Product Designer - Long Term Temp - Service NSW

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Long Term Temp Company: myCareer - NSW Government Location: Haymarket, Parramatta, or Gosford, NSW, Australia Job Type: Temporary Full Time Category: Product Design / Service Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 14 January 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Level (implied by responsibilities and salary range) Remote Status: Hybrid (implied by location flexibility and potential for hybrid work)

🚀 Role Summary

• Product and Service Design Leadership: Drive the end-to-end design process for customer care initiatives, focusing on creating seamless, inclusive, and proactive service experiences for NSW citizens and businesses.
• User-Centric Innovation: Translate complex customer needs and research insights into innovative solutions, prototypes, and compelling visual narratives that enhance service delivery.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with principal service designers, multidisciplinary teams, and stakeholders to shape future service models and ensure alignment between customer expectations and product capabilities.
• Design System Adherence & Contribution: Uphold and contribute to the Service NSW Government Experience Language (GEL) design components and patterns to ensure design consistency and quality across digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is a "Long Term Temp" position, indicating a contract role expected to last until September 2027. The salary band provided ($105,896 - $124,957 AUD base) suggests a mid-level to senior designer role, requiring demonstrated experience in product and service design principles. The emphasis on "new division" and "Future Ready program" points to a dynamic environment focused on transformation and innovation within customer care.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the full product design lifecycle, from discovery and framing through iterative development and final delivery, with a strong customer-centric approach.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to thoroughly understand organizational needs and translate them into innovative design solutions that bridge customer expectations and product capabilities.
• Apply inclusive design methodologies and adhere to accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) to create user-friendly products accessible to a broad audience.
• Contribute to and maintain consistency with the Service NSW GEL design components and patterns, ensuring a cohesive user experience.
• Conduct customer research, journey mapping, ideation workshops, prototyping, and user testing to validate and refine design concepts.
• Develop and present visual storytelling through concepts, prototypes, and narratives to effectively communicate design ideas and research findings.
• Work within lean environments, embracing iterative and incremental design processes to deliver impactful customer experiences.
• Proactively communicate potential problems and challenges, contributing to problem-solving within multidisciplinary teams.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, methodologies, and tools in product design, service design, and systems thinking to drive innovation and optimize outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on design execution. The role requires not just UI/UX skills but also a strong understanding of service design, systems thinking, and the ability to influence and collaborate across various departments. The emphasis on "turning research and insights into engaging concepts" suggests a need for strong communication and visualization skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience and a deep understanding of design principles is paramount.
• Formal education in Design (Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Product Design), Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience:

• Proven experience in product design, UX design, and UI design, with a portfolio showcasing successful projects.
• Demonstrated experience in applying customer-centric design approaches and conducting user research, journey mapping, and usability testing.
• Experience working within government or large-scale public service organizations is advantageous.
• Familiarity with lean methodologies and agile development environments.

Required Skills:

• Product Design & UX/UI: Expertise in the full product design lifecycle, including discovery, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and iterative development.
• Service Design Principles: Understanding of service design methodologies and their application to create holistic customer journeys.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design within complex systems, considering interdependencies and broader organizational impact.
• Visual Storytelling: Strong ability to communicate design concepts and research findings through compelling visuals, prototypes, and presentations.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including designers, developers, researchers, and business leaders.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for breaking down complex problems into actionable steps and developing innovative solutions.
• Inclusive & Accessible Design: Deep understanding of inclusive design principles and WCAG accessibility guidelines.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in using Figma for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to or utilizing design systems (like GEL) to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: A proactive mindset towards learning new methodologies, tools, and industry trends.
• Government/Public Sector Experience: Familiarity with the unique challenges and opportunities within public sector design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "service design" indicates that this role goes beyond traditional UI/UX. Candidates should be prepared to showcase how they've approached complex problems and designed holistically. Proficiency in Figma is explicitly mentioned, making it a critical technical skill.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating end-to-end product design, from initial research to final delivery.
• Include case studies that highlight your problem-solving process, user research methodologies, and design decisions.
• Detail your approach to creating user-centered solutions, including journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs.
• Demonstrate experience with inclusive design and accessibility considerations within your projects.
• Highlight your ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, showing how you integrated feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Projects should clearly articulate the design process followed, including discovery, framing, iterative development, and testing phases.
• Evidence of using research insights to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions is crucial.
• Demonstrate how you have applied or contributed to design systems and patterns (e.g., GEL).
• For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes or impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their design process, explaining the rationale behind their decisions and showcasing their ability to adapt to different project requirements and constraints. Emphasize projects that demonstrate impact and user satisfaction.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Base Salary: $105,896 - $124,957 AUD per annum (NSW Grade 7/8).
• Additional: Superannuation (Australian retirement savings contribution).

