Senior Product Designer at carsales

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: CAR Group (carsales) Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Go-To-Market (GTM) Operations Support Date Posted: July 23, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (estimated 5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Drive innovation by leading research into new business opportunities and adjacent markets, identifying unmet needs within the mobility sector.
Shape seamless, intuitive, and elegant product experiences by applying user-centered design practices to simplify complexity.
Foster a collaborative environment by partnering with cross-functional leads (strategists, technical experts, developers) to define product scope, set delivery expectations, and ensure high-quality outcomes.
Champion new ideas by pitching concepts to leadership for funding and support, and contribute to the establishment of new teams to bring innovative solutions to life.
Enhance our global marketplaces by translating complex data and user insights into actionable design strategies that align business goals with user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, its focus on new business building, market research, and cross-functional collaboration strongly aligns it with Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy support and the operational aspects of bringing new products to market. The emphasis on "simplifying complexity" and "shaping seamless product experiences" directly translates to operational efficiency and user journey optimization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Conduct expert-level research across market, quantitative, and qualitative methods to uncover new business opportunities and adjacent market potential.
Develop user-centered design strategies and translate complex data into actionable insights and compelling design concepts.
Create intuitive, elegant, and user-friendly interfaces that balance business objectives with user needs and pain points.
Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Strategists, and other stakeholders to define product roadmaps, scope, and delivery timelines.
Present design concepts, research findings, and new ideas persuasively to internal teams and leadership to gain buy-in and secure resources.
Uphold and elevate design quality standards across all product development stages, ensuring consistency and excellence in user experience.
Contribute to the iterative design process, including wireframing, prototyping, and user testing, to validate and refine solutions.
Partner with international teams to ensure design solutions are scalable and adaptable across diverse global marketplaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic role that bridges product vision with operational execution. The emphasis on "shaping scope," "setting delivery expectations," and "partnering with cross-functional leads" indicates a need for strong project management and operational coordination skills within the design function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of shipping successful digital products.
Experience in a fast-paced, innovative environment, ideally within a startup or a dedicated innovation arm of a larger organization, is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

Expert-level research capability: Proficient in market research, quantitative analysis, and qualitative user research methodologies. Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights.
Clear, persuasive communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for presenting design concepts, research findings, and business pitches.
User understanding: Deep empathy for users, with the ability to identify problems, uncover pain points, and create thoughtful, user-centric interfaces.
Design leadership: Proven ability to guide the development of new solutions and influence design direction across multiple projects and teams.
Collaborative strength: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, strategists, and marketers.
Proficiency in design and prototyping tools: Expertise in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, or similar.

Preferred Skills:

Experience designing for global markets and understanding of localization best practices.
Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and working within Scrum teams.
Experience in the automotive, classifieds, or broader digital marketplace industries.
Ability to contribute to the development of design systems and style guides.
Portfolio showcasing a strong understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-solving, and impactful design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "expert-level research capability" and "clear, persuasive communication" are critical for this role, as it involves pitching new ideas and influencing stakeholders. The emphasis on user understanding and design leadership suggests a need for candidates who can not only design but also strategize and mentor.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Process Improvement Case Studies: Showcase projects where you identified a process inefficiency or user pain point and designed a solution that demonstrably improved outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, enhanced user satisfaction).
User Research & Insight Synthesis: Include examples of how you translated complex user research data (qualitative interviews, surveys, analytics) into concrete design requirements and strategies.
Problem Framing & Solution Design: Demonstrate your ability to define ambiguous problems, explore multiple design solutions, and articulate the rationale behind your final design choices.
Cross-functional Collaboration Evidence: Provide examples of projects where you effectively collaborated with engineering, product management, and other business functions, highlighting your role in aligning diverse perspectives towards a common goal.
Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design work using relevant metrics, such as user engagement, conversion rates, task success rates, or efficiency gains.

