UI/ UX Design Lead

Traveloka
Full_timeβ€’Singapore

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: UI/UX Design Lead
Company: Traveloka
Location: Singapore - Local Office, Singapore
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design & User Experience
Date Posted: October 1, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (7-9 years total experience, with 2+ years in leadership)
Remote Status: On-site

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Lead and mentor design teams in the end-to-end human-centered design process for product development, ensuring user needs are met and business goals are achieved.
  • Drive the creation of cohesive design project briefs, concepts, and prototypes, overseeing their development from ideation through to deployment.
  • Foster strong cross-functional relationships with internal stakeholders, business managers, and product teams to align design efforts with strategic objectives.
  • Maintain high standards of design quality, providing technical expertise and guidance while managing potential risks and unforeseen consequences.
  • Influence organizational development by coaching and developing design teams, promoting a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and shared success.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: While the job title is UI/UX Design Lead, the responsibilities heavily emphasize leadership, project management, and strategic influence within the design domain, aligning it more broadly with a senior design leadership role rather than a purely hands-on UI/UX individual contributor. The focus on "human-centered design methodology" and "data-informed product design" positions this role within the broader GTM and product development operations.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the design team in conceptualizing, developing, and iterating on product features and functions, ensuring they address latent user needs through comprehensive insight gathering and analysis.
  • Frame design project objectives, agendas, and critical assessments based on project briefs and stakeholder input, synthesizing findings to inform strategic design directions.
  • Facilitate workshops and design reviews to promote creative problem-solving, analyze feasibility test results, and enhance visual delivery for optimal user experience.
  • Communicate proposed design solutions, recommendations, and options effectively to stakeholders for informed decision-making throughout the product creation lifecycle.
  • Assist stakeholders in navigating the end-to-end human-centered design process, ensuring alignment, optimizing workflows, and achieving business goals.
  • Oversee the development of cohesive design project briefs, concepts, and prototypes in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, approving schedules, timelines, and budgets.
  • Troubleshoot project implementation issues, facilitate the resolution of resourcing challenges, and develop resource plans using scheduling tools.
  • Identify design resource needs based on mission requirements and available designer skillsets, ensuring optimal team composition.
  • Provide technical expertise and guidance on product design, development, and deployment, conducting regular design reviews to ensure quality.
  • Negotiate with stakeholders to translate product plans into design production needs, overseeing the production process to meet all parameters.
  • Anticipate and mitigate potential threats, risks, and problems in the design production process to inform continuous development and iteration.
  • Safeguard design production quality, communicate implications and trade-offs to stakeholders, and ensure alignment on business goals and project priorities.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, engaging with business and product managers on requirements for upcoming plans and development.
  • Provide design performance feedback to direct reports and the broader design team, contributing to capability development and coaching through on-the-job training.
  • Foster a culture of shared responsibility by celebrating team recognition, taking accountability for team mistakes, and conducting objective debriefs for continuous improvement.
  • Defend the design team's decisions and needs to non-design stakeholders, demonstrating strong advocacy and communication skills.
  • Delegate authority and trust team members' talents, fostering a collaborative environment where individuals are comfortable working both independently and together.
  • Address team morale and performance concerns, ensuring clear, aligned, and updated communication within the design team and with other business units.
  • Collaborate with Design Leadership and upper management to foster alignment on business goals, project priorities, and the optimization of design processes and team structures.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant emphasis on leadership, team management, process optimization, and stakeholder engagement, which are critical components of Revenue Operations and GTM strategy execution. The role requires not just design craft but also the ability to manage projects, resources, and influence cross-functional teams, akin to a GTM Operations or Program Management lead.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication Design, UI/Interaction Design, Product Design, or a related design discipline.
  • Equivalent practical experience demonstrating mastery of design principles and methodologies will also be considered.

Experience:

  • Overall 7-9 years of total work experience in the design domain.
  • Minimum of 4 years as a hands-on Designer, showcasing deep craft and practical application of design principles.
  • At least 2 years of experience in a project management role or a formal leadership position with a demonstrable track record of strong project management skills.
  • Proven experience in mentoring high-performing, interdisciplinary design teams.

Required Skills:

  • Human-Centered Design Methodology: Deep understanding and practical application of HCD principles, methods, and tools throughout the product development lifecycle.
  • Project Management: Proficiency in planning, executing, and overseeing design projects, including scope definition, scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
  • Design Leadership & Mentoring: Ability to lead, inspire, and develop design teams, providing technical guidance, constructive feedback, and career development support.
  • Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, negotiation, presentation, and expectation management skills to form consensus across diverse stakeholders.
  • Problem Solving: Strong analytical abilities to identify user needs, synthesize findings, and develop creative solutions, with a keen eye for detail and organized approach.
  • Risk Management: Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks, unintended consequences, and project constraints proactively.
  • Data-Informed Design: Experience in leveraging data and insights to inform design decisions and iterate on product development.
  • Prototyping & Design Development: Hands-on experience with creating and iterating on design concepts and prototypes.

