Product Designer - Mobile

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Mobile

Company: Manulife

Location: Toronto, Ontario; Waterloo, Ontario (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: October 21, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver user-centric, elegant, and highly functional mobile experiences for iOS and Android platforms, aligning with Manulife's digital transformation goals.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and cross-functional teams in an agile environment to define and execute innovative product solutions.

• Conduct user research, analyze data, and translate insights into actionable design improvements to drive a customer-centric vision.

• Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of Manulife's mobile design system and ensure adherence to accessibility standards.

• Leverage AI tools to accelerate design workflows and enhance efficiency in the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within the Product Design team, focusing specifically on mobile applications. The emphasis on a "digital, customer-centric market leader" transformation indicates a strategic importance for user experience and innovative design in driving business outcomes. The mention of AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on consistent, high-fidelity native mobile user interfaces for iOS and Android applications, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.

• Partner with Product and Engineering teams to define product requirements, translate them into viable, desirable, and feasible design solutions, and oversee their implementation.

• Lead user research initiatives, including interviews, usability testing, and data analysis, to gather insights and validate design decisions.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs that effectively communicate design concepts and user journeys.

• Actively contribute to and evolve the mobile design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices across all mobile products.

• Facilitate design workshops and present design decisions to stakeholders, articulating the rationale and impact of proposed solutions.

• Advocate for and ensure mobile experiences are accessible to users of all abilities, adhering to relevant guidelines and standards.

• Integrate and explore AI tools within the design process to enhance productivity, generate ideas, and streamline workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "design consistent native mobile iOS and Android app experiences" implies a need for deep understanding of platform-specific design guidelines and best practices. Collaboration with Product and Engineering "to define and deliver solutions that are viable, desirable, and feasible" highlights the importance of cross-functional teamwork and pragmatic design thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Industrial Design, or a related field is typically expected for a Product Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 3+ years of dedicated mobile app product design experience, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process and shipped products.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.

• Proven experience designing native mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms.

• Deep understanding of the end-to-end digital product design process, including user research, user flows, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and visual design.

• Experience designing with and contributing to native mobile design systems (e.g., Material Design for Android, Human Interface Guidelines for iOS).

• Proficiency in conducting user research, synthesizing data, and translating insights into design solutions.

• Experience working within an Agile development methodology, including quick prototype-test-iterate cycles.

• Strong visual design craft and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Fintech or financial services sector.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices for mobile applications.

• Experience facilitating working sessions and leading design discussions.

• A strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "mastery in Figma" and "experience designing with mobile native design systems (Material and Apple)" are critical technical proficiencies. The preference for "fintech or the financial services sector" indicates that domain knowledge will be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating 3+ years of mobile app product design experience, showcasing shipped products on iOS and/or Android.

• Case studies that clearly outline the problem, your design process, the solutions you developed, and the impact of your work (quantifiable results are highly valued).

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for mobile applications.

• Demonstrations of your experience with mobile native design systems (Material Design, Apple HIG) and how you've applied them or contributed to them.

• Evidence of user research conducted, including methodologies used and how insights informed design decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document and articulate the end-to-end digital product design process, from initial concept and research to final delivery and iteration.

• Include examples of how you've used data and user feedback to inform design iterations and optimizations.

• Demonstrate your approach to working within an Agile environment, highlighting quick prototyping and testing cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to explicitly showcase mobile design expertise, understanding of native platforms, and a user-centered, data-informed design process. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and demonstrate tangible outcomes is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided salary range for Toronto, Ontario, is $71,925.00 CAD to $119,875.00 CAD annually. This range is an estimate based on local market conditions, job-related factors, and the specified location. For positions outside the primary location, candidates should contact recruitment@manulife.com for location-specific salary ranges.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage.

• Mental Health support services.

• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance.

• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance.

• Adoption and Surrogacy benefits.

• Wellness programs and Employee Assistance Plans (EAP).

• Retirement Savings Plans, including pension options.

• Global Share Ownership Plan with employer matching contributions.

