Product Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Manager
Company: TravelPerk
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design Management / GTM Operations
Date Posted: October 23, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a team of product designers, fostering their personal and professional development to ensure high-quality output and career progression.
• Drive the design direction for a specific Tribe, aligning product design efforts with strategic quarterly goals and advocating for user-centricity.
• Collaborate closely with Principal Product Managers and Engineering Tribe Leads to define scope, prioritize initiatives, and ensure seamless integration of design within development cycles.
• Optimize design operations across the Product Design team by refining processes, frameworks, and rituals to establish a world-class design function.
• Contribute to company-wide strategy by identifying opportunities where design can significantly impact business objectives and enhance the overall customer experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is in Product Design Management, its close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and focus on optimizing processes and advocating for the user within a "Tribe" structure, aligns it with GTM Operations principles. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring efficient design operations makes it a valuable role for individuals with a strong operational mindset in a product development context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Directly line manage a small team of product designers, overseeing their performance, providing constructive feedback, and supporting their professional growth and development.
• Own and champion the design vision and execution for a designated Product Tribe, ensuring design solutions effectively address user needs and business objectives.
• Partner with Product Management and Engineering leadership to influence product roadmaps, ensuring design considerations are integrated early and effectively into the product lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and other Design disciplines (Content Design, Research), to foster a cohesive and user-centric product development process.
• Continuously refine and optimize the design operational framework, including design processes, project management methodologies, design systems, and team rituals, to enhance team efficiency and output quality.
• Actively participate in hiring and talent acquisition efforts for the Product Design team, contributing to the growth and scaling of the department by sourcing and interviewing potential candidates.
• Contribute to the broader Design Leadership team, helping to shape the overall design strategy, best practices, and culture at TravelPerk.
• Advocate for the user throughout the product development process, ensuring that customer needs and pain points are understood and addressed in design solutions.
• Drive the adoption and consistent application of design patterns and principles across the product to ensure a coherent and intuitive user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of people management, strategic product contribution, and operational excellence within the design function. This role requires not only design leadership but also a robust understanding of how to operationalize design processes for efficiency and impact, which is a key component of GTM and Revenue Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While TravelPerk prioritizes experience and potential over academic qualifications, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant portion focused on designing complex, scalable systems.
• Proven track record of successfully leading and managing design teams, including mentoring, coaching, and fostering the career development of individual designers.

Required Skills:

• Team Leadership & Mentoring: Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team of product designers, fostering a positive and high-performing environment.
• Complex System Design: Expertise in designing intricate, interconnected systems with a strong understanding of user experience principles and best practices.
• Collaboration & Influence: Exceptional ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders (Product Managers, Engineers, leadership) and influence product roadmaps and strategic decisions.
• Communication: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts, defend design decisions, and present to diverse audiences.
• Problem Decomposition: A special talent for breaking down complex problems into understandable components and creating clarity for both the design team and stakeholders.
• User Advocacy: A strong commitment to user-centered design, with the ability to champion the user's needs and perspective throughout the development lifecycle.
• Design Operations: Experience in optimizing design processes, workflows, and team rituals to improve efficiency and output quality.
• High-Growth Environment Experience: Proven ability to thrive and deliver results in fast-paced, high-growth technology companies with an international presence.

Preferred Skills:

• Hands-on design capabilities for individual contributor tasks when needed.
• Experience with design systems and their implementation.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their impact on design processes.
• Understanding of B2B SaaS product design principles.
• Experience in the travel or expense management industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "complex systems," "influencing product roadmaps," and "design operations" indicates a need for a candidate with a strategic and process-oriented approach, moving beyond purely creative design execution. The requirement for this role to "jump on hands-on work whenever needed" suggests a need for versatility, common in operations roles that often require adaptability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design experience for complex systems, highlighting your leadership and management contributions.
• Include case studies that detail your process for tackling design challenges, from initial problem definition and research to final implementation and iteration.
• Showcase your ability to influence product strategy and roadmaps through effective collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams.
• Provide examples of how you have mentored and developed designers, including specific growth outcomes for individuals under your leadership.
• Illustrate your understanding of design operations, presenting examples of process improvements, framework implementations, or workflow optimizations you have introduced.