Benefits:

• Professional Development: Access to the "Capability Application Tool" for practice application and interview questions, supporting preparation for the recruitment process.
• Diverse & Inclusive Workplace: Opportunity to work in an environment that values diversity, inclusion, and leveraging different backgrounds and perspectives.
• Impactful Work: Contribute to improving government services and driving digital transformation for the benefit of NSW citizens.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: While the role is based in specific offices (Haymarket, Parramatta, Gosford), there is potential for hybrid work and flexibility regarding headquarters location based on operational needs.
• Long-Term Contract: A temporary full-time contract until September 2027, offering stability for a significant period.

Working Hours:

• Standard Full-Time: Approximately 40 hours per week.
• Flexibility: Hybrid work arrangements are implied, allowing for a balance between office-based collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level to senior Product Designer in Australia. The "Long Term Temp" status means standard employment benefits like long-term leave accrual may differ from permanent roles, but the salary and contract duration are substantial. The explicit mention of the "Capability Application Tool" is a unique benefit for interview preparation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government & Public Sector / Technology & Digital Services Company Size: Large (NSW Government is a vast employer). Founded: NSW Government has a long history; Service NSW and its new Customer Care and Business Bureau (CCBB) are part of ongoing digital transformation initiatives.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Digital business and Customer Care portfolio" of the Customer Care and Business Bureau (CCBB), a newly formed division within Service NSW.
• You will collaborate with a Principal Service Designer and multidisciplinary teams (likely including product managers, researchers, developers, policy advisors, etc.).
• Reporting structure likely involves a lead designer or program manager within the CCBB.

Methodology:

• Customer-Centric Design: The core philosophy is to design services that are seamless, inclusive, and proactive for the people and businesses of NSW.
• Lean & Iterative: Work will be conducted in lean environments, embracing iterative and incremental design processes.
• Co-Design & Systems Thinking: Emphasis on collaborative design approaches and understanding the broader systems in which services operate.
• Data-Informed Decisions: While not explicitly stated, the nature of government service design implies a need for evidence-based decision-making.

Company Website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/customer-service/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: The CCBB is positioned as a transformative division, indicating an environment that values innovation and change. The government sector context means a focus on public good, accessibility, and regulatory compliance is paramount. Collaboration across departments and with external stakeholders is likely a key aspect of the culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-level to Senior Product Designer. The salary and responsibilities suggest a candidate who can operate with autonomy and lead design efforts within specific projects. Reporting Structure: You will report to a lead within the Digital business and Customer Care portfolio and collaborate closely with a Principal Service Designer and multidisciplinary teams. Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on how NSW citizens and businesses interact with government services. Success means improving efficiency, accessibility, and overall satisfaction with public services, contributing to the government's digital transformation goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in service design, systems thinking, inclusive design, and user research within a large public sector context.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams and understanding the complexities of government service delivery.
• Portfolio Enhancement: Work on high-impact projects that can significantly enhance a design portfolio, showcasing experience in public service innovation.
• Potential for Future Roles: Successful contractors may be considered for future roles within Service NSW or the broader NSW Government, depending on performance and organizational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Long Term Temp" nature of the role offers a significant project to add to a portfolio and gain specialized experience in public sector digital transformation. While not a permanent role, it provides a substantial opportunity for professional development and exposure to large-scale government initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is headquartered in physical offices in Haymarket, Parramatta, and Gosford. This suggests a collaborative, in-person work environment for core team activities. Office Location(s):

• Haymarket (Sydney)
• Parramatta
• Gosford

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Work: While office-based, the role allows for hybrid work, indicating flexibility. The ability to attend a NSW Government workplace as required is noted.
• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a work environment that fosters collaboration, likely with design studios, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces for multidisciplinary teams.
• Technology Access: Access to standard government IT infrastructure, design software (Figma), and communication tools.

Work Schedule:

• Standard government working hours, with potential for flexibility based on hybrid arrangements. The role is full-time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to be based in one of the specified offices and the mention of attending a NSW Government workplace as required means this is not a fully remote position. Candidates should be prepared for a hybrid model that balances remote work with in-office collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit Resume and a 2-page Cover Letter highlighting suitability.
• Initial Screening: Review of applications and cover letters by the recruitment team.
• Capability Application Tool: Candidates are encouraged to use this tool to prepare for application and interview questions based on the role's focus capabilities.
• Interview(s): Likely include behavioural and situational questions, a portfolio review, and discussions on design process and problem-solving.
• Potential Assessment: May involve a design exercise or presentation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use your portfolio to demonstrate your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact with concrete examples.
• Highlight Relevant Projects: Focus on projects that showcase product design, service design, UX/UI, inclusive design, and collaboration.
• Explain Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions and responsibilities within each project, especially in team-based work.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success and outcomes of your designs.
• Address GEL & Accessibility: Be ready to discuss how you've applied design systems and ensured accessibility in your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Leverage the Capability Application Tool: This is a key resource for understanding the types of questions and capabilities assessed.
• Practice STAR Method: Prepare to answer behavioural questions using the Situation, Task, Action, Result method.
• Design Thinking Framework: Be ready to articulate your approach to design challenges, from problem definition to solution validation.
• Service Design & Systems Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for complex citizen needs and integrating services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of the "Capability Application Tool" is a significant hint about the interview process. Candidates should prioritize using this resource to tailor their preparation. The cover letter requirement emphasizes the need to clearly articulate how their experience aligns with the specific needs of this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required tool for UI design and prototyping.
• Prototyping Tools: Experience with various prototyping tools beyond Figma will be beneficial.
• Design Systems: Familiarity with or ability to contribute to design systems (e.g., Service NSW GEL).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with user analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar) and data visualization for understanding user behavior is advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design role, but understanding how design outputs integrate into broader systems would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the key tool mentioned. Candidates should be proficient and ready to demonstrate their skills using this platform. An understanding of how design systems function and are maintained is also important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A primary focus on delivering services that meet the needs of the people and businesses of NSW.
• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Commitment to designing for everyone, ensuring services are usable and accessible to all.
• Innovation & Transformation: Driving change and improving government services through digital solutions and new service models.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively across disciplines and with stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Curiosity & Continuous Improvement: A mindset of learning, questioning, and seeking better ways to design and deliver services.

Collaboration Style:

• Multidisciplinary: Working closely with Principal Service Designers, researchers, product managers, developers, and other government stakeholders.
• Iterative & Feedback-Oriented: Embracing feedback loops and iterative design processes to refine solutions.
• Transparent Communication: Proactively sharing insights, challenges, and progress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The NSW Government emphasizes diversity and inclusion. The role within a new division focused on transformation suggests an environment that encourages new ideas and challenges the status quo, within the framework of public service values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Public Sector Bureaucracy: Understanding and working within the processes and stakeholder landscape of a large government organization.
• Ambiguity and Iteration: The "Future Ready program" and "new division" context imply working with evolving requirements and iterative processes, requiring comfort with ambiguity.
• Balancing Diverse Needs: Designing for a broad and diverse population with varying needs, accessibility requirements, and digital literacy levels.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively managing expectations and gathering input from a wide range of stakeholders with potentially competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Public Sector Design: Gain in-depth experience in designing services for government, focusing on accessibility, inclusivity, and citizen impact.
• Service Design Mastery: Deepen expertise in service design methodologies, journey mapping, and co-design within a large operational context.
• Systems Thinking Application: Apply systems thinking to real-world problems of public service delivery.
• Exposure to GEL: Understand and contribute to a significant government design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to develop specialized skills in public sector design and service transformation, which can be highly valuable for future career progression in government or large-scale digital initiatives.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: Be prepared to walk through your entire design process for a relevant project, explaining your rationale for each step (discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, delivery). Focus on how you applied customer-centricity, inclusivity, and accessibility.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Describe a time you collaborated with diverse stakeholders (e.g., developers, policymakers, users) to achieve a design outcome. How did you manage conflicting requirements or feedback?
• Problem-Solving: Discuss a complex design problem you faced and how you broke it down, applied relevant methodologies (service design, systems thinking), and arrived at a solution.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding Service NSW: Research the mission and values of Service NSW and the NSW Government. Discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their goal of delivering seamless, inclusive, and proactive services.
• Team Dynamics: How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment? How do you handle working with designers and non-designers?
• Impact Measurement: How do you measure the success of your designs? Be prepared to discuss metrics or qualitative feedback you've used.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-4 projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role (product design, service design, UX/UI, accessibility, collaboration).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solutions, and the impact. Use visuals effectively.
• Focus on Rationale: Explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, business needs, and design principles.
• Highlight GEL & Accessibility: Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and how you ensure designs meet accessibility standards.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, decisions, and how you would tackle specific challenges mentioned in the job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: The prompt to use the "Capability Application Tool" is a strong indicator that interview questions will be closely aligned with the capabilities outlined there. Candidates should focus their preparation on these areas. Demonstrating an understanding of public service design principles and the NSW GEL will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your Resume: Ensure it highlights your experience in product design, UX/UI, service design, and collaboration.
• Craft a Targeted Cover Letter: Write a 2-page cover letter specifically addressing how your skills and experience align with the role's requirements, particularly its focus on customer-centricity, inclusive design, and the NSW Government context.
• Leverage the Capability Application Tool: Utilize the provided link to access practice questions and prepare for the interview process by understanding the key capabilities assessed.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that showcases relevant projects, clearly articulating your process, role, and the impact of your design work, with a focus on Figma proficiency and accessibility.
• Research Service NSW: Understand the organization's mission, values, and ongoing digital transformation efforts to align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.