Senior Manager, Product Designer - UX/UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, Product Designer - UX/UI

Company: Makro PRO

Location: South Korea

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-03-12

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creation of research-backed, end-to-end product experiences that align with customer needs and business objectives.

• Drive design strategy and execution for customer-facing digital platforms within the e-commerce and retail sectors.

• Manage and mentor a team of product designers, ensuring high-quality UX and UI deliverables and fostering a culture of design excellence.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Business, and Technology leaders to define product vision, roadmaps, and opportunities for competitive advantage.

• Champion customer-centricity and innovative design solutions within an Agile development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The raw job description indicates this role is for a "Senior Manager, Product Designer - UX/UI" with a requirement for 10+ years of experience. This strongly suggests a leadership position with significant strategic and people management responsibilities within the design function, operating within Makro PRO's e-commerce/retail context in Southeast Asia. The "On-site" work arrangement, despite the "TELECOMMUTE" location type in the source data, implies a physical presence in South Korea is required.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, scope, and manage the end-to-end product experience in close partnership with product, business, and technology teams.

• Lead and manage design team activities from research and ideation through to final execution, ensuring consistent, high-quality outcomes.

• Guide UX designers in developing design strategies rooted in research and insights, and ensure the creation of high-quality UX artifacts.

• Direct UI designers in executing best-in-class visual design work that is consistent, on-brand, and user-validated.

• Collaborate with front-end developers to ensure the successful implementation of visual designs and product interactions.

• Mentor and coach design team members, focusing on new ways of working, strategy-to-execution mapping, and professional development.

• Identify and proactively remove team impediments to foster efficient design processes and project delivery.

• Partner with CPO and POs to align the product roadmap with the overarching vision and leverage continuous insights to ensure the voice of the customer is consistently heard.

• Actively seek and implement improved solutions for technical and design challenges, fostering a culture that challenges the status quo.

• Promote customer focus by attending industry events, sharing insights, and being a visible advocate for user-centered design principles.

• Synchronize customer research efforts across teams and map customer journeys for various user segments.

• Synthesize customer insights gathered from research across different teams to provide a holistic view at the journey level.

• Facilitate work sessions with stakeholders and users to define key design goals, requirements, and shape the overall experience strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are extensive, indicating a hands-on leadership role. The emphasis on "end-to-end product experiences," "research-backed," "customer-centered outcomes," and "leading a team" highlights the strategic and managerial aspects. The mention of "Agile infrastructure," "Jira and Confluence," and "managing design priorities within the backlog" clearly places this role within an Agile product development framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is typically preferred for senior design leadership roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in product design, UX/UI, with a significant portion in leadership or management roles. Experience in e-commerce, retail, or large-scale digital platforms is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to plan, direct, and deliver clear research processes and artifacts (e.g., qualitative and quantitative research, usability testing, task flows, wireframes, mockups, prototypes).

• Expertise in developing and maintaining design systems to ensure consistency across teams and products.

• Demonstrated experience in making critical design decisions at both team and product levels.

• Significant experience driving design outcomes within Agile development environments and deployment strategies.

• Seasoned design expertise with deep insight into the newest methods, trends, and design operations.

• Experience in Agile Development as a product designer, including proficiency with tools such as Jira and Confluence.

• Experience managing design priorities within a product backlog.

• Strong understanding of the relationship between Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and development teams, coupled with a robust design thinking methodology.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to align organizations on complex product decisions and effectively advocate for the customer's voice.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working on projects that span multiple organizations and business units, demonstrating cross-functional leadership.

• Experience in the retail or e-commerce industry, ideally within Southeast Asia.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies specific to large-scale consumer platforms.

• Experience with A/B testing and data-informed design optimization.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate effective collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" years of experience, coupled with "Senior Manager" title, indicates a need for strong strategic vision, team leadership, and a deep understanding of design operations within an Agile context. The explicit mention of Agile, Jira, and Confluence points to a need for practical experience within these frameworks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating a clear design process from research and ideation to final execution and iteration.

• Evidence of leading design initiatives, including problem definition, user research synthesis, UX/UI design artifacts (wireframes, prototypes, high-fidelity designs), and final implementation.

• Case studies that highlight strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate business goals and customer needs into effective design solutions.

• Examples of how you have mentored designers, improved team processes, or contributed to the development of design systems or design operations.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have defined and documented design processes, including user research methodologies, design critiques, and collaboration workflows.

• Documentation of your approach to managing design within an Agile framework, including backlog management, sprint planning contributions, and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Evidence of creating and maintaining design systems, style guides, or component libraries to ensure brand consistency and design efficiency.

• Demonstrations of how you have synthesized customer insights and mapped customer journeys to inform design strategy and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Manager role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to showcase not just individual design skills but also leadership, strategic thinking, process improvement, and team development capabilities within a product and Agile context. The emphasis on "research-backed," "end-to-end," and "leading a team" means the portfolio must reflect these aspects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Manager, Product Designer with 10+ years of experience in South Korea, the estimated salary range is approximately ₩100,000,000 - ₩180,000,000 per year. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major tech hubs in South Korea, considering the company's focus on e-commerce and potential for growth. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and interview performance.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive group insurance from a top provider, covering Outpatient Department (OPD), Inpatient Department (IPD), and Emergency services.

