Senior Product Designer (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (m/f/d)

Company: ClimatePartner GmbH

Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany & Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations (Design Operations)

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (60% On-site)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, encompassing user research, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution within agile product teams.

• Drive strategic product development by translating user insights and business objectives into scalable, user-centered solutions.

• Champion the evolution and utilization of a Material UI (MUI)-based Design System to ensure consistency and efficiency across product offerings.

• Foster a collaborative design culture through mentoring, knowledge sharing, and advocating for climate impact in all design decisions.

• Partner closely with Product Management and Engineering to ensure design feasibility, alignment, and successful delivery of product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Product Designer," involves significant operational aspects related to design systems, cross-functional collaboration, and process ownership, aligning it with Design Operations principles within a GTM context. The emphasis on "owning the full design process - from discovery to delivery" and "partnering with Product, Engineering, and key business stakeholders" highlights a need for strong operational planning and execution within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle, from initial concept discovery and user research through to final delivery and iteration.

• Plan, conduct, and analyze user research studies to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities for product innovation.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI mockups.

• Collaborate effectively within the "product triangle" (Product Management, Engineering, Design) to ensure alignment on vision, feasibility, and execution.

• Contribute actively to the Material UI (MUI)-based Design System, advocating for its adoption and enhancement to maintain design consistency and efficiency.

• Mentor and guide junior designers, providing constructive feedback and fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.

• Advocate for climate impact and sustainability principles within product design decisions and team processes.

• Translate strategic business objectives into user-centric design solutions that drive measurable outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed clearly indicate a senior-level role requiring not just execution but also strategic leadership in design processes, user research methodologies, and design system management. The emphasis on "owning" processes and "partnering" with other functions points to a need for strong operational acumen and stakeholder management skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is highly recommended for understanding design principles and user-centered methodologies.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in product design, with a strong preference for experience within B2B software environments. This includes a proven track record in managing the full design process from conception to launch.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Demonstrated ability to own and drive the entire design process (discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, UI design, delivery).

• User Research Proficiency: Expertise in planning and executing various user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys) to gather actionable insights.

• Interaction & Visual Design: Strong command of interaction design principles and the ability to create intuitive user interfaces with a keen eye for visual aesthetics and usability.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Skillful in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to, utilizing, and advocating for Design Systems, specifically with a Material UI (MUI) foundation.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively in a product triangle (PM, Engineering, Design) and manage stakeholder relationships.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align design initiatives with business goals and focus on measurable outcomes.

• Communication & Advocacy: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate and defend design decisions.

• Mentoring Skills: Experience in guiding and mentoring other designers.

• Climate Action Passion: A genuine interest and passion for climate action and sustainability.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English; German language skills are a significant plus.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in climate tech or sustainability-focused industries.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their integration with design processes.

• Experience with advanced design tools beyond standard UI/UX software.

• A strong portfolio showcasing successful B2B product design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience, coupled with the responsibilities of owning processes, mentoring, and strategic thinking, positions this as a senior role. The explicit mention of B2B software, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration indicates a need for robust operational experience in managing complex product development cycles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your ownership of the full design process, from initial problem definition and user research to final UI design and impact measurement.

• Problem-Solving Demonstration: Clearly articulate the user problems and business challenges addressed in each case study.

• Design Process Walkthrough: Provide a clear explanation of the design methodologies, research techniques, and iteration cycles employed.

• System Contribution Examples: Include examples of your involvement with design systems, illustrating how you contributed to or utilized them to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the success of your designs using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction, task completion times, efficiency gains), demonstrating ROI.

Process Documentation:

• Highlight your experience in documenting design processes, workflows, and user research findings to ensure knowledge transfer and scalability.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how design processes integrate with broader product development workflows and GTM strategies.

• Showcase an ability to contribute to or maintain design system documentation, ensuring clarity for engineering and design teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of design skills and operational process management. The emphasis on end-to-end ownership, design system contribution, and measurable outcomes directly reflects the operational demands of a senior design position.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Germany (Munich/Berlin) with 5+ years of experience in B2B software, a competitive salary range is estimated between €70,000 - €95,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific experience, skill set, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Commuter Support: JobRad bicycle leasing program to encourage eco-friendly commuting.

• Wellness Subsidy: Support for various sports and wellness programs to promote employee health.

• Generous Leave: 30 days of annual holiday for work-life balance and personal rejuvenation.

• Flexible Work: Hybrid work model with a requirement for 60% on-site presence, offering a balance between collaboration and flexibility.

• Retirement Planning: Company pension scheme with employer contributions to support long-term financial security.