Process Documentation:

Ability to document design processes, user flows, and interaction models clearly for development teams and stakeholders.
Experience in creating and maintaining design specifications and style guides to ensure consistency across product releases.
Understanding of how design processes integrate with broader product development and Go-To-Market workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially one focused on new business building, a portfolio that demonstrates strategic thinking, research rigor, and quantifiable impact is paramount. The ability to articulate the process behind the design, not just the final output, is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Melbourne, Australia, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $120,000 - $170,000. This range can vary based on the specific scope of responsibilities within the "next" business building arm and the candidate's demonstrated expertise.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Paid Parental Leave: 24 weeks for primary caregivers, 4 weeks for secondary caregivers, and 6 weeks for gender-affirming care.
Flexible Working Options: Hybrid work model, with openness to discuss part-time arrangements.
Career Development: Opportunities for growth within a global organization, continuous learning, and backing to bring new ideas to life.
Recognition: Awarded as one of Australia's Best Workplaces™ by Great Place to Work®, an AFR BOSS Best Place to Work, and a Family Friendly Workplace.
Impactful Work: Opportunity to work on global initiatives and make significant impacts across international marketplaces.
Supportive Team: Be part of a highly engaged, high-performing team.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 38-40 hours per week. The company promotes flexibility and a healthy work-life balance, suggesting potential for adaptable schedules within the hybrid model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits, particularly the generous parental leave policies and recognition as a top workplace, indicate a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life integration, which are attractive aspects for experienced professionals. The salary estimate is based on general market data for similar roles in Melbourne.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive marketplaces, digital classifieds, technology services, and innovation. CAR Group operates leading online marketplaces globally. Company Size: Large enterprise (CAR Group is a significant player with multiple international subsidiaries). The "next" business building arm operates with a start-up mindset and pace, suggesting a smaller, agile team within the larger corporation. Founded: CAR Group has been driving innovation since the 1990s. The "next" arm is a newer initiative focused on building new technologies.

Team Structure:

The Senior Product Designer will likely be part of the "next" business building arm, a small, entrepreneurial team focused on new ventures.
This team will collaborate closely with strategists, technical experts, and developers, likely forming small, cross-functional squads.
The role will report into a leadership position within the "next" initiative, with exposure to broader CAR Group leadership for pitching and securing support.

Methodology:

User-Centered Design: Core to the product development process, emphasizing research and empathy to solve user problems.
Lean & Agile Principles: The "next" arm operates with a start-up mindset and pace, suggesting an iterative approach to development and rapid experimentation.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Insights from research and analytics are used to inform design and business strategy.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Emphasis on working seamlessly with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

Company Website: https://www.carsales.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of established corporate stability (CAR Group) and entrepreneurial agility (the "next" initiative). This duality offers both the resources of a large company and the dynamism of a startup, which is a key selling point for this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role within Product Design. It sits at the intersection of design, strategy, and business development, requiring a blend of creative expertise and operational understanding for new venture creation. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a leader within the "next" business building arm. They will also collaborate heavily with cross-functional leads and present to CAR Group leadership, indicating significant visibility. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the successful launch and growth of new businesses and technologies. By shaping product experiences and identifying market opportunities, this role influences revenue generation, market positioning, and customer acquisition strategies for new ventures.

Growth Opportunities:

Leadership in New Ventures: Opportunity to shape the product vision and user experience of entirely new businesses from inception.
Global Exposure: Work on initiatives that impact multiple international marketplaces, providing a broad perspective on global product strategy.
Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in user research, strategic design, and new business incubation.
Advancement: Potential to grow into Design Lead or Head of Product roles within new ventures or the broader CAR Group innovation pipeline.
Continuous Learning: Access to resources and a culture that supports bringing new ideas to life, encouraging ongoing skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity for career growth by being involved in the ground floor of new business initiatives, providing exposure to strategic decision-making and leadership opportunities that are often not available in more established product lines.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company embraces a hybrid work model, blending in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and focused work. Office Location(s): Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Specific office details are not provided, but it's likely a well-equipped corporate office space.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Spaces: Expect environments that facilitate team brainstorming, design reviews, and cross-functional meetings.
Technology-Rich: Access to standard design software and hardware, as well as company-wide collaboration tools.
Agile Team Interaction: Opportunities to work closely with product managers, engineers, and strategists in a dynamic, project-driven setting.
Hybrid Flexibility: The ability to choose between working from home and the office to optimize productivity and work-life balance.

Work Schedule:

