Senior Product Designer (UX/UI)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (UX/UI)
Company: TBC BANK
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI Operations
Date Posted: 2025-09-25
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied 2-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from initial concept to post-production validation, acting as a key decision-maker within agile product teams.
• Elevate the user experience of TBC's primary mobile application, focusing on lifestyle features and transforming it into a daily-use platform beyond just financial management.
• Contribute significantly to the ongoing design transformation within TBC, actively collaborating with design system teams and fellow designers to implement best-in-class design practices.
• Embrace a product-oriented mindset, leveraging tools and methodologies like Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD), Customer Journey Maps (CJM), user personas, and product analytics to inform design decisions and drive impactful improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is clearly positioned as a Senior Product Designer, implying a need for autonomy, leadership in design thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. The focus on "lifestyle features" within a banking app suggests a move towards a more holistic customer engagement model, requiring a deep understanding of user behavior beyond transactional needs. The emphasis on "true generalists" indicates a desire for designers who can contribute across various aspects of the product lifecycle, including content and data analysis.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and prototype user interfaces and experiences for TBC's core mobile application, with a focus on enhancing lifestyle features and user engagement.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders in cross-functional teams to define product strategy, requirements, and feature roadmaps.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and analyze product data (e.g., from product analytics tools) to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and refine design systems, components, and interactive prototypes within Figma, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices.
• Contribute to the overall design transformation at TBC by championing design thinking, advocating for user-centricity, and sharing knowledge and best practices with the design team.
• Craft necessary copy and micro-animations to enhance user experience and communicate product value effectively.
• Participate in team workshops, quarter planning, and design assessments to contribute to strategic decision-making and personal development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility for "writing their own copy" and "designing micro-animations" suggests a need for a versatile designer who can contribute to the finer details of user interaction and content strategy, blurring the lines between traditional UX/UI and content design roles. The mention of "searching for insights in data" highlights the importance of data literacy and the ability to translate analytics into actionable design improvements, a key trait in modern product operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific educational degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role. Candidates are encouraged to submit a brief introduction about their journey into product design.
Experience: Proven experience working within cross-functional product teams is essential, indicating a preference for candidates with collaborative project experience rather than purely freelance backgrounds. A strong track record of designing and launching several mobile-first products is a key requirement.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage the full product design lifecycle for digital products.
• UX/UI Proficiency: Strong understanding and application of user experience and user interface design principles.
• Mobile-First Product Experience: Tangible experience in designing for mobile platforms, ideally showcased through App Store or Google Play links.
• Figma Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Figma for component creation, variable adjustments, and building interactive prototypes.
• Visual Design Acumen: Excellent visual design skills, including the ability to develop compelling typography and color systems.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional product teams, partnering with product managers and engineers.
• Data-Informed Design: Experience leveraging user personas, Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD), Customer Journey Maps (CJM), and product analytics tools to drive design decisions.
• English Communication: B2+ level English proficiency for effective presentation, brainstorming, and conflict resolution.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to or developing design systems.
• Micro-animation Design: Skills in designing subtle animations to enhance user experience.
• Content Design/Copywriting: Ability to write clear, concise, and engaging product copy.
• User Research & Testing: Experience conducting various forms of user research and usability testing.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and working within sprint cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific requirement for "Tbilisi-first" and the hybrid work mode (office days Monday-Wednesday) indicates a strong preference for local candidates or those willing to relocate, with limited scope for full remote work for this position. The emphasis on being a "true manager of one" highlights the expectation of proactivity, self-direction, and ownership of tasks and outcomes, a critical attribute in operations-focused roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Mobile-First Product Showcase: A portfolio must prominently feature links to live mobile applications (App Store/Google Play) that demonstrate your design contributions and impact.
• End-to-End Project Examples: Include case studies detailing your process from problem identification, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, to user testing and post-launch analysis.
• Figma Mastery Demonstration: Showcase complex Figma files, including well-structured component libraries, interactive prototypes, and examples of design system implementation.
• Data & User Insight Integration: Clearly articulate how user data, analytics, JTBD, CJMs, or user personas informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.
