UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Kaelo

Location: 52 Corlett Drive, Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design

Date Posted: February 09, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design and implementation of a unified customer experience across Kaelo's diverse digital ecosystem, encompassing web applications, mobile apps, WhatsApp bots, chat bots, and IVR systems.

• Translate complex business requirements and backend system intricacies into intuitive, user-centric digital solutions that enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.

• Drive the creation of pixel-perfect, accessible user interfaces and conversation flows that maintain brand consistency and adhere to modern design principles across all touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Business Analysts, Developers, and Product Managers, within an Agile framework to ensure seamless design integration and project success.

• Contribute to and actively manage a central design system, promoting efficiency, consistency, and scalability in all digital product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX/UI Designer, requiring a strong portfolio and 4+ years of experience. The emphasis on "Unified Experience" across diverse platforms (including non-visual interfaces like bots and IVR) indicates a need for a designer who can think systemically and translate complex technical constraints into elegant user solutions. The mention of "Health-tech" and "Fintech" environments suggests a preference for candidates familiar with regulated or sensitive data handling.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Unified Experience (UX) Design: Lead the conceptualization and execution of a consistent, intuitive, and user-friendly experience across all Kaelo digital touchpoints, including web applications, WhatsApp bots, iOS/Android mobile apps, chat bots, and IVR systems, ensuring seamless customer journeys.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Develop detailed, high-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools like Figma or Sketch to effectively communicate design concepts, user flows, and interaction models to stakeholders and development teams.

• Systemic Thinking & Integration: Analyze and understand the underlying technical architecture and constraints of Kaelo's digital ecosystem to ensure designs are not only user-centric but also technically feasible, scalable, and integrated effectively across the entire tech stack.

• UI Design & Accessibility: Craft visually appealing, high-quality user interfaces that adhere to modern design principles, Kaelo's brand guidelines, and are compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure inclusivity for all users.

• Conversation Design: Design logical, user-friendly conversational flows and scripts for automated interaction channels such as WhatsApp bots and IVR systems, aiming to make automated interactions feel natural, helpful, and efficient.

• User Research & Analysis: Conduct comprehensive user research, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing sessions, to gather insights that inform design decisions, leading to the creation of detailed personas, user journey maps, and empathy maps.

• Agile Collaboration: Actively participate in an Agile development environment, collaborating closely with Business Analysts, developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure design integrity is maintained throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to implementation.

• Design System Management: Contribute to the development, maintenance, and evolution of Kaelo's central design system, ensuring its components and guidelines are consistently applied to drive speed, efficiency, and uniformity across all digital products and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a comprehensive UX/UI role that extends beyond traditional screen design. The emphasis on "Unified Experience" and "Systemic Thinking" suggests that the candidate must be adept at designing for multiple interaction modalities, including text-based and voice-based interfaces. The requirement to "articulate the 'why'" behind design decisions to executive leadership points to a need for strong strategic communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree or diploma in UX/UI Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Multimedia, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience specifically in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of designing user-centric digital products and experiences.

Required Skills:

• Unified Experience Design: Demonstrated ability to design cohesive and consistent user experiences across diverse platforms and interaction types (web, mobile, bots, IVR).

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma or Sketch, with the ability to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes.

• Systemic Thinking: Capacity to understand and design for complex technical systems, considering feasibility, scalability, and integration across various platforms.

• UI Design Principles: Strong grasp of modern UI design principles, visual hierarchy, typography, color theory, and responsive design, with an eye for detail.

• Conversation Design: Experience in designing conversational flows and scripts for chatbots and IVR systems, focusing on natural language and user intent.

• User Research & Analysis: Proficiency in conducting user research methodologies (interviews, surveys, usability testing) and translating findings into actionable design insights (personas, journey maps).

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development frameworks, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Design System Management: Familiarity with or experience in contributing to and maintaining design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of and commitment to adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Preferred Skills:

• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with Microsoft Visio, Miro, or Lucidchart for diagramming and journey mapping.