Process Documentation:

• When presenting case studies, clearly articulate the design process followed, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping, user testing, and collaboration touchpoints.
• Detail how you have documented and standardized design processes, ensuring consistency and scalability across a growing team.
• Showcase your ability to measure the impact of design initiatives using relevant metrics, demonstrating ROI and alignment with business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a management role, the portfolio is expected to demonstrate not just individual design skill but also the ability to scale design impact through team leadership and process optimization. This aligns with the operational focus of GTM and RevOps roles, where process definition and improvement are paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Design Manager with 8+ years of experience in London, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £75,000 - £100,000 per annum. This estimate considers the company's unicorn status, Series E funding, and the high cost of living in London, as well as the significant responsibilities of managing a team and influencing product strategy.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity options.
• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, public holidays).
• Opportunities for professional development, including conferences, training, and workshops.
• Relocation assistance for international candidates.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health and well-being support.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.
• Access to company perks and discounts.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. TravelPerk operates on a hybrid model, requiring 3 days per week in the London office, with flexibility for the remaining workdays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for similar roles in London's tech industry, considering TravelPerk's valuation and funding. Specific benefits may vary and should be confirmed during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Technology (B2B SaaS) - TravelPerk operates in the rapidly evolving business travel and expense management sector, leveraging technology to provide an all-in-one platform. This industry requires continuous innovation to adapt to changing travel norms, economic conditions, and technological advancements.

Company Size: Over 1,800 employees globally. This "scaling unicorn" status means TravelPerk is large enough to have established processes and resources but still agile and dynamic enough for significant impact. For operations professionals, this size indicates opportunities for process refinement, cross-functional collaboration, and potential for career advancement within a growing organization.

Founded: 2015. With a relatively recent founding date, TravelPerk embodies a modern, growth-oriented company culture. Its rapid ascent to unicorn status suggests a high-performance environment driven by innovation and strong execution.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team consists of approximately 15 designers, content designers, and researchers, aiming to double in size within the next 12 months.
• The role reports to the Senior Product Design Manager and is part of the Design Leadership team.
• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with Product Design Managers working closely with Principal Product Managers and Engineering Tribe Leads.
• The company emphasizes an "IRL-first" approach, with teams working together in person 3 days a week to foster connectivity, productivity, and creativity.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While not explicitly detailed for design, TravelPerk's overall strategy implies a data-informed approach, which extends to product development and design impact measurement.
• Agile & Iterative Development: The "Tribe" structure and close collaboration with engineering suggest an agile or similar iterative development process.
• User-Centricity: A core tenet of the Product Design Manager role is advocating for the user and ensuring design solutions meet customer needs.
• Process Optimization: A key responsibility is to "continuously optimise the design operations," indicating a focus on efficiency and improvement in how the team works.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: TravelPerk's focus on "IRL-first" collaboration is a significant cultural aspect for hybrid roles. The company's rapid growth and acquisition strategy suggest a dynamic and potentially demanding but rewarding environment for operations-minded individuals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the Product Design function, bridging individual contributor expertise with team management and strategic influence. It's a crucial step for designers looking to move into management or for experienced managers seeking to lead within a high-growth tech company.

Reporting Structure: The Product Design Manager reports to the Senior Product Design Manager and is a key member of the Design Leadership team. This provides visibility to senior leadership and opportunities to influence broader design strategy. Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Tribe Leads places this role at the heart of product development decision-making.