Preferred Skills:

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Proven ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with business managers, product managers, and other internal and external partners.
  • Creative Problem Solving: Facilitating and driving innovative solutions through structured workshops and brainstorming sessions.
  • Team Building & Motivation: Skills in fostering positive team dynamics, boosting morale, and celebrating collective achievements.
  • Adaptability & Ambiguity Management: Comfort and effectiveness in navigating fast-paced environments with evolving priorities and undefined parameters.
  • Storytelling: Ability to articulate design rationale and communicate the value of design solutions compellingly.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The requirement for "data-informed product design and development" and the emphasis on "human-centered design methodology" with its "methods and tools" are crucial for operations roles. The ability to manage projects, resources, and stakeholders also aligns with GTM operations and program management responsibilities. The portfolio requirement is central to demonstrating these skills.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstration of Human-Centered Design: Showcase projects that clearly illustrate the application of HCD methodology, from research and insight gathering to ideation, prototyping, and testing.
  • Project Management Case Studies: Include examples of projects where you managed timelines, resources, budgets, and stakeholder expectations, highlighting successful outcomes and challenges overcome.
  • Leadership & Mentorship Examples: Provide evidence of your ability to lead and mentor design teams, perhaps through team project successes or examples of individual designer development.
  • Data Integration: Illustrate how data and user insights were integrated into the design process to inform decisions and drive product improvements.
  • Storytelling & Craft: Present your work with a compelling narrative that explains the problem, your process, your solutions, and the impact, showcasing both strategic thinking and design execution quality.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design & Optimization: Document how you have designed, optimized, or streamlined design workflows to improve efficiency, collaboration, and output quality.
  • Methodology Implementation: Detail your approach to implementing HCD and other relevant design methodologies within a team or organizational context.
  • Performance Measurement: Showcase how you have measured the success of design initiatives, focusing on user experience metrics, business impact, and team performance.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: For a leadership role in design, a robust portfolio demonstrating process management, team leadership, and strategic application of HCD is essential. This aligns with operations expectations of candidates who can not only design but also manage processes, measure outcomes, and drive efficiency.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

  • For a UI/UX Design Lead position in Singapore with 7-9 years of experience and leadership responsibilities, the estimated annual salary typically ranges from SGD 85,000 to SGD 130,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, the depth of their portfolio, and Traveloka's internal compensation bands.

Benefits:

  • Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. Potential for wellness programs and subsidized gym memberships.
  • Financial: Competitive base salary, potential for performance-based bonuses, and possibly stock options or long-term incentives depending on seniority.
  • Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including access to design conferences, workshops, online courses, and internal training programs through the "Design Academy."
  • Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, public holidays, and potential for flexible working arrangements within the on-site framework.
  • Employee Perks: Travel benefits and discounts through Traveloka's platform, team-building events, and a supportive work environment.

Working Hours:

  • Standard full-time working hours are typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there might be flexibility within the workday to accommodate project needs and team collaboration, especially when managing cross-functional projects or global teams.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Singapore, considering the experience level and leadership component. Benefits are typical for tech companies in the region and are tailored to support employees both professionally and personally.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Technology / Online Travel Agency (OTA). Traveloka operates in a highly competitive and dynamic sector, focusing on providing a comprehensive range of travel and lifestyle services. This industry demands continuous innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a strong user-centric approach. Company Size: Traveloka is a significant player in the Southeast Asian tech landscape, generally considered a large tech company with hundreds to thousands of employees. This size implies a structured organization with established processes, but also ample opportunities for impact and growth within various departments. Founded: Traveloka was founded in 2012. Its relatively recent founding means it likely maintains a dynamic, agile, and innovation-driven culture, characteristic of many successful tech startups that have scaled rapidly.

Team Structure:

  • Design Leadership: The UI/UX Design Lead will likely report to a Design Manager or Head of Design, overseeing a team of designers. This team may include UI designers, UX researchers, interaction designers, and visual designers.
  • Reporting Structure: The role involves direct leadership of a design team and close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other GTM functions (e.g., Marketing, Business Development).
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: A key aspect will be working cross-functionally with product, engineering, marketing, and business units to ensure design solutions align with business objectives and user needs. This requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

Methodology:

  • Data-Informed Design: The company culture likely emphasizes data-driven decision-making, meaning design choices are informed by user analytics, A/B testing results, and market research.
  • Agile Development: Operations within Traveloka likely follow agile methodologies, requiring design teams to be adaptable, iterative, and responsive to changing requirements and feedback.
  • Human-Centered Approach: As explicitly stated in the job description, a core methodology is Human-Centered Design, focusing on understanding user needs and designing solutions that provide exceptional user experiences.

