Senior Product Designer - Hawthorn East

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Coles Group

Location: Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Digital Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-01-05

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (implied 5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design of critical checkout experiences across Coles' digital platforms (app and web), impacting millions of Australian customers daily.

• Lead product design squads through the entire design lifecycle, from initial research and ideation to execution and delivery of high-quality, accessible digital products.

• Leverage data-driven insights and a deep understanding of customer needs to identify opportunities for improving conversion rates and overall customer satisfaction within the e-commerce ecosystem.

• Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented design environment, mentoring junior designers and influencing cross-functional teams, including Product, Engineering, Data, AI, and Shop teams, to deliver seamless omni-channel experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer with significant ownership over a core customer journey (checkout). The emphasis on "owning the end-to-end design," "leading the squad," and "impacting millions" indicates a strategic and leadership component beyond typical individual contributor roles. The focus on "connecting the dots between checkout and upstream shopping journeys" highlights the need for a system-level thinker.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and drive the complete design process for the checkout customer journey across both mobile application and web interfaces.

• Lead design sprints and collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and AI specialists to translate user needs and business objectives into intuitive and effective digital solutions.

• Develop and present compelling design concepts, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs, utilizing data and user research to validate design decisions.

• Champion accessibility standards, ensuring that all designed experiences cater to a diverse user base, including those with accessibility needs.

• Proactively identify and articulate opportunities for enhancing conversion rates, reducing cart abandonment, and increasing overall customer satisfaction within the digital shopping experience.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather insights, validate hypotheses, and iterate on designs for continuous improvement.

• Effectively communicate design rationale, user insights, and strategic recommendations to stakeholders across various departments, influencing product strategy and decision-making.

• Mentor and provide design guidance to other members of the product design team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development.

• Contribute to the evolution of design systems and best practices within the digital team, ensuring consistency and quality across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities outline a blend of strategic ownership and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on leading squads, influencing cross-functional teams, and using data for validation points to a senior role requiring strong leadership and analytical skills, typical of a Senior Product Designer focused on critical user journeys.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Proven track record in digital product design, with a minimum of 5-7 years of experience, specifically within native app and e-commerce environments.

• Demonstrated experience in leading the design of complex user journeys, particularly in conversion-focused areas like checkout processes.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and information architecture.

• Portfolio of Impact: A strong, curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process, problem-solving methodologies, design thinking, and measurable impact on key customer and business metrics (e.g., conversion rates, customer satisfaction scores, task completion rates).

• System-Level Thinking: Ability to strategize and design at a holistic, system level, connecting different user journeys and understanding the broader e-commerce ecosystem.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, build trust, and contribute positively to a growth mindset culture.

• Empathy & User Advocacy: Demonstrated ability to lead with empathy, understand diverse user needs (including accessibility), and translate them into impactful design solutions.

• Data-Driven Design: Proficiency in using data, analytics, and user research to inform design decisions, validate hypotheses, and measure success.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Passion for mentoring and elevating the craft of other designers, contributing to team growth and knowledge sharing.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with native mobile app design (iOS and Android) and responsive web design.

• Familiarity with design systems and component libraries.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.

• Experience in large, complex organizational structures with a proven ability to manage diverse stakeholder expectations.

• Familiarity with AI and personalization technologies and their application in e-commerce.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a strong portfolio that demonstrates measurable impact, which is crucial for senior operations and product roles. The mention of "system-level thinking" and "connecting the dots" implies a need for strategic understanding beyond individual feature design. The "growth mindset" and "mentoring" aspects highlight cultural fit and leadership potential.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in significant product design projects, ideally related to e-commerce, checkout flows, or complex user journeys.

• Problem Definition & User Research: Clearly articulate the problem statement, target users, and the research methodologies employed (e.g., user interviews, surveys, competitive analysis, usability testing).

• Design Process & Iteration: Illustrate your design process, including ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user flow mapping, and high-fidelity design. Show how you iterated based on feedback and data.

• Impact & Metrics: Crucially, demonstrate the measurable impact of your designs on key customer and business metrics. Quantify improvements in conversion rates, user satisfaction, task completion, reduction in errors, or other relevant KPIs.

• Accessibility Considerations: Highlight how accessibility was integrated into your design process and the solutions implemented to ensure inclusivity.

• Systemic Thinking: Provide examples that demonstrate your ability to think holistically about user journeys and how your designs fit into the broader product ecosystem.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design decisions, user flows, and interaction patterns clearly and concisely.

• Experience in contributing to or maintaining design system documentation.