Operations Impact: The Product Design Manager has a direct impact on the company's ability to deliver a world-class user experience, which is critical for customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction in the competitive B2B SaaS market. By ensuring high-quality design output and efficient design operations, this role contributes significantly to the overall success and revenue generation of TravelPerk. Effective design management can lead to improved product adoption, reduced support costs, and enhanced brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to grow into a Senior Product Design Manager or Head of Design role, overseeing larger teams and broader product portfolios.
• Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in setting product strategy and contributing to the long-term vision of TravelPerk.
• Operational Excellence: Develop expertise in scaling design functions, refining operational processes, and building high-performing design teams within a fast-growing organization.
• Industry Expertise: Gain deep knowledge of the business travel and expense management SaaS market.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Expand influence across Product, Engineering, and potentially other Go-To-Market functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on "scaling our Content and Research functions" and doubling the design team size within 12 months indicates significant opportunities for operational leadership and process development. This is a prime role for someone looking to build and scale a function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: TravelPerk operates with an "IRL-first" approach, maintaining local hubs in core markets to maximize in-person collaboration. This role is based in the London office.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is London. Specific details about the office facilities and amenities would be available during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model (3 days in office) is designed to foster connectivity, productivity, and creativity through real-life interactions. Expect a dynamic workspace that encourages team engagement.
• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific design tools are not listed, assume access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma, Sketch), collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Jira), and potentially internal tools for process management and documentation.
• Team Interaction: Significant opportunities for direct interaction with the Product Design team, Product Managers, Engineering Tribe Leads, and other stakeholders within the London hub and virtually.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week with a hybrid arrangement. The emphasis on "IRL-first" suggests that office days are crucial for collaborative work, team building, and strategic discussions, which are essential for design leadership and operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "IRL-first" policy is a critical factor for candidates considering this role. It signals a preference for in-person collaboration over fully remote work, impacting the daily work experience and team dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess initial fit, motivation, and alignment with TravelPerk's culture.
• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the Senior Product Design Manager focusing on leadership experience, team management philosophy, and strategic thinking.
• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key projects and leadership contributions. This may also involve a practical design exercise or case study related to TravelPerk's product or a specific business challenge.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Principal Product Managers, Engineering Tribe Leads, and potentially other senior designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to influence.
• Design Leadership Team Interview: A final interview with members of the Design Leadership team to evaluate cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Leadership Focus: Highlight your experience managing and mentoring designers, showcasing specific examples of how you've enabled their growth and improved team performance.
• Strategic Impact: Clearly articulate how your design decisions and leadership have contributed to product strategy, business goals, and user satisfaction. Use metrics where possible to quantify impact.
• Process & Operations: Showcase your approach to design operations, including how you optimize workflows, establish best practices, and ensure consistency and quality across design projects.
• Problem-Solving: Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to break down complex problems, your systematic approach to design, and your collaborative problem-solving techniques with cross-functional partners.
• Conciseness & Clarity: Ensure your presentation is well-structured, easy to follow, and effectively communicates your value proposition within the allotted time. Tailor your presentation to TravelPerk's context where possible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand TravelPerk's Business: Research TravelPerk's platform, target market (B2B travel and expense management), recent news (acquisitions, funding), and competitive landscape.
• Design Thinking & Strategy: Be prepared to discuss your approach to product strategy, user research, and translating business objectives into effective design solutions.
• Collaboration Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers, manage conflicting priorities, and influence stakeholders.
• Operational Efficiency: Consider how you would approach scaling the design team, improving design processes, and measuring design impact in a high-growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on both a portfolio presentation and a potential design challenge suggests a thorough evaluation process. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate both their strategic leadership and their practical problem-solving skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma (highly likely given modern SaaS practices), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace.
• Design Systems: Experience with or ability to contribute to and manage design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While specific tools aren't listed, expect to work with product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.
• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into design improvements.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of CRM principles and how design contributes to user experience within the broader customer lifecycle managed by CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is beneficial, though not a primary tool for this role.
• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms could be advantageous for understanding integrated user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is in Product Design, a strong understanding of how design integrates with broader business operations, analytics, and customer relationship management tools is increasingly valuable for senior roles. The ability to use data to inform design decisions is critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High-Achievers & Goal-Oriented: The team comprises individuals driven to meet and exceed objectives, with a strong focus on achieving quarterly goals and contributing to company success.