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

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Traveloka's position as a leading travel tech company in Southeast Asia suggests a fast-paced, innovative, and user-centric environment. The emphasis on data and HCD aligns with best practices in product development and GTM strategy. The team structure implies a need for strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration, typical of operations roles.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into Design Leadership, moving beyond individual contribution to managing and mentoring teams. It's a mid-to-senior level position with substantial responsibility for design strategy, execution quality, and team development. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, project management acumen, and people management skills, mirroring the trajectory of senior operations or program management roles in GTM. Reporting Structure: The UI/UX Design Lead typically reports to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or potentially a VP of Product. They will have direct reports within their design team and will work closely with peers in Product Management and Engineering. This structure allows for both strategic direction from above and tactical execution through their team. Operations Impact: The design leadership team, including this role, has a direct impact on user acquisition, engagement, retention, and ultimately, revenue. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, they directly influence customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and the overall success of Traveloka's platform and services. Their work is critical to the Go-To-Market strategy by ensuring the product is desirable and usable.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership Progression: Potential to advance to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or Director of Product Design role, overseeing larger teams and broader product portfolios.
  • Specialization & Domain Expertise: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, product strategy, or even move into broader product management roles.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to transition into Product Management, Program Management, or even GTM Strategy roles, leveraging strong analytical, strategic, and leadership skills.
  • Mentorship & Coaching: Continued development in people management and coaching, becoming a key figure in nurturing design talent within the organization.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within design leadership, but also provides a strong foundation for broader leadership roles in product development, GTM strategy, or even operations management, given the emphasis on process, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in Singapore. This suggests a traditional office environment where collaboration, in-person brainstorming, and team cohesion are prioritized. Traveloka likely maintains modern office facilities conducive to creative and collaborative work. Office Location(s): Singapore - Local Office. This implies a physical workspace within Singapore, likely in a business district or tech hub, offering accessibility to public transportation and other amenities. Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: Expect an open or semi-open office layout designed to encourage interaction between team members. This facilitates spontaneous discussions and cross-pollination of ideas among designers, product managers, and engineers.
  • Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite), project management tools, and internal collaboration platforms. The company likely invests in the necessary technology to support efficient design workflows.
  • Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, product teams, and other departments, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule:

  • The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, approximately 40 hours per week. Given the leadership nature of the role and the fast-paced tech industry, occasional flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines or address urgent issues, but the core expectation is on-site presence during business hours.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role emphasizes a commitment to in-person collaboration and team dynamics, which can be beneficial for fostering a strong design culture and efficient workflow, especially in a fast-paced tech environment like Traveloka.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your application and resume, focusing on relevant experience and qualifications.
  • Portfolio Review & Discussion: You will be asked to present your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your role, the design process, challenges, and outcomes. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your craft, HCD expertise, and leadership capabilities. Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and their impact.
  • Design & Problem-Solving Challenge: Candidates may be given a take-home assignment or a live design exercise to assess their problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply HCD principles under pressure.
  • Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential peers (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers) and design leadership to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and leadership potential.
  • Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, vision, and overall fit for the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your leadership, HCD expertise, and impact. Quality over quantity.
  • Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role and responsibilities, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your contributions, the solutions, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., user engagement, conversion rates, satisfaction scores).
  • Highlight Leadership: Emphasize how you led teams, mentored designers, managed projects, and collaborated with stakeholders. Use "we" when referring to team efforts and "I" when detailing your specific contributions or leadership actions.
  • Showcase HCD: Explicitly detail how you applied Human-Centered Design principles, user research, and data insights throughout your process.
  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success and business value of your design solutions.
  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, challenges faced, and how you handled disagreements or setbacks.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brief: Thoroughly read and understand any design challenge or assignment. Ask clarifying questions if needed.
  • Embrace HCD: Approach the challenge by first understanding the user and the problem space. Define clear objectives and user needs.
  • Structure Your Solution: Outline your approach, consider different solutions, and present a well-reasoned recommendation with supporting rationale.
  • Time Management: Allocate your time wisely between understanding the problem, developing solutions, and preparing your presentation.
  • Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your thought process, the tools and methods you used, and why you made certain decisions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The application process heavily relies on the portfolio to demonstrate practical skills and leadership. Candidates should prepare to articulate their experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and be ready to discuss operational aspects of design, such as process optimization and stakeholder management.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects for motion).
  • User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar for qualitative and quantitative user feedback.
  • Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for task tracking, sprint planning, and workflow management, especially in an agile development environment.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Web & Mobile Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude for tracking user behavior, engagement, and conversion funnels.
  • Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards for presenting design performance metrics and insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