• Visual Design Excellence: Highlight your ability to create distinct visual identities, including typography and color systems, that resonate with target users.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Provide examples of how you document your design process, potentially including journey maps, flowcharts, or wireframing documentation.
• Collaboration Evidence: Showcase examples of how you collaborate with product managers and engineers, perhaps through shared design files, documentation of feedback sessions, or agile sprint participation.
• Impact Measurement: Demonstrate how you measure the success of your designs, referencing metrics related to user engagement, task completion rates, or other relevant KPIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "digging into components, adjusting variables and building interactive prototypes" underscores the need for a portfolio that not only showcases final designs but also the meticulous process of building within a design system, a key aspect of efficient product operations. The expectation of "validated feature or improvement that has made it to production" means portfolios should focus on demonstrable outcomes rather than just aesthetic output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As no specific salary range is provided, based on industry standards for a Senior Product Designer in Tbilisi, Georgia, with the specified requirements and hybrid work arrangement, a competitive annual salary range would typically fall between 35,000 - 60,000 GEL, depending on the candidate's exact experience level, portfolio strength, and negotiation. This estimate is based on research of similar roles in the region and the tech sector's compensation trends.

Benefits:

• Corporate Health Insurance: Full cost of a corporate health insurance policy covered by TBC, with an option to extend coverage to close relatives at the employee's expense.
• Work Equipment: Provision of all necessary tools for work, including a laptop, testing devices, and access to design software like Figma.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth through an individual development plan mapped out annually, focusing on career pathing within TBC.
• Hybrid Work Environment: A structured hybrid work model offering flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration.

Working Hours: The role is expected to adhere to standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with specific office days designated as Monday to Wednesday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior-level design roles in Georgia. It's crucial for candidates to research current local market rates and be prepared to negotiate based on their specific qualifications and the value they bring to TBC. The benefits package, particularly the comprehensive health insurance and provision of work equipment, indicates a commitment to employee well-being and productivity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology-driven Financial Services (Banking). TBC operates as a modern financial institution leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and offer tailored services. This context means the design team operates at the intersection of finance and user-centric tech, requiring an understanding of both regulatory constraints and user expectations for digital products.
Company Size: TBC is a significant financial institution, implying a large organizational structure with established processes and a diverse workforce. This scale offers opportunities for impact across a broad customer base and exposure to various business functions, but also requires navigation of potentially complex internal structures.
Founded: While the exact founding year is not provided, TBC is a well-established banking group. Its history likely informs a culture that balances tradition with a strong drive towards technological innovation and customer-centricity, as highlighted in their mission.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is integrated within cross-functional product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers.
• Designers are described as "key decision-makers," indicating a high level of autonomy and influence within their product verticals.
• There's a specific mention of a "design system team," suggesting a dedicated group focused on maintaining and evolving the company's design language and components, with which other designers collaborate.
• The role implies direct reporting to a Design Lead or Head of UX, with regular interaction with senior leadership, including the Brand Director and Digital Banking Lead during the hiring process.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: A core principle, driving design decisions through user insights, data analysis, and validation.
• Agile Development: The team operates within agile frameworks, with designers participating in sprint planning and daily operations.
• Design Transformation: An ongoing initiative to elevate design practices across the organization, suggesting a culture of continuous improvement and adoption of modern design methodologies.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using product analytics, JTBD, CJM, and user personas to inform design choices and measure impact.

Company Website: https://tbcbank.ge/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's self-description as a "technology driven company, powered by a courageous and purposeful team" suggests a dynamic and forward-thinking culture. The emphasis on "customer-tailored services, products, and opportunities" highlights a strong focus on user needs and personalization. This environment is ideal for operations professionals who thrive on process improvement and strategic impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of experience. It requires not only strong execution skills but also the ability to influence product strategy, contribute to design systems, and operate with a high degree of autonomy. The progression typically involves leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and potentially specializing in areas like UX research, interaction design, or design operations.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of UX. They will work within cross-functional product teams, collaborating daily with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Marketing or Data Analysts. This cross-functional exposure is crucial for understanding the broader operational context of product development.