• On-site Amenities: Complimentary tea, coffee, and fruit to enhance the daily work experience.

• Professional Development: Regular check-ins and development meetings as part of a strong feedback culture.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring these hours, with a focus on achieving an optimal work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on current market data for Senior Product Designers in major German tech hubs, considering the specified experience level and industry. The benefits package is detailed as provided in the input. The hybrid work arrangement (60% on-site) implies a structured approach to office presence, requiring effective time management and coordination.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Environmental & Sustainability Technology / Software. ClimatePartner GmbH is a leading provider of corporate climate action solutions, enabling companies to measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions. This industry context means a strong mission-driven culture focused on impact.

Company Size: ClimatePartner GmbH is a growing organization, likely falling into the medium-sized business category (50-250 employees or more), which suggests a dynamic environment with opportunities for influence but also a need for structured processes.

Founded: Founded in 2000, ClimatePartner has a long-standing history in the climate action space, indicating established expertise and a mature approach to its mission.

Team Structure:

• Product Teams: Designers are embedded within cross-functional product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers.

• Design Team: There is likely a dedicated design team or community of practice within the company, fostering collaboration and shared learning among designers.

• Reporting: Senior designers may report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Product Lead, with direct collaboration across engineering and product management.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Expect to work within agile frameworks, emphasizing iterative development and close collaboration.

• User-Centered Design: A strong focus on user research and data-driven decision-making to ensure product solutions meet user needs and business objectives.

• Design System Implementation: Emphasis on leveraging and contributing to a Design System for efficiency, consistency, and scalability.

• Mission-Driven Approach: All activities are underpinned by the company's mission to drive climate action.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in climate action is a significant cultural driver. For operations professionals, this means understanding how design and product decisions contribute to measurable climate impact. The company size and founding date suggest a blend of established processes and growth-oriented agility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior career stage. Professionals at this level are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead complex projects, mentor others, and contribute strategically to product and design direction. The operational aspect involves managing design processes, contributing to system efficiency, and ensuring alignment across teams.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a senior Product Lead. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their product team.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's impact is crucial for the efficiency and effectiveness of product development. By owning the design process, contributing to the design system, and mentoring others, they directly influence the speed of delivery, quality of user experience, and consistency of the product suite. Their work supports the GTM strategy by ensuring products are user-friendly, desirable, and aligned with market needs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Lead Designer or Design Manager roles, with increased responsibility for team management, strategy, and process oversight.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like user research, interaction design, design systems, or accessibility.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to transition into Product Management or Design Operations roles, leveraging their deep understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Strategic Contribution: Influence the broader product strategy and design culture of ClimatePartner.

• Industry Expertise: Develop deep knowledge in climate tech and corporate sustainability, a rapidly growing and impactful field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities highlight a clear path for career progression within both design and potentially broader operations roles, emphasizing the transferable skills gained in process management, stakeholder alignment, and strategic execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: ClimatePartner GmbH offers modern, centrally located offices designed to be easily accessible. The hybrid model suggests a collaborative and dynamic workspace that encourages in-person interaction for key activities.

Office Location(s):

• Munich: St.-Martin-Str. 59, 81669 München, Bayern, Germany

• Berlin: Sonnenallee 223, 12059 Berlin-Neukölln, Germany

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and knowledge sharing among product teams.

• Technology Enabled: Expect access to standard design software, collaboration tools, and modern office infrastructure to support efficient work.

• Team Interaction: The 60% on-site requirement ensures regular opportunities for face-to-face collaboration with colleagues, fostering stronger relationships and more effective problem-solving.

• Mission-Focused Atmosphere: The workplace is likely infused with the company's mission-driven culture, promoting a sense of purpose.

Work Schedule: The role operates on a standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. This provides a structured work environment while allowing for flexibility in managing personal and professional commitments, crucial for deep work and process optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a 60% on-site requirement is a key operational aspect. It necessitates strong self-management, clear communication regarding availability, and efficient use of in-office time for collaborative activities and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in ClimatePartner's mission.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on 2-3 relevant case studies. Expect deep dives into their design process, research methodologies, problem-solving approaches, and contributions to design systems.

• Technical/Skills Interview: May involve a discussion with a Product Manager and/or Engineering Lead to assess technical proficiency, collaborative skills, and understanding of B2B software development.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise, evaluating your ability to tackle a realistic problem within constraints and present your solution.

• Cultural Fit & Team Interview: Meet with other designers or team members to assess alignment with ClimatePartner's values, collaboration style, and overall culture.

• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, CPO) to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and final fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select case studies that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities, ownership, and impact, particularly within B2B contexts.