  • While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial. Familiarity with how design influences customer touchpoints managed by these systems is a plus.
  • Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily communication and team coordination.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. Understanding how design outputs integrate with analytics and project management tools is crucial for a leadership role that bridges design with broader product and business operations. The ability to interpret data from analytics tools to inform design is a key requirement.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, placing the user at the heart of all design decisions.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and collective success is prioritized over individual accolades.
  • Data-Driven Innovation: Using insights from data and user research to drive creative solutions and continuous improvement in product design.
  • Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for design outcomes, from conception to implementation, and demonstrating a strong sense of ownership for team success.
  • Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change, iterating quickly, and adapting to new information or shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Actively seeking out and building relationships with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Business teams to ensure design efforts are aligned with company-wide objectives.
  • Constructive Feedback Culture: Encouraging open, honest, and respectful feedback loops within the design team and across departments to drive continuous improvement.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture of sharing best practices, learnings, and insights to elevate the entire design organization and its stakeholders.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on user-centricity, data-driven innovation, and cross-functional collaboration directly aligns with the core principles of successful Revenue Operations and GTM teams. These values are critical for ensuring design efforts contribute effectively to business goals.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the inherent tension between delivering ideal user experiences and meeting aggressive business targets, requiring strong negotiation and prioritization skills.
  • Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively communicating design rationale, managing differing opinions, and securing buy-in from various stakeholders across departments.
  • Leading Through Ambiguity: Thriving in a fast-paced tech environment where priorities can shift, and requirements may be fluid, requiring adaptability and strategic foresight.
  • Scaling Design Processes: Developing and refining design processes that can scale effectively as the company and its product offerings grow.
  • Mentoring and Developing Talent: Effectively coaching and developing a diverse team of designers, addressing individual needs and fostering collective growth.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Leadership Training: Access to specialized programs focusing on people management, strategic leadership, and organizational design.
  • Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend leading design and technology conferences (e.g., UX India, NN/g) to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices.
  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunities to collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and marketing leaders, gaining broader business and strategic insights.
  • Mentorship Programs: Gaining mentorship from senior leaders within Traveloka or through external networks to guide career progression.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in leadership roles within fast-growing tech companies and are directly relevant to operations professionals who often navigate similar complexities in process, stakeholder management, and strategic execution.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you led a design team through a complex product development cycle. What was your approach to managing the process and ensuring alignment with business objectives?" (Focus on process, leadership, and stakeholder management.)
  • "How do you balance user needs with business requirements when they conflict? Provide an example of a trade-off you had to make and how you navigated it." (Highlights negotiation, strategic thinking, and HCD application.)
  • "Walk us through a project where you used data and user insights to significantly influence a design decision or product direction." (Demonstrates data-informed approach and analytical skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within a design team?" (Assesses understanding of team dynamics and growth.)
  • "What are your thoughts on Traveloka's current product design and user experience? How would you approach improving it?" (Requires research and strategic thinking about the company's offerings.)
  • "How do you ensure your design team's work aligns with the broader company's mission and values?" (Focuses on cultural alignment and strategic contribution.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Start with the "Why": Begin with the business problem or user need that initiated the project.
  • Detail Your Role & Process: Clearly explain your leadership responsibilities and the HCD steps taken, including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
  • Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with cross-functional teams and managed stakeholders.
  • Present Solutions & Rationale: Showcase the final designs and explain the reasoning behind them, including any trade-offs considered.
  • Quantify Impact: Conclude with the measurable results and business impact achieved. Use metrics and data to support your claims.
  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your projects, from methodology choices to specific design decisions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, a strong understanding of HCD, and the ability to manage processes and peopleβ€”all critical for operations roles. Framing answers around the STAR method and using data to support claims will be highly effective.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this UI/UX Design Lead position:

  • Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form through the provided Workday link, ensuring all fields are accurately filled.
  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in design leadership, project management, human-centered design methodology, team mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description to optimize for ATS.
  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that showcase your leadership, HCD expertise, problem-solving skills, and measurable results. Ensure it's easily accessible and well-organized, with clear narratives for each project.
  • Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, articulating your process, quantifying impact, and demonstrating leadership. Be ready to discuss your approach to managing teams and stakeholders.
  • Research Traveloka: Familiarize yourself with Traveloka's products, services, target audience, and recent news. Understand their market position and any recent design initiatives or challenges they may be facing.

⚠️ 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.


Application Requirements

Candidates should have 7-9 years of experience in design, with at least 2 years in a leadership role and a strong project management background. A portfolio showcasing human-centered design methodology and experience mentoring design teams is essential.