Operations Impact: The role directly impacts customer experience, product adoption, and potentially revenue through improved user engagement and conversion rates within the TBC mobile app. By transforming the app into a daily-use platform, the designer contributes to customer retention and the expansion of TBC's service ecosystem, which has significant operational and strategic implications for the bank.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, managing a team of designers or overseeing specific product areas.
• Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas such as UX research, interaction design, accessibility, or component library management within the design system.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Exposure to product management or business strategy roles due to deep involvement in product development processes.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning through participation in team workshops, design system contributions, and the creation of individual development plans focused on advancing design and operational skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The first-year milestones (onboarding, contributions to design assets, quarter planning, probation review, individual development plan) clearly outline a structured growth path. The emphasis on creating an "individual development plan" specifically mapping the "career path in TBC for the next year" suggests a proactive approach to employee growth and career management, highly valued in operations-oriented environments.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: TBC operates under a Hybrid Work Model, with designated office days from Monday to Wednesday. This structure balances the benefits of in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the flexibility of remote work.
Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is in Tbilisi, Georgia. Specific details about the office facilities or amenities are not provided, but it's implied to be a professional environment equipped for design work.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration during office days, facilitating brainstorming, workshops, and design reviews.
• Digital Tools: Designers have access to essential design tools like Figma, laptops, and testing devices, supporting both individual work and team collaboration.
• Cross-functional Interaction: The workspace is designed to foster interaction with product managers, engineers, and other key stakeholders, promoting a unified approach to product development.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely adhering to a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement means specific days (Monday-Wednesday) are expected to be in the office, with the remaining days potentially remote, providing a degree of flexibility in managing personal work schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 3 mandatory office days per week is a common setup that aims to capture the benefits of both in-person and remote work, fostering team cohesion and efficient collaboration while allowing for focused individual work. This structure is typical for companies looking to optimize their operational workflows and team dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The hiring pipeline is clearly outlined:

1. Asynchronous CV & Portfolio Screening: Initial review of applications to assess qualifications and portfolio relevance.
2. Online Whiteboard Assignment: A practical exercise with the Design Lead and Head of UX to evaluate design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate design rationale.
3. Intro Call with Product Team: A discussion with the product team to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and understanding of product goals.
4. Meeting Brand Director & Digital Banking Lead: A final-stage interview with senior leadership to evaluate strategic alignment and overall potential impact.
5. Offer Letter: Extension of an offer to the selected candidate.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: Clearly demonstrate your design process from problem definition to solution validation. Use case studies that highlight your thought process, research methods, and decision-making rationale.
• Highlight Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible. Use metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or user satisfaction to showcase the value you deliver.
• Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates advanced Figma skills, including component libraries, auto-layout, interactive prototyping, and potentially design system contributions.
• Mobile-First Focus: Emphasize your experience with mobile-first design principles and showcase diverse mobile app projects.
• Storytelling: Present your work as compelling narratives. Explain the "why" behind your design choices and how they addressed specific user needs or business objectives.
• Conciseness: While detailed, ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate and presents information clearly and efficiently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Whiteboard Exercise: Be prepared to think aloud, sketch out ideas, and explain your design process and reasoning in real-time. Practice common UX problems and articulate your approach.
• Product Team Call: Research TBC's current mobile app and its market position. Be ready to discuss your approach to improving specific features or user flows. Understand the collaborative nature of product teams.
• Leadership Interviews: Prepare to discuss your career aspirations, leadership potential, and how your design philosophy aligns with TBC's mission and values. Be ready to discuss strategic design thinking and its business impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-stage and rigorous, indicating TBC's commitment to finding highly qualified candidates. The inclusion of a whiteboard assignment and meetings with various levels of leadership suggests a thorough evaluation of both technical skills and cultural fit within the broader operational context of the bank.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, component creation, and design system management. Proficiency is a core requirement.
• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working within established design systems is highly valued for ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities are central, but familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Proficiency in tools for analyzing user behavior, tracking product metrics, and deriving insights (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics).
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience interpreting data presented in dashboards or reports to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Jira for task management within agile product teams is expected due to the mention of "Jira tasks."
• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly listed as required, understanding how design integrates with CRM and automation platforms is crucial for a product designer operating in a financial institution. This includes awareness of how user data managed in CRMs informs personalized experiences and how design choices impact automated workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A fundamental value driving all product decisions to ensure user needs are met and exceeded.