• Financial Education and Counseling resources.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) in Canada, including holidays, vacation, personal days, and sick days.

• Statutory leaves of absence.

Working Hours: The role is advertised with a standard 40-hour work week. The "Hybrid" work arrangement suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to Toronto. It's important for candidates in other locations to inquire directly. The extensive benefits package indicates Manulife's commitment to employee well-being and financial security, which is attractive to mid-level professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Insurance. Manulife is a global leader, emphasizing digital transformation to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

Company Size: Large enterprise, indicated by its global presence and extensive customer base (over 33 million globally). This means opportunities for broad impact and exposure to complex systems.

Founded: Manulife was founded in 1887, signifying a long-standing history and stability, now undergoing a significant digital evolution.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer role is part of the broader Human Centered Design team, contributing to a unified customer-centric vision and Product Design practice.

• This team likely collaborates closely with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and Marketing departments.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The role is defined by advocating for user needs and designing elegant solutions backed by a data-driven process.

• Agile Development: Work is conducted in an agile environment for rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Data-Driven Design: Insights from user research and data analysis are crucial for validating design decisions and driving improvements.

• AI Integration: Proactive use of AI tools to accelerate workflows is encouraged.

Company Website: https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html

📝 Enhancement Note: Manulife's transformation towards a "digital, customer-centric market leader" implies a culture that values innovation, user experience, and data-informed decision-making. The "Human Centered Design team" structure reinforces this focus.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role (2-5 years of experience). It requires independent contribution and collaboration, with opportunities to influence design direction within mobile products.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Human Centered Design team, likely under a Design Lead or Manager. Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads is a key aspect of the day-to-day reporting and project execution.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer directly impacts revenue and business decisions by creating user experiences that drive engagement, retention, and customer satisfaction within Manulife's digital platforms. Enhancing mobile app functionality and user-friendliness can lead to increased adoption, transaction volume, and customer loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in mobile UX/UI design, accessibility, design systems, and potentially user research methodologies.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or Design Manager roles, taking on more strategic responsibilities and mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience in different product areas or collaborate on larger initiatives within the digital transformation program.

• AI Specialization: Develop expertise in leveraging advanced AI tools for design, becoming a go-to resource within the team.

• Industry Knowledge: Build specialized knowledge in Fintech and financial services, which is a noted asset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential within a large, transforming organization. The emphasis on user-centricity and digital transformation means that impactful design work is highly valued and can lead to career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work arrangement. This implies a mix of in-office collaboration and remote work, offering flexibility.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario and Waterloo, Ontario. These are major tech and business hubs in Canada, offering access to talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "working in the open, encourage transparency, and committed to working together" suggests a dynamic and interactive workspace.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, along with AI-powered design tools, will be available. Collaboration platforms will be essential for seamless hybrid work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and researchers, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in a hybrid model. The agile environment may require some adaptability in scheduling for sprint ceremonies and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in major Ontario cities provides a good balance of flexibility and in-person collaboration, which is ideal for design roles that benefit from brainstorming and feedback sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion about your background, design philosophy, and experience, focusing on mobile design and collaboration skills.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A detailed presentation of 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, walking through your process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. This is a critical step.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: May involve a practical design exercise or a collaborative workshop to assess problem-solving skills, design thinking, and approach to specific challenges.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or cross-functional stakeholders to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Mobile: Ensure your highlighted projects are specifically for mobile applications on iOS and Android.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your user research, your design process, the trade-offs you made, and the measurable impact of your design.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflows, component usage, and design system contributions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with Product and Engineering, and how you navigated differing opinions or technical constraints.

• Emphasize User-Centricity & Data: Show how user feedback and data informed your design decisions and led to improvements.

• Accessibility: If possible, highlight any considerations or implementations related to mobile accessibility.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Manulife's Digital Goals: Research their recent digital initiatives and their focus on customer-centricity.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to articulate your approach to problem-solving, from understanding the user to ideation and validation.

• Prepare for Mobile-Specific Scenarios: Anticipate challenges related to mobile constraints, platform differences, or integrating new features.