• Familiarity with creating process documentation for design handoffs to engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, a process-driven approach, and the ability to measure and articulate the business impact of design work. This aligns with expectations for operations-adjacent roles that require quantifiable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Options: Hybrid work model promoting work-life balance.

• Office Perks: On-site gym, fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, product sampling hub.

• Generous Discounts: 5% year-round discount on Coles Supermarket and Liquor purchases (online and in-store), with additional double discount periods (10%) and exclusive team member deals.

• Recognition Program: 'mythanks' platform for giving and receiving recognition, with points redeemable for gifts and gift cards.

• Learning & Development: Access to diverse career development programs and job-specific training to support professional growth.

• Paid Parental Leave: Offered to permanent team members to support work-life balance.

• Team Member Share Plan: Opportunity for eligible team members to purchase Coles Group shares through pre-tax salary sacrifice.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 38-40 hours per week. The hybrid model offers flexibility in how and where these hours are worked, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in Melbourne, considering the size and nature of Coles Group. Benefits are directly extracted from the job description and presented to highlight their value to potential candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Supermarkets, Liquor, Financial Services, etc.), with a significant and growing digital presence. Coles Group is a major Australian retailer focused on helping Australians eat and live better.

Company Size: A large, publicly listed company with over 115,000 team members across Australia, indicating a complex organizational structure with numerous departments and extensive resources.

Founded: 1914, with a long history of serving Australian communities, suggesting a stable and established organization that is also investing heavily in digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Digital team, which is described as innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking, focused on creating differentiated, omni-channel experiences.

• The Senior Product Designer will likely be part of a product squad, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, AI specialists, and potentially members from Shop operations teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using data and insights to explore problems, validate ideas, and drive measurable improvements.

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and meeting customer needs, with a particular emphasis on accessibility.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Implied through the mention of squads, planning, research, ideation, and execution phases, suggesting an agile or iterative approach to product development.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close partnerships with various departments (Product, Engineering, Data, AI, Personalisation, Shop) are essential for delivering seamless experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Coles' position as a large, established retailer undergoing digital transformation is key. The company culture values innovation, inclusivity, and data-driven decision-making, which are important considerations for candidates looking to make an impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a significant level of autonomy, responsibility, and influence. The role is expected to lead design initiatives, mentor others, and contribute strategically to the product roadmap, particularly concerning core customer journeys like checkout.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the Digital team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned product squad.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the customer experience and key business metrics such as conversion rates and customer satisfaction. By optimizing the checkout journey, the Senior Product Designer directly contributes to revenue generation and customer loyalty, making it a critical function within the digital operations of Coles.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design squads, mentor junior designers, and take on more complex projects, paving a path towards Design Lead or Principal Designer roles.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like e-commerce UX, accessibility design, or user research through project exposure and company-provided training.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader business acumen by collaborating closely with Product, Engineering, Data, AI, and Marketing teams.

• Career Mobility: Potential to move into product management, UX research leadership, or other strategic roles within the broader Coles Group digital organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a career path that involves not just execution but also strategic contribution, mentorship, and potential leadership. The impact on core revenue-driving functions like checkout is a significant aspect of career growth in such roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, and offers a hybrid working arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and innovation, complemented by flexible remote work.

Office Location(s):

• Primary office location: Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia (postcode 3123).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with facilities like BBQ areas and communal spaces. The hybrid model allows for focused work at home and collaborative sessions in the office.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools and technologies is implied, supporting efficient workflow and high-quality output. The role involves working with digital product teams, suggesting a tech-forward environment.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, product teams, and other stakeholders, both in person and virtually, facilitating knowledge sharing and relationship building.

Work Schedule:

• A hybrid work schedule is offered, allowing for a blend of in-office and remote work. Specific days in the office may be determined by team needs and management guidance. Standard full-time hours (approx. 38-40 per week) are expected, with flexibility in scheduling to accommodate personal needs where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and office perks suggest a company culture that values employee well-being and a balanced work environment, which is increasingly important for attracting and retaining talent in design and operations roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and a link to your portfolio via the Coles Careers portal.

• Portfolio Review: Initial screening will heavily rely on your portfolio. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your process, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact on key metrics.

• Initial Screening Call: A brief conversation with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a case study from your portfolio in detail to a panel of designers and product managers. This will assess your design thinking, problem-solving approach, and communication skills.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers, to evaluate your collaboration, strategic thinking, and ability to influence.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader in the design or digital team to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and final alignment with the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business and customer outcomes of your design work. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "Increased conversion by X%", "Reduced task completion time by Y%").

• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Walk through your thought process, research methods, iterations, and how you overcame challenges.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that are most relevant to e-commerce, checkout experiences, and large-scale digital products.

