Lead Product Designer - Demand and Ads

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer - Demand and Ads

Company: Grab

Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (6+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of user experiences for Grab's demand and advertising platforms, focusing on merchant outreach and consumer promotion across Southeast Asia.

• Drive product strategy and identify high-impact design opportunities by collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Analysts, and business stakeholders.

• Conduct in-depth user research and usability testing across diverse Southeast Asian markets to deeply understand user needs and validate design hypotheses.

• Ensure design consistency and adherence to the design system across all Grab products and integrations, working cross-functionally to resolve inconsistencies.

• Leverage AI technology to enhance user productivity and elevate product experiences within the demand and ad platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead Product Designer," implying a senior individual contributor role with significant influence on product strategy and design direction. The focus on "Demand and Ads" suggests a critical function for revenue generation and user engagement within Grab's superapp ecosystem. The specific mention of "localized tools for merchant outreach and promotion" and "engaging promo and ad experiences for consumers" highlights the need for culturally sensitive and market-specific design solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate broad, conceptual ideas into practical, user-centric interfaces that drive engagement and conversion for demand and advertising features.

• Actively contribute to defining and refining the product strategy for the demand and ads verticals, ensuring design thinking is integral from ideation to execution.

• Identify and prioritize high-impact design opportunities that align with business goals and user needs, clearly articulating the rationale behind design decisions.

• Champion the diverse user base across Southeast Asia by using data, in-depth research, and qualitative insights to advocate for their unique needs and preferences.

• Plan, prioritize, coordinate, and execute user research activities, including behavioral analysis, user requirements analysis, task analysis, conceptual modeling, and usability testing.

• Create and iterate on a range of design artifacts, including user flows, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, to effectively communicate design concepts and align stakeholders.

• Collaborate with engineering, product management, data science, and marketing teams to ensure seamless integration of design elements and maintain consistency across all Grab products and services.

• Contribute to and uphold the integrity of Grab's design system, identifying areas for improvement and driving updates as necessary to ensure a cohesive user experience.

• Proactively explore and integrate AI technologies to enhance user productivity, streamline workflows, and elevate the overall product experience for both merchants and consumers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on design execution, and strong collaboration. The iterative nature of design is highlighted through the creation of various fidelity artifacts and the continuous feedback loop with research and testing. The explicit mention of "advocating for diverse user base with hard data" points to a data-informed design approach crucial for a platform operating across multiple Southeast Asian markets.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior design roles.

Experience: A minimum of 6+ years of professional experience in product design, with a demonstrated track record of delivering impactful user experiences in complex digital products.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 6+ years as a product designer with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design ownership.

• Proven experience in the on-demand service industry, specifically with online ordering and discovery platforms, and online-to-offline (O2O) service design.

• Expertise in web and mobile UX design principles and best practices.

• Experience developing and maintaining design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Proficiency in conducting user research, including guerilla testing, concept testing, and low-fidelity user tests to validate hypotheses and assumptions.

• Advanced skills in design and prototyping tools such as Figma/Figjam, ProtoPie, AfterEffects, or similar animation tools.

• Demonstrated ability to present design concepts effectively to diverse stakeholder groups, including senior leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of mobile/web front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to understand technical constraints and opportunities during the design process.

• Experience designing for advertising or promotional platforms, understanding monetization strategies and user engagement drivers.

• Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques to inform design decisions with quantitative insights.

• Experience working within a fast-paced, agile environment with cross-functional teams.

• Ability to leverage AI technology to boost productivity and elevate product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "on-demand service industry experience" and "online to offline service design" is critical, indicating a need for designers who understand the nuances of Grab's core business. The requirement for front-end development knowledge suggests a practical approach to design, where feasibility and implementation are considered early on. The inclusion of AI technology proficiency is a forward-looking requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 significant product design projects, with a strong emphasis on the on-demand service industry.

• Projects should demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, from initial research and strategy to final UI implementation and post-launch iteration.

• Specific case studies detailing experience with online ordering, discovery, and online-to-offline (O2O) service design are highly valued.

• Examples of contributions to or utilization of design systems, highlighting how they were leveraged to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Detailed documentation of user research methodologies employed, including findings and how they directly informed design decisions and product features.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline the design process, including problem definition, user research methods, ideation techniques, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Analysts) and how design challenges were resolved through joint effort.

• Demonstrations of how data and user feedback were used to iterate on designs and measure their impact on key metrics.

• Documentation of how design decisions contributed to achieving specific business objectives, such as increased conversion rates, user engagement, or merchant satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, serving as the primary evaluation tool. The emphasis on specific industry experience and process documentation ensures candidates can articulate their design journey and demonstrate tangible impact. The request for AI integration examples within case studies would be a significant differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designers in Malaysia with 6+ years of experience, particularly within the tech/superapp sector, the estimated annual salary range is approximately MYR 150,000 - MYR 250,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Term Life Insurance: Provides financial security for dependents.

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance: Covers medical expenses, likely including outpatient, inpatient, and specialist care.