• Articulate AI Usage: Be ready to discuss how you've used or would use AI tools to enhance your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is the most crucial part of the application for a design role. Candidates should meticulously prepare 1-2 strong mobile design case studies that showcase their end-to-end process, collaboration, and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity visuals, and design system management. Mastery is explicitly required.

• Prototyping Tools: Integrated within Figma, or potentially standalone tools for more complex interactive prototypes.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mobile Analytics Platforms: Tools for tracking user behavior within the apps (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics for Mobile). Understanding how to interpret this data to inform design is key.

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially used for presenting research findings or performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

Emerging Technologies:

• AI Design Tools: Figma Make, GitHub Copilot (or similar AI assistants for design workflows).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. An understanding of how design integrates with analytics and how AI can augment the design process are key differentiators.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs in every design decision.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working openly with teams, sharing progress, and valuing diverse perspectives.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Striving for best-in-class, elegant, and compelling user experiences.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using research and data to inform and validate design choices, challenging assumptions.

• Empathy: Balancing user needs with business goals and stakeholder requirements.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative process and a growth mindset.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Management and Engineering is essential for defining and delivering feasible, desirable solutions.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparency and active participation in discussions and feedback sessions.

• Agile Teamwork: Working dynamically within an agile framework, adapting to changing priorities and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly lists values like "team player," "committed to quality," "confident," "data-driven & user-focused," "deeply empathetic," and "a strong communicator." These directly translate to the desired collaboration style and operational values for this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively mediating between user desires, technical feasibility, and business objectives within the financial services context.

• Navigating a Large Organization: Adapting to the processes and stakeholder landscape of a global financial institution.

• Keeping Pace with Mobile Technology: Ensuring designs are current with evolving mobile OS features, trends, and user expectations.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Identifying and implementing AI tools that genuinely enhance, rather than complicate, the design workflow.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a unified experience across multiple mobile products while evolving the design system.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Mobile Design: Deep dives into platform-specific patterns, animations, and new OS features.

• Design System Mastery: Becoming an expert in contributing to and scaling complex design systems.

• Fintech Domain Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in financial services products and user needs.

• AI in Design Workshops: Participating in training sessions focused on leveraging AI tools for productivity and creativity.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on more strategic design challenges and potentially mentor junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level designer in a large corporation undergoing digital transformation. The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly in specializing within a complex industry and leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process Deep Dive: Be prepared to walk through your entire design process for a mobile app project, explaining your rationale at each step. Focus on a project that demonstrates user research, iteration, and impact.

• Figma Proficiency: Discuss your advanced Figma techniques, how you manage components, and your experience with design systems.

• Mobile Platform Nuances: Explain how you approach designing for iOS versus Android, and how you ensure consistency while respecting platform conventions.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Describe how you've handled disagreements with Product Managers or Engineers, or how you've influenced stakeholders with your design recommendations.

• Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design problem related to a financial service app (e.g., simplifying a complex transaction, improving user onboarding).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding Manulife's Vision: Research Manulife's digital transformation efforts and their customer-centric mission. How do you see design contributing to this?

• Teamwork and Empathy: Discuss your experience working in agile teams and how you balance user needs with business objectives.

• Data-Driven Approach: Provide examples of how you've used data or user feedback to make critical design decisions.

• AI Awareness: How do you see AI impacting the future of product design, and how have you or would you leverage AI tools in your workflow?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2 Strong Mobile Case Studies: Choose projects that best showcase your skills and align with the role requirements.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points.

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

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you’d handle specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of mobile product development and the financial services industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer - Mobile position:

• Submit your application through the provided career portal link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of mobile app design experience, specific achievements in Figma, native mobile design systems, user research, and Agile methodologies. Quantify your impact where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure it prominently features 1-2 strong mobile app design case studies. Clearly articulate your process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes, emphasizing user-centricity and data-informed design.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, visual communication, and articulating your design rationale. Be ready to discuss your collaboration approach and how you leverage AI tools.

• Research Manulife: Understand their digital strategy, customer focus, and values. Prepare to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with theirs.

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

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