• Provident Fund: A 3% contribution from Makro Pro towards your long-term financial planning.

• Year-end Bonus: Includes variable and performance-based bonuses, rewarding employee contributions.

• Gym Facilities: Access to a fitness center, yoga room, and recreational space at the Head Office, offering scenic views.

• Attractive Vacation Days: A minimum of 18 days of annual leave to ensure work-life balance.

• No Overtime: A commitment to a 5-day work week with self-set goals and deadlines, promoting efficient work practices.

• Free Car Parking Space: Convenient and cost-free parking for employees who drive to work.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week, operating 5 days a week. The company emphasizes setting personal goals and deadlines, indicating flexibility in how work is managed within the week, provided objectives are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are detailed and attractive, suggesting a commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance. The "No overtime" policy is a significant perk. The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for similar roles in South Korea, acknowledging that the final offer will be determined by the hiring process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce and Retail, with a strong presence in Southeast Asia, focusing on delivering everyday value, convenience, and quality products through hypermarkets, supermarkets, and digital platforms.

Company Size: Makro PRO is described as a "leading retail brand" and is aiming to build "Southeast Asia’s next unicorn," suggesting a large, established enterprise with significant growth ambitions and a substantial employee base. The company operates across multiple countries in Southeast Asia.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly provided, the description implies a long-standing presence in the retail sector, now aggressively expanding into e-commerce and digital innovation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely structured with a Senior Manager overseeing multiple Product Designers, UX Designers, and UI Designers.

• This role involves close collaboration with Product Management (CPO, POs), Business stakeholders, and Technology/Engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Emphasis on research-backed design, synthesizing customer insights, and mapping customer journeys to inform decisions.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Focus on Agile development, managing design within backlogs, and identifying/removing team impediments.

• Automation & Efficiency: Encouraging innovation and challenging the status quo to find better solutions, likely involving streamlined design processes and efficient implementation.

Company Website: https://makro.pro/ (Assumed based on domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: Makro PRO's focus on innovation and becoming a "unicorn" suggests a dynamic, growth-oriented culture. The "Diverse Workplace (Our members are from around the world!)" and "Non-hierarchical and agile environment" points to a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere that values fresh perspectives and rapid execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the Product Design function, equivalent to a Director or Head of Product Design in some organizations. It involves significant responsibility for strategic direction, team development, and the overall quality of customer-facing digital products.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Manager, Product Designer will likely report to a Chief Product Officer (CPO), VP of Product, or a similar senior executive. They will manage a team of individual contributors (UX Designers, UI Designers).

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the company's revenue and business success by shaping the customer experience across digital platforms. Exceptional product design drives customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and ultimately, sales. The Senior Manager is instrumental in translating business goals into user-centric solutions that deliver competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in e-commerce design, user research methodologies for large-scale platforms, and advanced design system management.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a VP-level role, overseeing a larger design organization or expanding responsibilities into broader product strategy.

• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in shaping the company's overall product vision, digital transformation strategy, and Go-To-Market (GTM) approaches through design leadership.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Opportunity to lead cross-departmental initiatives, influencing product development beyond the immediate design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Manager" title in this context, combined with the responsibilities, indicates a significant leadership role with potential for further advancement within Makro PRO's ambitious growth plans. The emphasis on "design operations" and "mapping strategy to execution" suggests a role that bridges design craft and business strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers gym facilities and recreational space at its Head Office, suggesting a modern, well-equipped office environment designed to support employee well-being and collaboration.

Office Location(s): The role is based in South Korea, with the company having a Head Office that features amenities like a gym and yoga room. This points to a primary physical location for this role.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as "non-hierarchical and agile," promoting open communication and collaboration.

• Access to modern office amenities suggests a comfortable and productive workspace.

• Opportunities for interaction with diverse teams (Product, Business, Technology) are ample, fostering a dynamic work atmosphere.

• The "No overtime" policy indicates a strong emphasis on efficient work practices within standard working hours.

Work Schedule: A standard 5-day work week is in place, with the flexibility to set personal goals and deadlines. This allows for focused work periods and efficient time management, crucial for executing complex design projects without requiring constant overtime.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment at Makro PRO emphasizes a balance between productivity and employee well-being, with a focus on agile collaboration and modern amenities. The "No overtime" policy is a key differentiator, suggesting a culture that values efficient output over extended hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership, and design quality.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on leadership experience, team management, strategic thinking, and understanding of design operations within an Agile context.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise or presentation of a past project, evaluating problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate design decisions and their impact. This may involve presenting a portfolio case study.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to influence across departments.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership (e.g., CPO) to confirm cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the Senior Manager role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Leadership: Highlight projects where you led design teams, mentored designers, or influenced product strategy.

• Detail Your Process: Clearly articulate your research methodologies, design thinking, and how you translated insights into actionable design solutions.

• Demonstrate Impact: Use metrics, user feedback, or business outcomes to quantify the success of your designs. Focus on how your work contributed to Makro PRO's goals (e.g., customer acquisition, engagement, conversion).