• GrabFlex Benefits Package: A flexible program allowing employees to customize their benefits to suit individual needs and aspirations, potentially including wellness stipends, professional development funds, or additional insurance options.

• Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents to bond with their newborns.

• Birthday Leave: A day off to celebrate personal birthdays.

• Love-all-Serve-all (LASA) Volunteering Leave: Paid leave to engage in community service and give back.

• Grabber Assistance Programme: A confidential support service offering guidance and upliftment for employees and their families facing life's challenges.

• FlexWork Arrangements: Options such as differentiated hours to better balance personal commitments and work demands, promoting work-life integration.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While the core hours are expected to be met, the mention of "FlexWork arrangements such as differentiated hours" suggests a degree of flexibility in scheduling to accommodate personal needs, provided work responsibilities and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on market data for senior design roles in Kuala Lumpur/Petaling Jaya, considering the competitive nature of the tech industry and Grab's position as a leading superapp. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable emphasis on employee well-being, work-life balance, and community engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, E-commerce, Ride-sharing, Food Delivery, Financial Services (Superapp ecosystem). Grab operates at the intersection of multiple industries, offering a wide range of services and leveraging technology to drive growth and efficiency across Southeast Asia.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Grab is a prominent multinational company with thousands of employees globally). This size offers opportunities for career advancement, but also necessitates strong organizational processes and clear communication channels.

Founded: Grab was founded in 2012. Its rapid growth and evolution into a superapp demonstrate a culture of innovation, agility, and a strong focus on solving local problems with technology.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is likely structured with a Design Manager overseeing multiple pods or squads.

• This role is part of a cross-functional group focused on the marketing platform for merchants and consumers, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Analysts, and business stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are heavily informed by user insights, behavioral analysis, and market research.

• User-Centricity: A deep understanding of diverse Southeast Asian user needs is paramount, driving the development of localized and relevant solutions.

• Agile Development: The team likely operates within an agile framework, emphasizing iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback.

• Design System Utilization: Adherence to and contribution to a robust design system ensures consistency and efficiency across the platform.

Company Website: https://www.grab.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Grab's culture is characterized by its purpose-driven approach, focusing on "driving Southeast Asia forward by economically empowering everyone." The company values are "heart, hunger, honour, and humility." This implies a fast-paced environment that rewards initiative, collaboration, and a commitment to user impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead Product Designer" role, signifying a senior individual contributor position. It requires not only strong design execution skills but also the ability to influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and drive design initiatives with a high degree of autonomy. The role involves significant ownership and impact on key revenue-generating platforms.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Design Manager. This structure allows for guidance and mentorship while providing the opportunity to lead design efforts within specific product areas. Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within the "Demand and Ads" domain is critical.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on Grab's revenue and user engagement. By designing effective demand-generation and advertising experiences for both merchants and consumers, the Lead Product Designer will directly influence platform growth, merchant success, and consumer satisfaction, all of which are critical for Grab's superapp ecosystem.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Lead or Principal Designer role, taking on more strategic responsibilities or leading larger design initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, growth design, or platform strategy within the superapp domain.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide junior designers, developing leadership and coaching skills.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management or other strategic roles within Grab, leveraging deep product understanding.

• Industry Exposure: Gain extensive experience in the dynamic Southeast Asian tech market, working on cutting-edge products and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests a trajectory towards higher levels of design influence and strategic input. The emphasis on impact on revenue and engagement metrics is a key differentiator for this role within Grab's operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site, indicating a traditional office-based work environment at Grab's office in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. This fosters in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and spontaneous idea generation.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is First Avenue, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. This is a well-established commercial hub, likely offering good accessibility and amenities for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is designed to encourage collaboration, with spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, ProtoPie, etc.), prototyping software, and potentially advanced hardware for user testing.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for interaction with product managers, engineers, analysts, marketing teams, and fellow designers, fostering a dynamic and integrated work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Full-time employment with the potential for flexible work arrangements ("FlexWork arrangements such as differentiated hours"). While core office hours are expected, the company culture supports balancing personal commitments, which is beneficial for sustained productivity and well-being in a demanding role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes Grab's preference for in-person collaboration, which is often seen as beneficial for complex product development and fostering a strong team culture. The mention of FlexWork suggests that while attendance is expected, there's an understanding of individual needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screens applications based on resume and portfolio highlights.

• Portfolio Presentation (Round 1): A presentation of 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. Expect questions on your role, decisions, and collaboration.

• Design Challenge/Workshop (Round 2): A practical exercise, potentially a take-home assignment or an in-person workshop, to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work under pressure. This might involve analyzing a problem statement and proposing solutions.

• Stakeholder Interviews (Rounds 3-4): Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other senior designers or business stakeholders. These will delve deeper into your strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and understanding of business objectives.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the Design Manager to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best represent your experience in on-demand services, O2O, and demand/ads.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges you faced, and the measurable outcomes/impact.

• Highlight Process: Showcase your thinking – sketches, wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, engagement uplift, reduced errors).

• Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders, and how you navigated feedback.

• Demonstrate Cultural Fit: Briefly touch upon how your approach aligns with Grab's values and the specific needs of the Southeast Asian market.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Thoroughly research Grab's business model, its services, and the competitive landscape in Southeast Asia.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be prepared to tackle hypothetical design challenges related to user acquisition, engagement, merchant tools, or advertising. Think about defining the problem, identifying user segments, brainstorming solutions, and outlining validation steps.

• Focus on Trade-offs: Acknowledge and discuss potential trade-offs in your solutions (e.g., speed vs. quality, feature breadth vs. depth).

• Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your thought process, even if you don't reach a perfect solution. The methodology is as important as the outcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and cultural fit. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is crucial, and candidates should be ready to articulate their design journey and impact with data.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma/Figjam: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative ideation. Proficiency is a must.

• ProtoPie: For creating high-fidelity, interactive prototypes that simulate complex user interactions and animations.

• AfterEffects (or similar animation tools): For creating micro-interactions, motion design, and visually rich prototypes to convey user experience nuances.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct design tool, familiarity with or access to analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) will be beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design role, but understanding how design impacts CRM workflows or marketing automation campaigns might be relevant for the "Demand and Ads" domain.

• Experience with tools that integrate user feedback into product development cycles could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools is non-negotiable. The inclusion of AfterEffects suggests a focus on polished interactions and animations. Familiarity with analytics tools is important for a data-informed design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Demonstrating empathy and care for users and colleagues, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Hunger: A drive for continuous improvement, innovation, and achieving ambitious goals with passion and dedication.

• Honour: Upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in all actions and decisions.

• Humility: Openness to learning, admitting mistakes, and valuing diverse perspectives.

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to Grab's mission of economically empowering everyone in Southeast Asia.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work seamlessly with Product Managers, Engineers, Analysts, and Marketers, fostering a shared understanding and collective ownership of product outcomes.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions are grounded in user research, data analytics, and market insights, leading to objective and effective decision-making.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback and continuous iteration is encouraged, ensuring designs are constantly refined for optimal user experience and business impact.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue and transparent communication to build trust and ensure alignment across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Grab's core values are deeply embedded in its culture. Candidates are expected to embody these values, particularly in their collaborative approach and commitment to user impact. The emphasis on data and user insights shapes the way teams interact and make decisions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Diverse Markets: Designing for a wide range of user needs, cultural nuances, and technological landscapes across multiple Southeast Asian countries.

• Balancing Merchant & Consumer Needs: Creating experiences that satisfy both merchants (seeking to acquire customers) and consumers (seeking value and convenience) within the same platform.

• Rapid Evolution of AI: Staying abreast of and effectively integrating evolving AI technologies into design workflows and product features.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across a vast and growing suite of services within the superapp ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven design, growth hacking through design, and advanced prototyping.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant industry events and pursuing certifications to stay at the forefront of UX/UI trends.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior design leaders within Grab and the broader tech community to foster career growth and leadership skills.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Working with AI, machine learning, and other advanced technologies to solve complex user problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to operating a large-scale superapp in a diverse region. The growth opportunities are geared towards professional development in specialized design areas and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to distill a complex business problem into a simple, elegant user interface. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, ideation, and impact measurement.)

• "How would you approach designing an advertising platform for merchants in a market with low digital literacy? What user research methods would you prioritize?" (Assess understanding of diverse user needs and research methodologies.)

• "Discuss a situation where you had to balance competing priorities from different stakeholders (e.g., Product, Engineering, Marketing). How did you ensure alignment and achieve a successful design outcome?" (Evaluate collaboration and negotiation skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Grab's mission and its role in Southeast Asia?" (Assess alignment with company purpose.)

• "How do you embody Grab's core values (Heart, Hunger, Honour, Humility) in your work and collaborations?" (Evaluate cultural fit.)

• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. What makes for effective collaboration in a product development environment?" (Gauge teamwork and communication style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of Grab and the role, then dive into 2-3 detailed case studies. For each case study: Problem, Your Role & Responsibilities, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Key Decisions & Rationale, Challenges, Solution, and Impact/Outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals – sketches, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, final UI screens, and any relevant data visualizations.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as narratives. What was the core problem? How did you solve it? What was the impact?

• Quantify: Use numbers and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and your collaboration process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, decision-making rationale, and impact with concrete examples. Demonstrating an understanding of Grab's mission and values, alongside a data-informed and user-centric approach, will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 6+ years of product design experience, specifically mentioning on-demand services, O2O design, and any experience with demand or advertising platforms. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 2-3 case studies that best showcase your skills in the required areas. Ensure they clearly articulate your process, role, and impact. Prepare to present these confidently.

• Research Grab: Familiarize yourself with Grab's superapp offerings, its mission, its core values, and its presence in Southeast Asia. Understand the "Demand and Ads" context within their ecosystem.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate potential design challenges and practice articulating your thought process for problem-solving, user research, and solution ideation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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