• Platform Guidelines: Deep understanding of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Google's Material Design principles.

• Industry Experience: Prior experience in the health-tech or fintech industries.

• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to present and articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications clearly emphasize a blend of technical design skills, systemic thinking, and strong communication abilities. The requirement for a strong portfolio showcasing "complex problem-solving across multiple platforms" is a critical filter. The explicit mention of "Fintech/Health-tech" suggests that candidates with experience in these sectors may have an advantage due to the nature of Kaelo's business.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Multi-Platform Complexity: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 projects that demonstrate complex problem-solving across at least two different platforms (e.g., web and mobile app, or mobile app and chatbot).

• Unified Experience Design: Include case studies that highlight how you ensured consistency and a unified user experience across different touchpoints within a single project or across multiple related projects.

• Process Documentation: Detail your design process for at least one significant project, including research methodologies, ideation phases, prototyping iterations, and user testing outcomes.

• System Integration & Constraints: Demonstrate an understanding of technical constraints or integrations in your designs, explaining how you navigated these to achieve a successful user outcome.

• ROI Demonstration: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that showcase the impact of your design solutions on user behavior, engagement, or business objectives (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of how you have mapped out user flows, identified pain points, and designed optimized workflows for digital products or services.

• User-Centric Design Implementation: Detail your process for translating user research findings into tangible design solutions, including wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, describe your experience in contributing to or maintaining a design system, including how you ensure consistency and scalability.

• Usability Testing & Iteration: Document your approach to conducting usability tests, analyzing results, and iterating on designs based on user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating a candidate's ability to handle complex, multi-platform design challenges and maintain a unified brand experience. The emphasis on "systemic thinking" and "technical constraints" indicates that candidates should be prepared to discuss how their designs integrate with backend systems and business logic.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical aid and gap insurance options, reflecting Kaelo's core business.

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) offering psychosocial well-being support.

• Potential for participation in Kaelo Money schemes or benefits.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning in UX/UI design and related fields.

Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday.

• Standard business hours, with potential for some flexibility depending on project demands and team collaboration needs within the Agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry benchmarks for a mid-level UX/UI Designer in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 4+ years of experience and specialized skills. Benefits are inferred from Kaelo's company description, highlighting healthcare-related offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Solutions & Financial Services. Kaelo operates at the intersection of healthcare provision and financial services, offering a range of products from medical insurance and aid to gap cover and employee assistance programs. This dual focus suggests a culture that values both patient/client well-being and robust financial management.

Company Size: Kaelo is part of a larger group, implying a structure with established processes and resources. The specific size of the digital/product team is not specified but is likely to be dynamic within a growing organization.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but Kaelo's mission to drive "lasting social change" through essential healthcare solutions suggests a company with a long-term vision and a commitment to social impact.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a Product Development or Digital Innovation team.

• Reporting structure is expected to be to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or a Senior Product Manager.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, analytics, and usability testing to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Development: Workflows are expected to follow Agile principles, promoting iterative development, collaboration, and adaptability.

• Process Optimization: A focus on streamlining user journeys and improving the efficiency of digital interactions through thoughtful design.

Company Website: kaelo.co.za (derived from LinkedIn data)

📝 Enhancement Note: Kaelo's mission-driven approach in healthcare and financial services suggests a culture that balances impact with professionalism. The emphasis on "essential healthcare solutions" and "social change" implies a purpose-led organization where design can directly contribute to improving lives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is defined as a mid-level UX/UI Designer, indicating a need for established foundational skills and the ability to work with some autonomy. It's a position for someone who can contribute significantly to project execution and design strategy without necessarily leading a team.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a senior member of the product or design team (e.g., Design Lead, Head of Product). This structure offers opportunities for mentorship and guidance while allowing for independent contribution.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer's impact is critical to Kaelo's success by directly influencing customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and the overall efficiency of digital service delivery. By ensuring a unified and intuitive experience, the designer helps bridge the gap between Kaelo's complex offerings and the end-user, thereby driving business objectives and fulfilling the company's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like conversation design, accessibility, or design system management.

