Senior Product Designer - 18-month Fixed-term Contract - Hybrid

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - 18-month Fixed-term Contract - Hybrid

Company: Experian

Location: North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (with potential for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-01-20

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of the next generation of Experian's TenderLink platform, a critical online marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers.

• Drive human-centered design by partnering closely with customers, product managers, sales, and engineering teams to create meaningful user experiences.

• Champion design thinking and enhance design maturity across cross-functional teams within an Agile development framework.

• Utilize advanced design tools and methodologies, including prototyping, user research, and potentially AI-enhanced design practices, to translate insights into actionable product requirements and intuitive interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a fixed-term contract for 18 months, emphasizing a project-based focus on a significant platform modernization. The hybrid nature suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility, requiring strong self-management and communication skills. The mention of "reimagining an established platform" indicates a strategic design challenge, moving beyond incremental improvements to a more transformative approach.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for the next generation of the TenderLink platform, from initial concept to iterative delivery.

• Conduct and facilitate customer research sessions to gather deep user insights and identify pain points and opportunities.

• Map comprehensive customer journeys to understand and optimize the entire user experience across all touchpoints.

• Develop rapid prototypes and wireframes to quickly test design concepts and gather feedback.

• Translate user research insights and business requirements into clear, actionable product design specifications and user stories.

• Create intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing UX and UI designs utilizing Figma and established design systems.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineering teams within an Agile Scrum framework to deliver iterative product improvements.

• Advocate for and implement user-centered design principles and methodologies throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Contribute to uplifting the overall design maturity and best practices within the product and technology teams.

• Experiment with and integrate emerging design tools and practices, including AI-enhanced design solutions, to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role focused on strategic product direction and execution. The emphasis on "leading the design" and "advocating for design thinking" implies a need for strong leadership, influence, and the ability to mentor or guide other team members. The requirement to "deliver iterative improvements in an Agile environment" underscores the importance of adaptability and efficient workflow management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in relevant design disciplines are paramount. Candidates with degrees in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, or related fields may have a foundational advantage.

Experience:

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a closely related field.

• Proven track record of successfully delivering end-to-end design solutions for digital products, ideally in a B2B marketplace or platform environment.

• Demonstrated experience working within Agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

Required Skills:

• Expertise in Figma: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration.

• Design Systems & Component Libraries: Proven experience in creating, managing, or heavily utilizing design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability.

• User-Centered Design Methods: Deep understanding and practical application of user research, journey mapping, persona development, usability testing, and insight synthesis.

• Prototyping Skills: Ability to create interactive prototypes of varying fidelity to test concepts and communicate design intent.

• Agile Collaboration: Experience working effectively within cross-functional Agile teams, including close partnership with Product Managers and Engineers.

• Strong Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, present findings, and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to analyze complex problems and translate them into elegant, user-friendly design solutions.

• Experimentation & Iteration: A proactive approach to testing new ideas, iterating on designs based on feedback, and embracing an experimental mindset.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-enhanced design tools or practices.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Experience in marketplace or e-commerce platforms.

• Understanding of data analytics and how to use data to inform design decisions.

• Experience in the financial services, healthcare, or automotive industries (relevant to Experian's broader business).

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "end-to-end design work with measurable outcomes" is critical. Applicants should prepare to showcase projects that illustrate their problem-solving process, design rationale, and the impact of their contributions, ideally with quantifiable results like increased user engagement, conversion rates, or task completion success.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Project Showcase: Present 2-3 comprehensive case studies that detail your involvement from initial problem definition through to final implementation and impact analysis.

• Problem Definition & User Research: Clearly articulate the user problems or business challenges you addressed, supported by evidence from user research, journey mapping, or data analysis.

• Design Process & Rationale: Detail your design process, including ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and UI design decisions. Explain the why behind your design choices.

• Measurable Outcomes: Crucially, demonstrate the impact of your design work. Quantify results using metrics such as improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion times, or enhanced user engagement.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Highlight how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, sales) and how feedback influenced your design iterations.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase examples of how you've mapped and optimized user workflows to improve efficiency and user experience.

• System Implementation: If applicable, include examples of how you've contributed to the implementation or evolution of design systems, component libraries, or design patterns.

• Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how you've used data, analytics, or user feedback to measure the success of your designs and identify areas for further optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus on "reimagining an established platform," portfolios that demonstrate experience in platform modernization, re-platforming, or designing for complex ecosystems will be highly valued. The ability to show how designs have driven tangible business improvements is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer role in Sydney/Melbourne with 5-7 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range in Australia is AUD $130,000 - $180,000, depending on experience, specific skills, and the exact nature of the contract. This is an 18-month fixed-term contract, so the rate may also be presented as an hourly or daily rate.

Benefits:

• Financial: Novated Leasing & Salary Packaging, Experian shares discount.