• Innovation & Technology: A commitment to leveraging technology to create tailored services and improve customer lives.
• Purposefulness & Courage: A drive to fulfill the company's mission with a proactive and bold approach to problem-solving.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together in cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Expectation for employees to be "managers of one," taking initiative and responsibility for their work.
• Continuous Improvement: A culture that embraces change, experimentation, and the ongoing enhancement of processes and products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, fostering close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers.
• Data-Informed Dialogue: Design discussions are expected to be supported by user data, analytics, and insights from tools like CJM and user personas.
• Feedback Exchange: An open environment for sharing feedback on designs, processes, and contributions to the design system.
• Proactive Communication: Given the B2+ English requirement, clear and effective communication is essential for brainstorming, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values emphasize proactive engagement and a results-oriented mindset, which are key attributes for success in operations-focused roles. The expectation of being a "manager of one" aligns with operational efficiency and the drive for individual accountability.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively integrating user desires with the bank's strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and maintaining a robust design system that scales across numerous features and products.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and communication across diverse teams (product, engineering, marketing, legal) with potentially different priorities.
• Driving Design Transformation: Championing user-centric design principles and modern practices within a large, established financial institution.
• Data Interpretation: Translating complex product analytics and user behavior data into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepening expertise in areas like interaction design, animation, and advanced prototyping within Figma.
• Product Strategy Involvement: Gaining exposure to product strategy formulation and roadmap planning.
• Financial Services Domain Knowledge: Developing a nuanced understanding of the financial services industry, its users, and regulatory landscape.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced design leads and senior product professionals within TBC.
• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest trends in UX/UI design, mobile technology, and digital banking through continuous learning and internal knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in evolving organizations, offering ample opportunities for skill development and strategic impact. The company's structured approach to career planning (individual development plans) supports proactive growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Vision & Strategy: "How would you approach designing a new feature for our mobile app that encourages users to explore TBC's lifestyle offerings beyond traditional banking?" (Focus on JTBD, user personas, and iterative design).
• Design Process & Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to resolve a significant design disagreement with a product manager or engineer. How did you leverage data or user feedback to reach a consensus?" (Highlight communication, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative problem-solving).
• Problem Solving & Efficiency: "Imagine our app's user retention rate has dropped by 10% in the last quarter. How would you, as a product designer, approach diagnosing the issue and proposing solutions?" (Emphasize analytical skills, data interpretation, and iterative design solutions).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Cultural Fit: "What does being a 'manager of one' mean to you, and how do you embody that in your work?" (Connect to autonomy, proactivity, and ownership).
• Team Dynamics: "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers? What are your expectations for communication and feedback within a cross-functional team?" (Showcase understanding of agile workflows and team integration).
• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your design work? Can you provide an example where your design had a measurable positive impact on business metrics?" (Prepare a case study with quantifiable results).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: Present each case study as a story, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the process, the solutions, and the outcomes.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your Figma prototypes are interactive and demonstrate key user flows. Use high-fidelity mockups that showcase your visual design skills, including typography and color systems.
• Data Integration: Explicitly show how data and user insights informed your design decisions. This could be through user journey maps, persona summaries, or A/B test results.
• Concise Explanations: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, highlighting key contributions and decision points without excessive detail. Focus on the "why" and the "impact."
• Tailor to TBC: Research TBC's brand and current app. Be ready to discuss how your skills and approach align with their goals and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design skills but also an understanding of product operations, data analysis, and the ability to influence stakeholders at various levels within the organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on smartrecruiters.com.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your mobile-first product design experience, specifically highlighting projects that demonstrate end-to-end design processes, Figma proficiency, and data-informed decision-making. Include links to live apps if possible.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize experience in cross-functional teams, product-oriented mindsets, and specific achievements related to UI/UX design, mobile applications, and design systems. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your journey into product design and preparing concise explanations for your portfolio case studies, focusing on the impact and process. Be ready to discuss your strengths in visual design, Figma, and collaboration.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with TBC BANK's mission, values, and current mobile application. Understand their strategic goals related to technology and customer experience to better align your responses during interviews.

⚠️ 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.