• Accessibility is Key: If you have examples of designing for accessibility, make them prominent.

• Storytelling: Present your portfolio as a narrative. Explain the context, your role, the problem, your solution, and the results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully grasp the business objectives and user needs. Ask clarifying questions.

• Prioritize: Focus on the most critical aspects of the problem and demonstrate your ability to make reasoned trade-offs.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your assumptions, design decisions, and rationale. Use visual aids effectively.

• Consider the Full Funnel: For checkout-related challenges, think about the entire customer journey, not just the immediate transaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges is typical for senior design roles. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only creative skills but also strategic thinking, business acumen, and the ability to measure and articulate impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable given industry trends), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Axure RP (depending on complexity needs).

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web & App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI (for understanding broader business data context).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary design tool, familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with customer journeys is beneficial for understanding the broader ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role implies proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping software (likely Figma), user research tools, and an understanding of how design impacts data analytics and customer journeys within a large e-commerce platform.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: Centered on delivering exceptional and accessible experiences that help customers "eat and live better."

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: Encouraged within the Digital team to push boundaries and create next-generation digital retailing.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: A commitment to building a diverse and welcoming workplace, reflected in design for all users.

• Collaboration: Working together across teams to achieve shared goals and deliver seamless experiences.

• Growth Mindset: Encouraging continuous learning, sharing of craft, and learning from others.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing insights to inform decisions and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Product, Engineering, Data, AI, and Shop teams is a core expectation.

• Design Team Synergy: Active participation in the design team for knowledge sharing, feedback, and mutual development.

• Empathetic Leadership: Building trust and influencing decisions through understanding and clear communication.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Embracing feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users to refine designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on customer-centricity, innovation, and inclusivity directly informs how design decisions should be made and how team members are expected to interact. Understanding these values is key to cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complex Needs: Designing for millions of diverse users with varying needs, including significant accessibility requirements, within a large and complex organization.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless integration and buy-in from multiple departments (Product, Engineering, Data, AI, Shop Ops) with potentially competing priorities.

• Driving Measurable Impact: Demonstrating tangible improvements in key customer and business metrics through design initiatives, especially in a competitive e-commerce landscape.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Adapting to evolving business strategies and customer behaviors in the fast-paced digital retail environment.

• Mentoring and Elevating Others: Effectively coaching and guiding other designers while managing personal project responsibilities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepen expertise in areas like advanced UX research, interaction design for complex systems, or design for AI-driven experiences.

• Industry Trends: Stay abreast of the latest in digital retail, e-commerce UX, accessibility standards, and emerging technologies.

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop strategic thinking and leadership capabilities through project ownership and team mentorship.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain insights into data science, AI, product management, and retail operations through close collaboration.

• Formal Training & Conferences: Access to company-sponsored training, workshops, and industry conferences to enhance professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Acknowledging potential challenges and framing them as growth opportunities is crucial for candidates. This demonstrates foresight and a proactive approach to problem-solving, which is highly valued in senior operations and design roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you owned the end-to-end design of a critical user journey. What was the problem, your process, and the measurable outcome?" (Focus on portfolio case studies and quantifying impact).

• "How do you balance customer needs with business goals, especially in a conversion-focused area like checkout?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking, data utilization, and trade-off articulation).

• "How would you approach designing for users with accessibility needs within the checkout flow? What specific considerations would you make?" (Highlight empathy, user research, and knowledge of accessibility standards).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in designing for Coles' digital platforms, specifically the checkout experience?" (Research Coles' digital strategy, their brand values, and connect it to your passion).

• "How do you contribute to a team's growth mindset and mentor other designers?" (Provide specific examples of mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaborative learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of the project and its business/customer goals.

• Detail Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions and responsibilities.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final designs) to illustrate your process and solutions.

• Quantify Results: Dedicate a section to the metrics and outcomes achieved. Use charts or graphs where appropriate.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, research methodologies, and how you handled challenges.

• Connect to Coles: Frame your examples in a way that shows how your experience is relevant to Coles' specific challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to articulate impact, mirroring the requirements of a senior operations or product role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a comprehensive portfolio link through the Coles Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating your experience in e-commerce, checkout optimization, end-to-end design ownership, and measurable impact on key metrics. Tailor the presentation to highlight relevance to Coles' digital strategy.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your senior-level experience, specific achievements in product design, and proficiency with relevant tools and methodologies, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for common behavioral and situational interview questions, focusing on collaboration, leadership, and strategic thinking.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Coles Group's digital initiatives, brand values, and target customer segments. Understand their current market position and how your design expertise can contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.

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