Standard business hours, with flexibility inherent in the hybrid model. The emphasis is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to office hours, aligning with a start-up mentality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility that is highly valued by design professionals. It suggests a trust-based culture where employees manage their time to achieve project goals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company.
Portfolio Presentation & Design Exercise: A key stage involving presenting a curated portfolio, likely focusing on case studies demonstrating research, problem-solving, and impact. May include a take-home design challenge or a live design critique session.
Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers or strategists to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and design approach.
Leadership Interview: A final interview with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, VP of Design, or leader of the "next" initiative) to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on Process, Not Just Polish: Clearly articulate your thought process, research methods, design iterations, and the rationale behind your decisions.
Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs and the value you delivered.
Showcase Problem-Solving: Highlight complex challenges you tackled and how you approached finding elegant solutions.
Tailor to the Role: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in user research, new business exploration, and cross-functional collaboration.
Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your approach to working with different teams.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Business Context: Research CAR Group, its marketplaces, and the broader mobility industry. Familiarize yourself with the "next" initiative's goals.
Practice Presenting Your Work: Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and covers the key aspects of your projects.
Think Strategically: Be prepared to discuss how design can drive business outcomes, identify new opportunities, and simplify complex problems.
Embrace Ambiguity: For new business ventures, there's often less defined direction. Show your comfort level with ambiguity and your ability to create clarity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate strategic thinking and impactful design through their portfolio. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process in detail and articulate the business value of their design solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP.
User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Optimal Workshop, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms.
Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Hotjar, Tableau (for understanding user behavior and product performance).

CRM & Automation:

While not primary design tools, familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot) store and utilize user data can be beneficial for understanding the broader ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Strong proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is expected. Familiarity with user research platforms and analytics tools will enable the designer to gather and interpret data effectively to inform their design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Change the Game: Embrace innovation and take bold steps to drive progress.
Own It: Take responsibility and accountability for outcomes.
Step In: Proactively contribute, support colleagues, and collaborate effectively.
Stay Curious: Continuously seek new knowledge, explore possibilities, and challenge assumptions.
Don't Take Ourselves Too Seriously: Maintain a positive, humble, and approachable attitude.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to bridge different functional perspectives.
Open Feedback Culture: Encouragement of constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in both products and processes.
Shared Ownership: A collective approach to problem-solving and achieving business objectives.
Agile & Iterative: Work within a dynamic environment that values quick learning cycles and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values are central to its culture. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their work style and approach align with these values, particularly "Stay Curious" and "Change the Game," which are crucial for an innovation-focused role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Navigating Ambiguity: Working within a new business building arm means dealing with evolving requirements and less defined problem spaces.
Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Ensuring new ideas are not only creative but also practical and scalable for global implementation.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating and aligning design vision with technical constraints, business goals, and diverse stakeholder expectations.
Data Synthesis: Consistently translating complex market and user data into clear, actionable design strategies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

New Venture Incubation: Direct involvement in building and launching new products and businesses from concept to market.
Global Product Strategy: Gaining experience in adapting designs for different cultural contexts and market needs across international platforms.
Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and influence product strategy at a senior level.
Industry Exposure: Deepening understanding of the evolving mobility and digital marketplace sectors.
Access to Resources: CAR Group's backing provides resources for continuous learning, potentially including conferences, workshops, and professional development courses.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for individuals who thrive in dynamic environments and want to be at the forefront of innovation. The challenges are directly tied to the growth potential, offering a steep learning curve and high impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you led the design of a new product or feature from concept to launch. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your research, iteration, and impact.)
"How do you approach identifying unmet needs and opportunities in a market? Can you give an example?" (Demonstrate your research and strategic thinking.)
"How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints when designing?" (Show your ability to find pragmatic solutions.)
"Describe a challenging cross-functional collaboration you experienced. How did you navigate it to achieve a successful outcome?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

"What interests you about CAR Group and our 'next' initiative specifically?" (Research the company and articulate your passion for innovation.)
"How do your personal values align with CAR Group's stated values (Change the Game, Own It, Step In, Stay Curious, Don't Take Ourselves Too Seriously)?" (Provide specific examples.)
"How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and technologies?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline: the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the measurable results.
Highlight Your "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions and how they addressed the user needs and business objectives.
Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your research methodologies, user testing findings, and design trade-offs.
Showcase Your Collaboration: Mention how you worked with other teams and incorporated their feedback.
Practice Your Delivery: Ensure your presentation is clear, concise, and engaging, fitting within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process rigorously, demonstrating not just aesthetic skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to measure and communicate impact. Understanding the company's innovation focus is crucial for aligning responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned design position:

Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating expertise in user research, problem-solving for new ventures, and cross-functional collaboration. Emphasize your process and the quantifiable impact of your designs.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience with user-centered design, research methodologies, and contributions to product strategy, using keywords relevant to product design and innovation.
Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and articulating your design process. Prepare answers to common behavioral and situational questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.
Company Research: Thoroughly research CAR Group, its various marketplaces, and the "next" initiative. Understand their market position, user base, and any publicly available information on their innovation strategy.

⚠️ 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.

Senior Product Designer