Product Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Manager Company: OLX Location: Remote Spain, Spain Job Type: Full-time Category: Design Management / Product Design Leadership Date Posted: 2025-10-20 Experience Level: 5-10 years (Managerial experience: 2+ years) Remote Status: Fully Remote (within Spain)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of talented Product Designers, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement within a user-centered design framework.
• Strategically influence product direction by integrating customer insights and design vision into the core product development lifecycle.
• Champion design craft and quality through rigorous critiques and feedback sessions, ensuring the delivery of exceptional user experiences.
• Drive efficient and effective design processes, leveraging systems and best practices for seamless collaboration from discovery to delivery.
• Actively contribute to the growth of OLX by recruiting and onboarding diverse design talent, elevating the team's capabilities and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a "hands-on" Product Design Manager, indicating a need for a leader who is willing and able to contribute directly to design work while also managing a team. The emphasis on shaping strategy through design and influencing product direction suggests a senior-level position with significant autonomy and impact. The requirement to be based in and legally eligible to work in Spain, even for remote roles, is a critical logistical detail for applicants.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Product Designers to foster professional growth and high-quality output.
  • Conduct regular design critiques and feedback sessions to uphold and elevate design craft and quality standards.
  • Support designers in navigating complex projects and developing their individual skill sets.
• Product Strategy & Vision:
  • Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering to define and refine product strategy, ensuring design's central role.
  • Translate customer insights, user research, and data analysis into actionable design recommendations and product improvements.
  • Advocate for user needs and champion a user-centered approach throughout the product development process.
• Design Process & Operations:
  • Establish and optimize design workflows and practices to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and consistency across the team.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution from concept through to launch and iteration.
  • Drive the adoption and effective use of design systems and tools to maintain brand consistency and accelerate development.
• Talent Acquisition & Management:
  • Actively participate in recruiting efforts to attract and hire exceptional design talent.
  • Develop onboarding plans for new team members to ensure a smooth integration and quick ramp-up.
  • Foster an inclusive and collaborative team environment that encourages innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Impact & Measurement:
  • Ensure design decisions are informed by data and customer feedback, and that design impact is measurable.
  • Articulate design's contribution to key business objectives and product success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of people management ("lead and grow a high-performing team," "coaching, mentoring") and strategic contribution ("Shape the product strategy," "connecting design decisions to business outcomes"). The "hands-on leadership" aspect implies active involvement in design challenges, not just oversight.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles of this nature. A strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in product design roles, with a focus on digital product development.
• At least 2 years of direct experience in a people management or team leadership capacity, overseeing Product Designers.
• Demonstrated success in leading design teams that have shipped high-quality, user-centered products.
• Proven track record of influencing product direction and aligning design initiatives with business objectives.

Required Skills:

• Team Leadership & Management: Ability to inspire, mentor, coach, and develop a team of designers. Experience in performance management and talent development.
• Product Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and UX research methodologies.
• Design Strategy & Vision: Capability to define and articulate a compelling design vision and translate it into strategic product roadmaps.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Exceptional ability to partner effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and other stakeholders.
• Communication & Influence: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Hands-On Design Skills: Proficiency in design tools and a willingness to contribute directly to design work when necessary.
• User Advocacy: A deep commitment to understanding and representing the user's needs and perspective.
• Process Improvement: Experience in establishing and refining design processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation at scale.
• Experience with data analysis and using insights to inform design decisions.
• Proficiency in recruitment and building diverse, high-performing teams.
• Experience in a global e-commerce or marketplace environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that "shows team impact — not just your design work, but how you’ve grown people and improved outcomes" is a critical differentiator. This implies a need for candidates to showcase their leadership effectiveness and the tangible results of their team's work under their guidance, rather than solely individual design contributions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Team Impact Case Studies: Detailed examples showcasing how you led a design team to achieve significant product improvements or business outcomes. This should include the problem, your team's approach, your leadership role, and measurable results.
• People Management Examples: Evidence of your coaching, mentoring, and team development strategies. This could include examples of how you've helped designers grow their skills, overcome challenges, or achieve career milestones.
• Strategic Design Contributions: Demonstrations of your involvement in shaping product strategy, influencing roadmaps, and connecting design initiatives to broader business goals.
• Process Improvement Initiatives: Documentation of how you've identified and implemented improvements to design workflows, collaboration methods, or the use of design tools and systems.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Showcase examples of how you've designed or refined end-to-end design processes, from user research and ideation through to prototyping, testing, and handoff.
• System Implementation & Leverage: Illustrate your experience with implementing or leveraging design systems, style guides, or component libraries to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Frameworks: Provide examples of established or improved collaboration methods between design, product, and engineering teams.
• Metrics & Impact Reporting: Demonstrate how you track and report on the impact of design work, using key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to user engagement, conversion, and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is not just a showcase of individual design talent but a demonstration of leadership effectiveness, team enablement, and strategic influence. Candidates should prepare to discuss their leadership philosophy, team-building strategies, and how they foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within their teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the role's seniority, leadership responsibilities, and the high-cost-of-living environment often associated with tech hubs in Spain, a competitive salary is expected. For a Product Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience and 2+ years in management, based in Spain (even remotely), a typical range would be €65,000 - €90,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Western Europe, adjusted for Spain's market conditions and the remote work flexibility.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage for employees.
• Bonus Scheme: Performance-based bonuses, reflecting both individual and company achievements.
• Learning & Development Budget: Dedicated financial support for professional growth, training, conferences, and certifications.
• Competitive Salary: Attractive base salary commensurate with experience and responsibilities.
• Flexibility: Significant flexibility in work location within Spain and potentially flexible working hours.
• International Community: Access to a global network of designers and leaders for collaboration and learning.
• Growth Space: Opportunities to develop strategic and leadership skills while remaining connected to the design craft.