• Storytelling is Key: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives: problem, your process/solution, and measurable results. Highlight why you made certain design decisions.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final UIs, user flows) effectively. Explain your role and contributions clearly, especially in team projects.

• Design System Focus: Be prepared to discuss your experience with design systems – how you've used them, contributed to them, and their importance for scalability and efficiency.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to showcase the success and impact of your designs. Focus on business outcomes and user improvements.

• Tailor to ClimatePartner: Research ClimatePartner's products and mission; tailor your presentation to show how your skills align with their specific needs and values.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a take-home challenge, read the brief carefully and ask clarifying questions upfront.

• Define Scope: Clearly define the problem you are solving and the scope of your solution.

• Process Over Perfection: Demonstrate a structured, user-centered design process, even if you can't complete every step. Explain your rationale.

• Time Management: Allocate time wisely for ideation, design, and presentation preparation.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your solution concisely and confidently, highlighting key decisions and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly evaluate not only design skills but also operational capabilities like process management, collaboration, and strategic thinking. A strong portfolio demonstrating these aspects is critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• User Research: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, SurveyMonkey, or internal survey tools.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Miro for whiteboarding and brainstorming.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools such as Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo to track user behavior and product adoption.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing data and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a core design tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding the broader GTM context and user journey.

• Design System Management: Knowledge of tools/platforms used for design system documentation and component management within MUI.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. An understanding of analytics and collaboration platforms is crucial for effective cross-functional work and demonstrating the impact of design decisions, aligning with the operational demands of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Climate Impact: A core value driving all decisions and actions within the company; operations professionals are expected to contribute to this mission.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A drive to create processes and solutions that are efficient, repeatable, and can scale with the company's growth.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Reliance on data and insights to inform design choices and measure the success of initiatives.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages learning, feedback, and iterative refinement of processes and products.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work as integral members of cross-functional product teams, fostering close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchange to improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in design critiques, workshops, and internal documentation to share best practices and learnings.

• Mission Alignment: Collaboration is often unified by the shared goal of driving positive climate action.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on climate impact, collaboration, and efficiency highlights the operational context of the company culture. Design operations professionals need to align with these values to be effective.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Mission and Business: Ensuring that design decisions effectively serve both the company's climate mission and its business objectives.

• Scalability of Design Systems: Continuously evolving and maintaining a robust design system to support a growing product suite and user base.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing dependencies and ensuring consistent communication and buy-in from Product and Engineering teams.

• Measuring Impact: Developing and tracking meaningful metrics to demonstrate the value and ROI of design initiatives, especially in a mission-driven context.

• Hybrid Work Coordination: Optimizing collaboration and workflow efficiency within a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Climate Tech: Gain specialized knowledge in the environmental and sustainability sector.

• Design System Expertise: Become a leader in design system development and management.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading project teams.

• Strategic Product Input: Contribute to high-level product strategy discussions and influence the company's direction.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend relevant design, tech, and sustainability events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to highlight how operational skills in process management, communication, and strategic execution are essential for navigating and succeeding in this role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you owned the entire design process for a significant feature or product. What were the key stages, challenges, and outcomes?" (Focus on process ownership, problem-solving, and results.)

• "How do you approach user research in a B2B context? What methods do you find most effective, and how do you translate insights into actionable design decisions?" (Highlight research methodology and insight-to-action process.)

• "Walk me through your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to one, and what are the operational benefits of using a design system?" (Emphasize system thinking, collaboration, and efficiency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about ClimatePartner's mission and our work in climate action?" (Prepare to articulate your passion and alignment.)

• "How would you contribute to fostering a strong design culture within a hybrid team environment?" (Discuss collaboration, feedback, and knowledge sharing.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem and business context for each case study.

• Showcase Your Process: Detail your steps, including research, ideation, iteration, and testing. Use visuals generously.

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your individual contributions, especially in team projects.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics and outcomes clearly to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Design System Integration: Explain how your work adhered to or enhanced the design system.

• Conciseness: Practice presenting within the allocated time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design expertise but also operational maturity, strategic thinking, and a strong understanding of collaborative processes within a mission-driven organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Click the application button on the job posting to submit your application through ClimatePartner's career portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase end-to-end design ownership, user research, design system involvement, and measurable impact relevant to B2B software.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience, specific skills in product design, user research, UI/UX, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords like "Product Design," "User Research," "Design Systems," "B2B," and "Stakeholder Management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and impact using the STAR method. Prepare to discuss your experience with hybrid work and your passion for climate action. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to be clear, concise, and impactful.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research ClimatePartner's mission, products, and values. Understand their approach to corporate climate action and how design contributes 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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