a focus on the designer being based in or able to work within the Netherlands, rather than strictly requiring daily office presence in Amsterdam. The "fun company culture in the heart of Amsterdam" implies an office presence is encouraged for collaboration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including fellow designers, user researchers, product managers, and engineers, to conceptualize, design, build, and iterate on Treatwell's SaaS products.

• Articulate and advocate for a coherent UX vision for specific product areas, translating complex business objectives and user needs into actionable design strategies and solutions.

• Champion the user by crafting intuitive and effective UX solutions that align with critical business objectives and enhance operational efficiency for salon partners.

• Take ownership of design tasks across a variety of projects and platforms, ensuring consistency and high quality throughout the design process.

• Facilitate brainstorming sessions and idea generation workshops with stakeholders to gather diverse perspectives and drive innovation.

• Design with scalability and future-proofing in mind, actively contributing to and leveraging the company's design system to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Develop clear, compelling design rationale and narratives, utilizing customer, business, or competitive insights to explain design decisions to team members and stakeholders.

• Proactively seek and incorporate diverse feedback on design work, anticipating potential issues and addressing them before implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full-stack design role, from strategic input (influencing strategy, articulating UX vision) to detailed execution (designing across user journeys, contributing to design systems, creating intuitive experiences). The context of "complex rules and workflows" is key, indicating a need for an operations-minded designer who can simplify intricate processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent expertise and practical application of design principles is paramount.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated experience as a Product Designer, UX Designer, or in a closely related role, with a proven track record of successful project delivery.

Required Skills:

• Product Design & UX Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design end-to-end user journeys, from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• Design Systems: Proven experience in creating, maintaining, and actively contributing to design systems for scalable product development.

• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, gather feedback, and work effectively within international, cross-functional teams.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in simplifying complex rules and workflows into intuitive user experiences.

• Detail-Oriented Craftsmanship: A meticulous approach to design execution, with a passion for quality and a keen eye for detail.

• Scale-up Environment Experience: Familiarity with the pace and demands of working within a rapidly growing company.

• User Advocacy: A demonstrated commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs while balancing them with business objectives.

• Feedback Integration: An ego-free attitude and a proactive approach to seeking, receiving, and acting upon candid feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the SaaS industry, particularly with business-facing tools.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies and translating findings into design solutions.

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design iterations.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years" experience level, combined with the "Senior" title and emphasis on "influencing strategy," suggests a role that requires not just execution but also strategic thinking and leadership within design projects, even within a contract capacity. The "scale-up environment" requirement points to candidates who can adapt quickly and thrive in fast-paced, evolving settings.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Robust, detailed case studies showcasing deep interaction design and problem-solving skills across multiple projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, design decisions, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Design Process Walkthrough: Ability to clearly articulate your design process, from initial research and ideation through prototyping, user testing, and final implementation, highlighting how you navigated complexities and user needs.

• Design System Contribution: Examples demonstrating your experience with design systems, whether creating new components, contributing to existing ones, or advocating for their use.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Evidence of collaborative work, including how you incorporated feedback from stakeholders, researchers, and engineers to refine designs.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase examples of how you've designed or optimized complex workflows, simplifying them for end-users while meeting business requirements.

• System Integration: Demonstrate an understanding of how design integrates with underlying systems and technologies, and how you've considered these during the design phase.

• User Research & Testing: Evidence of planning and executing user research and testing methodologies to validate design decisions and iterate effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially a contract position requiring someone to "hit the ground running," the portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic output but a deep understanding of the design process, problem-solving methodology, and the ability to deliver tangible results, particularly in complex operational environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a freelance contract role, compensation will be negotiated based on experience, skills, and the specific scope of work. Based on industry standards for a Senior Product Designer with 5+ years of experience, working on SaaS products in Amsterdam, a competitive hourly rate would likely range from €70 to €110 per hour, or a pro-rated daily rate equivalent.

Benefits:

• Mental Health Support: Partnership with OpenUp for accessible mental health resources.

• Office Lunch: Subsidized, freshly prepared office lunches available daily.

• Challenging Role: Opportunity to work on impactful projects within a fast-growing European company.

• Fun Company Culture: Exposure to a dynamic and engaging work environment.

Working Hours: The role is expected to be full-time (approximately 40 hours per week), aligning with the typical demands of a contract role requiring significant contribution. Flexibility may be possible within the Netherlands, but close collaboration with an internationally distributed team will necessitate responsiveness during core working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on research for freelance Senior Product Designer roles in Amsterdam, considering the contract nature, required experience level, and the employer's likely budget for specialized talent. The "TELECOMMUTE" designation for location, despite being based in Amsterdam, suggests that some remote work within the Netherlands is likely acceptable, but the emphasis on collaboration and office lunch implies a preference for local or near-local candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS), E-commerce, Beauty & Wellness Sector. Treatwell operates at the intersection of technology and the beauty industry, providing crucial business management software to salons and connecting them with consumers via a large booking platform.