Working Hours: The standard full-time working hours are generally around 40 hours per week. However, OLX emphasizes flexibility in how and where work is done, suggesting that while core collaboration hours will exist, there may be adaptability in daily scheduling to accommodate personal needs and optimal productivity, particularly given the remote nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for a Product Design Manager in Spain and the described benefits. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable emphasis on professional development, which is attractive for ambitious operations and design leaders.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: OLX Group operates within the Classifieds and E-commerce industry, focusing on enabling sustainable trade through online platforms. This sector is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong focus on user experience, and a data-driven approach to growth. Company Size: OLX Group is a significant player in the global digital marketplace, employing thousands of people across various brands and regions. This implies a structured organization with established processes but also opportunities for impact and visibility. Founded: OLX was founded in 2006, giving it a substantial history and experience in the online marketplace space. This longevity suggests stability, a proven business model, and a deep understanding of its markets.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: The Product Design team is likely structured to support various product verticals or feature areas, with designers working in close-knit, cross-functional squads alongside Product Managers and Engineers.
• Reporting Structure: The Product Design Manager will report into a higher-level design leadership role (e.g., Head of Product Design, Director of Design) and will manage a team of individual contributor Product Designers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaboration is central to OLX's product development. Design teams work in lockstep with Product and Engineering, participating in all phases of the product lifecycle, from ideation and research to development and launch.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: OLX emphasizes using data and customer insights to inform product decisions and measure impact, a critical aspect for operations and design roles.
• Agile Development: The company likely employs agile methodologies to enable rapid iteration, flexibility, and efficient delivery of product features.
• User-Centricity: A core tenet is building products that serve customer needs effectively, requiring a deep understanding of user behavior and feedback loops.

Company Website: https://www.olx.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for the general domain, specific career pages might exist on OLX Group sites).

📝 Enhancement Note: OLX's mission of building a more sustainable world through trade provides a strong purpose-driven context. For a Product Design Manager, this means aligning design efforts with user value and the broader societal impact of the platform. The company's scale suggests a need for robust processes and systems, making operations and efficiency key considerations for the design function.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into leadership within the product design function. It's a management position focused on leading a team, shaping strategy, and driving operational excellence within design. It sits above individual contributor designer roles and below senior design leadership (e.g., VP of Design).

Reporting Structure: The Product Design Manager will typically report to a Director of Design or Head of Product Design. They will directly manage a team of Product Designers, potentially specializing in different product areas or user journeys. This structure allows for focused team leadership and strategic alignment with higher-level design and product objectives.