• Eagerness to Learn & Grow: A culture that supports continuous learning, skill development, and personal advancement within the design discipline and leadership.
• Efficiency through Autonomy: Empowering individuals with the freedom to manage their work while maintaining accountability for results.
• Creativity through Collaboration: Fostering an environment where diverse ideas are shared and built upon to drive innovation.
• Ownership & Impact: A strong sense of responsibility for one's work and a focus on delivering meaningful impact, prioritizing substance over superficial effort.
• Transparency & No Egos: Open communication, honest feedback, and a collaborative spirit where individual contributions are valued without hierarchy or personal agendas.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless integration with Product Management and Engineering teams, working collaboratively to define product direction and solve complex problems.
• Process Refinement: A continuous improvement mindset applied to design processes, encouraging feedback and iterative enhancements.
• Knowledge Sharing: An environment where team members share insights, best practices, and learnings to elevate the collective skill level of the team.
• Heterogeneous Team: Valuing diverse nationalities and backgrounds, promoting a rich exchange of perspectives and ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a high-performance, collaborative, and growth-oriented culture. For an operations-minded individual, the focus on "efficiency through autonomy," "ownership & impact," and "process refinement" will resonate strongly and indicate a supportive environment for operational improvements.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling the Design Team: Managing the rapid growth of the Product Design team while maintaining quality, consistency, and team cohesion presents a significant operational and leadership challenge.
• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Work: Effectively balancing strategic design leadership and team development with the need for hands-on design contributions and hands-on operational improvements.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent alignment and effective communication across multiple product tribes and functional teams in a fast-growing company.
• Maintaining Design Excellence: Upholding high standards of design quality and user experience across an expanding product suite and a growing team.
• Adapting to Market Dynamics: Navigating the fast-paced travel technology market, which requires continuous adaptation and innovation in product design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Leadership: Deepen expertise in scaling design functions, optimizing workflows, and implementing best practices in a high-growth SaaS environment.
• Strategic Impact: Gain experience in shaping product strategy and contributing to the long-term vision of a successful unicorn company.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Further develop leadership and coaching skills by guiding and developing a team of talented designers.
• Industry Exposure: Immerse in the intricacies of the business travel and expense management sector, a critical component of corporate operations.
• Cross-functional Acumen: Enhance understanding of Product Management, Engineering, and broader GTM functions through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of the challenge to "grow our team to almost double its current size" within 12 months is a prime opportunity for anyone interested in building and scaling operational functions within a product organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on managing and developing product designers. How do you foster growth and ensure high performance within a team?"
• "How would you approach defining the design strategy for a new product tribe, ensuring alignment with broader company objectives and user needs?"
• "Walk us through a time you successfully influenced a product roadmap or strategic decision through design advocacy. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?"
• "What are your key principles for optimizing design operations? How do you ensure efficiency, consistency, and quality in a design team, especially during rapid growth?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as TravelPerk's biggest design challenges or opportunities, and how would you address them?"
• "How do you see yourself fitting into our 'IRL-first' culture, and how would you ensure effective collaboration within a hybrid team environment?"
• "Describe your experience working in high-growth, international SaaS companies. What are the key operational considerations for design in such environments?"
• "How do you measure the impact of design on business goals, and how would you communicate this impact to senior stakeholders?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, collaboration, leadership), and end (solution, impact, lessons learned).
• Highlight Leadership: For each project, emphasize your role as a manager and leader – how you guided the team, facilitated decisions, and contributed strategically, not just as an individual contributor.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your projects and the positive outcomes of your leadership (e.g., increased user adoption, improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, team efficiency gains).
• Process & Operations Focus: Explicitly discuss the design processes you employed and any operational improvements you implemented or advocated for.
• Company Relevance: Tailor your examples to be as relevant as possible to TravelPerk's B2B SaaS context, business travel, or complex system design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational acumen, and leadership capabilities, in addition to core design expertise. Be ready to discuss "how" you achieve results, not just "what" results you achieved.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the TravelPerk careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features examples of your leadership in managing design teams, driving strategic product initiatives, and optimizing design operations. Select case studies that best demonstrate your ability to handle complex systems and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 8+ years of experience, leadership accomplishments, experience in high-growth SaaS environments, and skills in collaboration, communication, and process optimization. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, strategic approach to product design, and operational methodologies. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to team management, stakeholder influence, and problem-solving.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research TravelPerk's business model, product offerings, company culture (especially the "IRL-first" approach), recent achievements, and market position 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.

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