Company Size: Treatwell is a significant player with approximately 700 employees across Europe, indicating a well-established but still agile scale-up environment. This size offers opportunities for impact while providing structured processes.

Founded: Treatwell was founded with a mission to digitally revolutionize the hair and beauty community, suggesting a culture of innovation and forward-thinking.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the SaaS Design teams, which are part of a broader product and engineering organization.

• The designer will work directly with the SaaS Design Lead, Product Managers, and Engineers, implying a collaborative, cross-functional structure.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: The emphasis on user research, user advocacy, and creating intuitive experiences points to a strong user-centric design methodology.

• Agile & Iterative: The mention of "evolving our products," "testing," and "feedback" suggests an agile and iterative approach to product development and design.

• Design System Driven: Active contribution to and utilization of a design system indicates a commitment to consistency, efficiency, and scalable design practices.

Company Website: https://www.treatwell.co.uk/ (Note: While the job posting links to Workable, the primary company domain is UK-based. The SaaS product may have a different portal.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Treatwell's dual nature – a consumer booking platform and a B2B SaaS provider – is crucial. This role focuses on the B2B SaaS side, meaning the "users" are the salon owners and staff, whose operational workflows are complex. The company's scale suggests a professional, process-oriented environment, but the "scale-up" and "fun company culture" descriptors hint at a dynamic and less corporate atmosphere.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level Product Designer role focused on SaaS operations tools. It requires a strategic mindset, strong problem-solving skills for complex workflows, and the ability to influence product direction. While a contract role, it offers significant exposure to a critical part of Treatwell's business.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to the SaaS Design Lead and work closely with Product Managers and Engineers. This structure emphasizes collaboration and direct contribution to product teams.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the operational efficiency and user experience of over 50,000 salon partners. By improving the SaaS tools, the designer contributes to Treatwell's core value proposition and its ability to retain and grow its business client base.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialized SaaS Design Experience: Gain in-depth experience designing for business operations within the beauty and wellness tech sector.

• Design System Enhancement: Contribute to the evolution of a mature design system, potentially expanding your expertise in design system governance and best practices.

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Develop stronger skills in working with internationally distributed teams, understanding diverse perspectives, and mastering asynchronous communication.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Deliver tangible, high-impact projects that can significantly strengthen a design portfolio, particularly in complex B2B SaaS environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Although a 3-month contract, the "Senior" designation and the nature of the work (influencing strategy, solving complex problems) offer substantial professional development. The growth is less about traditional career ladder progression within Treatwell and more about skill enhancement, portfolio building, and gaining specific industry experience that can be leveraged in future roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Treatwell has a physical office presence in Amsterdam, described as having a "fun company culture." The mention of "freshly prepared office lunch each day" further implies a structured, in-office environment that encourages team interaction.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Specific office details are not provided but are implied to be a central hub for team collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Amsterdam office likely serves as a primary space for face-to-face collaboration, team meetings, and fostering the company's culture.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed, a modern tech company like Treatwell will likely provide the necessary hardware and software for design work, including access to their design systems and collaboration tools.

• Team Interaction: The role necessitates close interaction with local and remote team members, encouraging a dynamic exchange of ideas and feedback within a professional setting.

Work Schedule: The expectation is a full-time commitment (approx. 40 hours/week). While the role is designated as 'TELECOMMUTE', the emphasis on office lunch and Amsterdam culture suggests that on-site presence for key collaborative periods or team events would be beneficial and potentially expected. Flexibility within the Netherlands is likely, but proximity to Amsterdam would be advantageous for team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" designation for location, coupled with the on-site benefits and "fun company culture" in Amsterdam, suggests a hybrid model is most probable. Candidates should be prepared for a mix of remote work and office-based collaboration, especially for critical design sprints or team-building activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and suitability for a Senior Product Designer role in a SaaS environment.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Expect to present a selection of your strongest case studies, detailing your problem-solving approach, design process, and the impact of your work. This will likely involve discussions with the SaaS Design Lead and potentially other designers or product managers.