Operations Impact: The Product Design Manager's impact extends beyond aesthetic quality. They are instrumental in:

• Revenue Generation: By ensuring intuitive and effective user experiences that drive engagement, conversion, and retention on OLX platforms.
• Operational Efficiency: By establishing streamlined design processes, fostering strong cross-functional collaboration, and advocating for scalable design systems, they reduce friction and accelerate product development cycles.
• Customer Satisfaction: Directly influencing user satisfaction and loyalty through customer-centric design solutions.
• Team Performance: Building and nurturing a high-performing design team that consistently delivers value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Progress to a senior design leadership role (e.g., Director of Design), overseeing larger teams, multiple product areas, or defining the overall design strategy for OLX Group.
• Specialization in Design Operations: Develop expertise in design operations, focusing on process, tooling, team enablement, and cross-functional efficiency at a broader organizational level.
• Cross-Functional Movement: Leverage design leadership experience to transition into Product Management or broader leadership roles within the tech industry, given the strong strategic and collaborative nature of the position.
• Mentorship & Thought Leadership: Become a recognized leader in the design community, contributing to industry discussions, speaking at conferences, and mentoring emerging talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth, combining management skills with strategic product influence. The emphasis on "growth opportunities" within the job description suggests OLX invests in its leaders' development, making it an attractive position for those looking to advance their careers in design leadership and operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is remote, OLX operates in a global environment. The company culture likely supports modern, collaborative work practices, even in a distributed setting. This means valuing asynchronous communication, clear documentation, and virtual collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Spain, with the option for full remote work within Spain. This implies that while there isn't a requirement to be in a specific office daily, there might be occasional team meetups or company events held in key Spanish locations or at OLX Group hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic environment where collaboration is key. This involves active participation in virtual meetings, workshops, and design reviews with global and local teams.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools will be provided, facilitating remote work and efficient teamwork. The role requires proficiency in these tools.
• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and other designers will be a daily occurrence. Building strong working relationships virtually is essential.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature and global reach of OLX, there's an expectation of flexibility in working hours to accommodate different time zones for collaboration. However, core working hours during the Spanish business day will likely be expected for team syncs and critical meetings. This flexibility supports efficient process management and allows designers to optimize their work patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach within Spain necessitates a strong emphasis on communication, documentation, and self-management. The "flexibility in how and where you work" suggests a trust-based culture focused on outcomes rather than strict time tracking.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Review: Initial screening of resumes and portfolios for alignment with the core requirements and demonstrated leadership impact.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your experience, leadership philosophy, team management approach, and strategic vision for design. Expect questions about your portfolio's team impact.
3. Design/Team Interview: Meet with other design leaders and/or team members. This stage may involve discussing specific design challenges, your approach to collaboration, and your ability to mentor designers.
4. Cross-Functional Interview: A session with Product Management and/or Engineering partners to assess your collaboration skills, ability to influence product direction, and understanding of the product development lifecycle.
5. Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where you'll present a case study from your portfolio, focusing on team impact, leadership, and how design influenced business outcomes. This is a critical part of the evaluation.
6. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product Design) to discuss culture fit, long-term career aspirations, and final alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Team Impact: Curate 2-3 significant projects where you led a team. Clearly articulate the problem, your team's strategic approach, your specific contributions as a leader, and the measurable business or user outcomes achieved.
• Highlight Leadership: Use the portfolio to demonstrate your coaching, mentoring, and team-building capabilities. Discuss how you empowered your team and fostered their growth.
• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Explain how design decisions were tied to product strategy and business objectives. Detail your involvement in influencing the roadmap and product direction.
• Process & Methodology: Briefly outline the design processes you implemented or optimized, and how you ensured efficient collaboration with Product and Engineering.
• Visual Storytelling: Present your work clearly and concisely, using visuals to support your narrative. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs, challenges, and learnings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Case Study: Prepare a detailed presentation of one or two key projects from your portfolio, framed as case studies that highlight your leadership and impact.
• Behavioral Questions: Be ready to answer questions about your leadership style, how you handle conflict, motivate teams, give feedback, and manage performance.
• Strategic Scenarios: Consider how you would approach common design leadership challenges, such as aligning a team on a new strategy, managing competing priorities, or improving cross-functional collaboration.
• Company Research: Understand OLX's business model, mission, and recent product developments to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that showcases "team impact" and "how you’ve grown people and improved outcomes" is paramount. Interviewers will be looking for evidence of strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive tangible results through a team, not just individual design prowess.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Principle.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams.
• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Mixpanel.
• Design Systems: Familiarity with building, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.
• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Heap.
• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (familiarity is a plus for understanding data-driven insights).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys managed within CRM systems (like Salesforce) can be beneficial.
• Familiarity with A/B testing platforms (e.g., Optimizely, VWO) to understand how design variations are tested and iterated upon.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools like Figma is critical. Beyond design tools, a strong understanding of collaboration platforms (Jira, Slack) and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Mixpanel) is essential for a Product Design Manager who needs to bridge design with product strategy and data-driven decision-making.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of OLX users, driving design decisions that enhance their experience.
• Impact-Driven: Focusing efforts on initiatives that deliver measurable results and contribute to OLX's business objectives and mission of sustainable trade.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where open communication, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional teamwork are paramount.
• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to learning, iterating on processes, and seeking opportunities to enhance both product quality and team effectiveness.
• Ownership & Accountability: Encouraging team members to take responsibility for their work, drive initiatives forward, and be accountable for outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is deeply integrated with Product and Engineering, working in agile squads to ensure alignment from concept to delivery.
• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback, regular design critiques, and open dialogue to refine work and foster growth.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights across the design team and with other departments, potentially through design guilds or internal presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: OLX's culture likely values a proactive, results-oriented approach. For a Product Design Manager, this means not only leading design but also actively contributing to the operational efficiency and strategic direction of the product development process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Leadership with Hands-On Contribution: Effectively managing a team while staying close enough to the design craft to provide guidance and contribute directly when needed.
• Aligning Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Navigating differing priorities and perspectives from Product, Engineering, Marketing, and other departments to achieve consensus on design direction.
• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Implementing new processes, tools, or strategic shifts within a scale-up environment requires strong influence and change management skills.
• Maintaining Design Quality at Scale: Ensuring consistency and high standards across a growing product portfolio and an expanding design team.
• Remote Team Management: Effectively leading, motivating, and fostering a strong team culture within a fully remote setting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunities to deepen expertise in product strategy, user research, and aligning design with business outcomes.
• People Management & Coaching: Continuous development in leadership skills, team building, performance management, and effective mentorship.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Enhancing skills in stakeholder management, communication, and influencing product roadmaps at a higher level.
• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of evolving design methodologies, tools, and best practices through internal resources, external training, and industry events.
• Global Collaboration: Gaining experience working with diverse, international teams and understanding different market needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior leadership role in a fast-paced tech company. OLX's commitment to Learning & Development suggests a supportive environment for tackling these challenges and fostering professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced product strategy through design. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic contribution, data used, and impact.)
• "How do you balance the need for design quality with the pressure for rapid product delivery?" (Discuss your process for prioritization, trade-offs, and collaboration with engineering.)
• "How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within a design team?" (Share examples of mentorship, feedback mechanisms, and process enhancements.)
• "Walk me through a situation where you had to manage conflicting priorities or feedback from different stakeholders. How did you resolve it?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about OLX's mission and its role in sustainable trade?" (Research OLX's impact and align your values.)
• "How would you approach building and maintaining a strong, collaborative design culture in a remote-first environment?" (Discuss your strategies for communication, team building, and engagement.)
• "How do you ensure user insights are effectively integrated into the design process and product decisions?" (Explain your methods for user research, analysis, and advocacy.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Study: Problem -> Your Strategic Approach (as a leader) -> Team Execution -> Your Leadership Role -> Outcomes & Learnings.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your team's work. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss qualitative impact and user feedback.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and key deliverables to illustrate your team's work.
• Focus on Leadership: Clearly articulate your role in guiding the team, enabling their success, and shaping the strategic direction, rather than just presenting the final design. Be prepared to discuss your management philosophy.
• Anticipate Questions: Think about potential questions regarding your decision-making process, challenges faced, and how you overcame them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you empower and develop designers. Your portfolio presentation should be a clear demonstration of your ability to drive impact through a team and influence product strategy, not just your personal design skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on lever.co.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating your team leadership, strategic influence, and measurable outcomes, rather than solely individual design work.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, team management achievements, and strategic contributions to product development, using keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, team development strategies, and how you've driven design impact. Prepare a compelling narrative for your portfolio presentation, focusing on team success.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research OLX Group, its mission, its brands, and its impact on sustainable trade. Understand its user base and competitive landscape to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic 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. The specific requirements and interview process may vary.