• Highlight Agile Experience: Include examples of how you managed design within an Agile workflow, worked with Jira/Confluence, and collaborated with Scrum Masters and Product Owners.

• Address Design Operations: Showcase experience with design systems, process improvement, and fostering design consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Strategy Questions: Be ready to discuss your approach to defining product vision, setting design goals, and aligning with business objectives.

• Prepare Case Studies: Select 2-3 strong portfolio examples that demonstrate your leadership, problem-solving, and impact. Structure your presentation to clearly outline the problem, your process, your solution, and the results.

• Understand Makro PRO: Research Makro PRO's business, target audience, and competitive landscape to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare examples that illustrate your coaching and mentoring abilities, conflict resolution skills, and how you challenge the status quo.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior Manager role will be rigorous, focusing on strategic leadership, team management, and practical application of design principles within an Agile and business-driven environment. The portfolio is paramount and must reflect these senior-level competencies.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Axure RP, or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping.

• Design Systems: Experience with building, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative research (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Hotjar).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior and performance metrics.

• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker to create dashboards and reports for stakeholders.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize, or similar for experimentation and data-driven optimization.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management: Jira, Confluence (explicitly mentioned in requirements).

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Trello.

• CRM (Understanding): Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) to understand data flow and customer touchpoints, though direct management may not be required.

• Integration (Conceptual): Understanding how design integrates with broader technology stacks and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard design tools is a baseline. The emphasis on Agile, Jira, and Confluence, along with analytics and experimentation, indicates a need for a data-informed and process-oriented designer who can effectively collaborate within a tech-driven product development cycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the customer's needs in all design decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing research and analytics to inform design strategies and drive continuous improvement.

• Agile Collaboration: Working effectively within a fast-paced, iterative development environment, embracing change and cross-functional teamwork.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for best-in-class design practices, attention to detail, and high-quality execution.

• Growth Mindset: A proactive approach to learning, mentoring, and challenging the status quo to foster personal and team development.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Business teams to ensure alignment and shared understanding.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged, feedback is constructively given and received, and transparency is valued.

• Process Improvement Culture: Actively participating in and driving initiatives to optimize design workflows, tools, and collaboration methods.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the collective growth of the design team and organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values and culture ("Clear focus," "Diverse Workplace," "Non-hierarchical and agile environment," "Growth opportunity and career path") strongly suggest an environment that rewards initiative, collaboration, and continuous improvement, aligning well with the demands of a senior design leadership role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating diverse stakeholder expectations and business priorities while championing user needs and design integrity.

• Scaling Design Operations: Developing and implementing robust design processes and systems that can scale effectively with Makro PRO's rapid growth and expansion across Southeast Asia.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience across a complex and evolving digital ecosystem.

• Driving Adoption of Best Practices: Influencing and educating teams on new design methodologies, tools, and customer-centric approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Leadership: Opportunity to shape the design vision for a major e-commerce player in a high-growth region.

• Mentorship: Direct experience in leading and developing a team of talented designers, honing leadership and coaching skills.

• Strategic Impact: Contributing directly to the company's transformation and success in the competitive Southeast Asian market.

• Continuous Learning: Staying abreast of the latest trends in UX/UI, e-commerce design, and design operations through company support and personal initiative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior leadership role in a fast-growing, complex organization. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to make a substantial impact and advance one's career in the dynamic e-commerce landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to defining a product vision and translating it into a strategic design roadmap." (Focus on aligning with business goals, customer insights, and Agile execution.)

• "How do you ensure the 'voice of the customer' is consistently heard and integrated into product development, especially when dealing with conflicting stakeholder priorities?" (Highlight research synthesis, journey mapping, and communication strategies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Makro PRO's mission and its position in the Southeast Asian market?" (Research the company's market presence, growth strategy, and recent news.)

• "How would you foster a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement within your team and across departments?" (Discuss your mentoring philosophy, approach to design critiques, and collaboration strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Process -> Solution -> Impact & Learnings.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading, mentoring, and strategic decision-making, not just individual design contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Use data, metrics, and user feedback to showcase the tangible results of your design work.

• Tailor to Makro PRO: Connect your past experiences and solutions to the challenges and opportunities Makro PRO faces in the e-commerce space.

• Demonstrate Agile Fluency: Clearly articulate how you managed design within an Agile framework, including your use of Jira and Confluence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thorough preparation, including deep research into Makro PRO and a well-rehearsed portfolio presentation, will be key to success in this interview process. The focus will be on leadership, strategic thinking, and demonstrable impact within an Agile environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager, Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience, focusing on leadership, team management, product design strategy, and Agile methodologies. Use keywords from the job description like "UX/UI," "research-backed," "end-to-end product experiences," "Agile," "Jira," "Confluence," and "design systems."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end product design projects that showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, research-driven process, and measurable impact. Ensure it aligns with the requirements for this role and Makro PRO's e-commerce context.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience, leadership style, and design philosophy. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've mentored teams, driven process improvements, and influenced product strategy.

• Research Makro PRO: Understand their business model, target market in Southeast Asia, and their stated goals. This will help you tailor your application and interview responses effectively.

⚠️ 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.

---