• Design Challenge (potential): A practical exercise or take-home assignment to evaluate your design thinking, execution skills, and ability to work with specific constraints or problems relevant to Treatwell's SaaS products.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Conversations with Product Managers and Engineers to assess your collaborative abilities, communication style, and understanding of the development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior member of the product or design leadership to confirm cultural fit and overall alignment with the role's requirements.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Select case studies that clearly demonstrate the problem you solved, your specific contribution, the process you followed, and most importantly, the measurable results or business impact. Quantify outcomes wherever possible.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Visually showcase your design artifacts (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) but also provide context on why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Complexity: Given the nature of Treatwell's SaaS products, emphasize projects where you navigated complex user flows, business rules, or operational requirements.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with stakeholders, incorporated feedback, and collaborated with engineering teams.

• Tailor to SaaS: If possible, include examples that resonate with B2B software or operational tools, showcasing your understanding of professional user needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Treatwell's business model, its consumer platform, and the function of its SaaS tools for salon partners.

• Emphasize Process: Be prepared to clearly articulate your design process. Focus on how you approach problem definition, ideation, iteration, and validation.

• Think Scalability & Efficiency: Consider how your design solutions can be scalable and contribute to operational efficiency for both the end-user (salon) and Treatwell.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, the interview process is often streamlined but intense. The portfolio is paramount. Candidates should be ready to defend their design decisions with data and rationale, demonstrating an ability to deliver value quickly without extensive onboarding.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma (highly likely, given its prevalence), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools like InVision or Figma's native prototyping capabilities.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to design systems. The specific platform for the design system (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or internal documentation) may vary, but understanding the principles is key.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools for team communication and project management, such as Slack, Jira, Confluence, and Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

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

• Heatmapping & Session Recording: Experience with tools like Hotjar or FullStory to gain qualitative insights into user interactions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, an understanding of how design impacts CRM systems (like Salesforce, if used internally) or marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the de facto standard for many modern design teams, especially in scale-ups. Expect this to be the primary tool. The emphasis on "contributing to our design system" and designing "clear, high-quality design solutions" means a deep understanding of how design components translate into code and how to maintain consistency across platforms is highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across disciplines (design, product, engineering) to achieve common goals.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of their users, particularly the salon partners who rely on their SaaS tools.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing insights from user research, analytics, and business metrics to inform design choices and product strategy.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change, iterating quickly, and learning from both successes and failures in a fast-paced scale-up environment.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, intuitive, and well-executed design solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are deeply embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with PMs and engineers from ideation to launch.

• Open Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages candid, constructive feedback, essential for driving continuous improvement and innovation.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, learnings, and insights across the design team and the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "ego-free attitude" and "willingness to fail and learn" are key indicators of a culture that values growth and collaboration over individual ego. This is crucial for a contract designer to integrate effectively.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Operational Workflows: Designing intuitive solutions for intricate business processes used by salons requires deep empathy and analytical thinking.

• Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Effectively advocating for users while ensuring designs meet critical business objectives and revenue targets.

• Fast-Paced Scale-up Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving priorities, tight deadlines, and the dynamic nature of a growing company.

• Cross-Cultural/Distributed Team Dynamics: Ensuring effective communication and collaboration across different time zones and cultural backgrounds.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen SaaS Design Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for the beauty and wellness industry's operational software.

• Design System Mastery: Contribute to and learn from an established design system, enhancing skills in component-based design and scalability.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills: Refine abilities in working with product management and engineering teams in an agile setting.

• Portfolio Building: Deliver impactful projects that can serve as strong examples for future career opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary growth opportunity in a contract role is skill enhancement and portfolio building. The challenges presented are common in SaaS and scale-up environments, offering valuable experience for future roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex set of business rules or operational workflows. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and measurable impact).

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives when designing a feature? Can you provide an example?" (Highlight your ability to advocate for users while understanding commercial realities).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Treatwell, what do you see as the biggest design challenge for our SaaS product?" (Show you've done your research and can think strategically).

• "How do you give and receive feedback? Can you provide an example of how feedback has significantly improved your work?" (Demonstrate your openness to critique and collaborative spirit).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, and the results. Use a consistent structure.

• Highlight Your Process: Don't just show final screens; explain how you arrived there. Show wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iteration steps.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, reduced error rates, improved task completion time).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, your collaboration style, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can quickly understand the problem space and contribute effectively. Your ability to articulate your process and demonstrate past successes with tangible results will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience in product design, complex problem-solving, and working within a scale-up or SaaS environment. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of experience, specific skills in UX/Product Design, Design Systems, collaboration, and any relevant SaaS or B2B experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and presenting your case studies. Be ready to discuss how you collaborate and handle feedback, focusing on clarity and conciseness.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Treatwell's consumer platform and understand the business context for their SaaS tools. Research their company values and culture to demonstrate alignment.

⚠️ 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.