• Wellness & Health: Comprehensive wellness program, flexible time off (volunteer, personal leaves, paid holidays), 17 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, Family Care Leave.

• Professional Development: Up to 5 days study leave.

• Work Environment: Flexible working environment with a hybrid model.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often provided within a hybrid work arrangement. The specific schedule will be agreed upon with the hiring manager, balancing team needs with individual flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major Australian cities (Sydney and Melbourne) and considers the fixed-term nature of the contract. It's crucial for candidates to negotiate their rate based on their specific experience, portfolio, and the full scope of the 18-month project. The extensive leave benefits are a significant perk for a contract role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Experian operates globally in data analytics, technology, and information services, spanning sectors like financial services, healthcare, automotive, and agribusiness. TenderLink, as an online marketplace, sits within the e-commerce/SaaS platform domain, focusing on procurement and supplier connections.

Company Size: Experian is a large, multinational corporation (FTSE 100 Index company) with approximately 22,500 employees worldwide, operating in over 32 countries. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact within specific product teams.

Founded: Experian's history dates back to the early 1990s through mergers and acquisitions, with its current structure evolving over time. Its longevity signifies stability and a strong market presence. Experian plc is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The Senior Product Designer will report directly to the Director of Product and Strategy for TenderLink.

• Collaboration: Will work closely with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers within the TenderLink product team. Collaboration extends to sales and customer-facing teams for research and feedback.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The role demands significant cross-functional collaboration, typical of Agile environments, to ensure design solutions are technically feasible, meet business objectives, and address user needs effectively.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Approach: Experian's core business relies on data and analytics; expect this to influence design decisions and performance measurement.

• Agile Development: The team operates within an Agile framework, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptability.

• User-Centred Design: A strong commitment to understanding and serving customer needs through research and design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Experian's global presence and diverse industry focus mean that the TenderLink platform operates within a broader strategic context. Understanding Experian's mission to "power opportunities" and its commitment to data and technology will provide valuable context for the design role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a mid-to-senior level position with significant autonomy and responsibility. It's suitable for designers who can lead projects, drive strategy, and mentor others.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the Director of Product and Strategy for TenderLink places the designer in a strategic position, directly influencing the product's direction and user experience. This offers visibility and potential for contribution beyond pure design execution.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the success of the TenderLink platform by enhancing user experience, driving engagement, and facilitating smoother transactions between buyers and suppliers. This directly contributes to revenue generation and customer satisfaction for Experian within its marketplace segment.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in marketplace design, B2B UX, or platform modernization.

• Leadership: Potential to take on more leadership responsibilities within design projects, mentor junior designers, or contribute to the evolution of design processes.

• Strategic Influence: Direct reporting to a Director provides a platform to influence product strategy and contribute to business outcomes.

• Skill Expansion: Exposure to AI-enhanced design practices and working within a large, diverse tech organization offers continuous learning opportunities.

• Future Opportunities: Successful completion of the 18-month contract could lead to other internal opportunities at Experian, depending on business needs and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term contract, the seniority of the role and the strategic reporting line suggest that Experian views this as a critical position. Growth opportunities will likely focus on project leadership, strategic input, and skill enhancement within the context of the TenderLink platform's modernization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring a blend of in-office presence and remote work. This suggests a modern office setup designed for collaboration, with dedicated spaces for individual work and team meetings.

Office Location(s): Primarily based at the North Sydney, New South Wales office, with potential for activity or collaboration related to the Melbourne, Victoria location. Candidates should confirm their primary work location and expected frequency of office attendance.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are likely equipped with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and potentially design studios to facilitate teamwork and brainstorming.

• Technology Integration: Access to modern design tools, high-speed internet, and IT support will be standard.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model requires intentional effort for team connection. Expect structured team meetings, design critiques, and social interactions, both in-person and virtually.

Work Schedule: Full-time (likely 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. This allows for focused work periods at home and collaborative sessions in the office. Flexibility in daily hours may be available, subject to team requirements and manager approval.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature necessitates strong self-discipline and proactive communication. Candidates should be comfortable managing their time effectively across different work settings and ensuring consistent engagement with their team regardless of location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter review of application, focusing on resume and portfolio alignment with core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Director of Product and Strategy to assess experience, design philosophy, and cultural fit. This is where your portfolio will be discussed in detail.

• Design/Team Interview: A session with potential peers (product managers, engineers, other designers) to evaluate technical skills, collaboration style, and problem-solving approach. This might include a design exercise or a deep dive into portfolio case studies.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final conversation with senior leadership, followed by an offer for the 18-month contract.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design thinking and measurable outcomes. Prioritize projects that align with platform design, B2B marketplaces, or significant redesigns.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, focus on the narrative: the problem, your process, your solutions, and the results. Use clear visuals, mockups, and data points.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with cross-functional teams, handled feedback, and navigated constraints.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If exact numbers are confidential, use percentages or qualitative statements backed by evidence.

• Figma & Design Systems: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Figma and your experience with design systems, potentially showcasing how you've used or contributed to them.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle conflict, how you prioritize, and your understanding of Agile development.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be ready for a potential take-home design challenge or a live whiteboarding exercise. This will likely focus on problem-solving, ideation, and UX/UI design skills. Practice sketching user flows, wireframing solutions, and articulating your thought process.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to answer questions about how you would approach specific design problems relevant to a marketplace platform (e.g., improving user onboarding, enhancing search functionality, designing a new feature for buyer-supplier interaction).

• Agile Context: Understand how to frame your design process within an Agile sprint cycle, emphasizing collaboration and iterative delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "measurable outcomes" and "reimagining an established platform" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate strategic thinking and a results-oriented approach to design will be highly favored. Be ready to discuss the business impact of your work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as a required skill and will be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping features, experience with other tools like InVision, Marvel, or Adobe XD might be implicitly valuable.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for usability testing, surveys, and user interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management within an Agile framework.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and use it to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with user journeys can be beneficial for a holistic product view.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is Figma expertise and a strong grasp of user-centered design methodologies. Familiarity with the broader ecosystem of tools used in product development, particularly those that inform design decisions or track user behavior, will be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Experian's foundation in data suggests a culture where insights and metrics are central to decision-making, including design choices.

• Customer Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving customer needs is paramount, especially in a marketplace context.

• Innovation & Experimentation: The mention of "experimentation, iteration, and emerging tools" points to a culture that encourages trying new approaches and continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working in cross-functional, Agile teams requires a collaborative spirit and a willingness to share ideas and feedback.

• Integrity & Trust: As a data company, ethical data handling and building trust with users are implicit values.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Expect a dynamic, iterative approach where feedback is frequent and designs evolve rapidly.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong emphasis on working closely with Product, Engineering, and Sales to ensure alignment and shared ownership.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent sharing of progress and challenges.

• Hybrid Integration: Proactive efforts to maintain strong team bonds and communication channels across remote and in-office team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Experian's recognition as an award-winning workplace ("World's Best Workplaces™", "Great Place To Work™") suggests a positive and supportive company culture. Candidates should look for opportunities to demonstrate how their values align with these company attributes during the interview process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Platform Modernization: Reimagining an established platform can be challenging, requiring balancing legacy user needs with modern design expectations and technical constraints.

• Hybrid Work Management: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion in a hybrid environment requires proactive communication and organizational skills.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Sales, Customers) are aligned on design direction and priorities can be complex.

• Fixed-Term Contract Pressure: Delivering significant results within an 18-month timeframe requires focus, efficiency, and strong project management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design: Directly engage with and implement AI-enhanced design practices, gaining practical experience in this emerging field.

• Platform Strategy: Contribute to the strategic vision and design evolution of a significant B2B marketplace platform.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Gain insights into Experian's broader business areas (financial services, automotive, etc.) which can inform design thinking.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior leaders like the Director of Product and Strategy and contribute to design maturity.

• Skill Refinement: Continuous practice in core UX/UI skills, Agile methodologies, and stakeholder management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are opportunities for growth. Candidates who can articulate how they've overcome similar obstacles in past roles will demonstrate their resilience and problem-solving capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to reimagine an existing product or feature. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your approach to modernization and measurable results.)

• "How do you balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints when designing a complex platform like TenderLink?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and negotiation skills.)

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research and translating those insights into actionable design requirements." (Emphasize your user-centric methodology and data synthesis skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Experian and the TenderLink platform specifically?" (Research Experian's mission, TenderLink's market position, and how your skills align.)

• "How do you approach collaboration in a hybrid work environment?" (Be ready to discuss your strategies for effective remote and in-office teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem > Research > Solution > Results. Use visuals liberally.

• Figma Focus: Be prepared to screen-share Figma to walk through specific design elements, prototypes, or your use of design systems.

• Quantify Everything: Reiterate how your designs achieved specific business or user outcomes.

• Collaboration Narrative: Explicitly call out interactions with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your key points efficiently, allowing time for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your portfolio as a reflection of your practical skills and impact. Prepare to defend your design decisions and articulate the business value of your work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight end-to-end projects that demonstrate your ability to reimagine platforms, conduct user research, and deliver measurable outcomes. Prioritize B2B marketplace or complex system design examples.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-7 years of experience, proficiency in Figma and design systems, and success in Agile environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on the narrative structure (Problem, Research, Solution, Results) and quantifying the impact of your work. Prepare for scenario-based questions related to platform design and hybrid collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Experian, its mission, and the TenderLink platform. Understand their market position and Experian's broader contributions to data and technology.

⚠️ 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.