• Cross-Platform Mastery: Gain extensive experience designing for a wide array of digital touchpoints, from visual interfaces to voice and text-based interactions.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to a Senior UX/UI Designer role, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, or contributing more significantly to strategic product direction.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge within the health-tech and fintech sectors, becoming an expert in designing for these complex domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UX/UI Designer at Kaelo likely involves deepening expertise in specific design domains or progressing into more senior or leadership roles within product development. The company's focus on diverse digital channels provides a rich environment for skill expansion.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at Kaelo's Johannesburg office. This suggests a traditional office environment conducive to in-person collaboration and team building.

Office Location(s): 52 Corlett Drive, Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa. This location is in a well-established business area of Johannesburg.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace designed to foster interaction with cross-functional teams (Developers, BAs, Product Managers) through regular meetings, brainstorming sessions, and agile ceremonies.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software (Figma, Sketch), collaboration tools (Miro/Lucidchart), and typical office IT infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct engagement with colleagues, fostering a sense of team cohesion and shared project ownership.

Work Schedule:

• The standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

• While on-site, there may be opportunities for some flexibility to accommodate project deadlines or team collaboration needs, managed within the Agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests Kaelo values face-to-face collaboration, which can be beneficial for complex design problem-solving and team integration. The Illovo location is a professional business hub in Johannesburg.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the job requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: An interview where you will be asked to walk through 2-3 key projects from your portfolio, explaining your process, design decisions, and the outcomes achieved. Be prepared to discuss your approach to unified experience design and multi-platform challenges.

• Technical/Skills Interview: May involve practical exercises or scenario-based questions related to UX/UI principles, wireframing, prototyping, and user research.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Questions assessing your alignment with Kaelo's values (integrity, proactivity, resilience, ownership) and your ability to collaborate within an Agile team.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product or a Director) to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your ability to design for multiple platforms and create a unified customer journey. Highlight complex problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you proposed, and the measurable results or learnings.

• Focus on the "Why": Be prepared to explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and technical considerations.

• Demonstrate Systemic Thinking: Show how your designs integrate across different systems or channels, especially if they involve non-visual interfaces like bots or IVR.

• Highlight Accessibility: If applicable, showcase how you incorporated accessibility standards (WCAG) into your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: You might be given a small design challenge or asked to critique an existing interface, focusing on user experience and potential improvements. Prepare to think critically and articulate your feedback constructively.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, such as bridging inconsistencies across platforms, incorporating user feedback, or working with technical constraints.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Kaelo's products and services, understanding their target audience and business objectives to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, communication, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, so candidates should prepare to present their work comprehensively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Mastery of Figma or Sketch is essential for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping.

• Collaboration & Mapping: Familiarity with tools like Miro, Lucidchart, or Microsoft Visio for creating user journey maps, flowcharts, and other process diagrams.

• Design System Management: Experience with or understanding of how to contribute to and utilize design system components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) and understanding how to interpret data to inform design decisions is highly beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how UX/UI design impacts user interactions within CRM systems and automated workflows (e.g., chatbots, IVR) is crucial.

• Knowledge of the principles behind designing for platforms like WhatsApp Bots and IVR systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack emphasizes design and collaboration tools. While direct experience with CRM or specific automation platforms isn't a primary requirement, understanding their user-facing components and how design impacts their effectiveness is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Integrity & Confidentiality: Upholding ethical standards, especially within the healthcare and financial sectors, is paramount.

• Proactive & Solutions-Driven: Taking initiative to identify design challenges and propose innovative solutions before they become major issues.

• Resilient & Adaptable: Thriving in a dynamic environment, adapting to changing project requirements, and remaining optimistic in the face of challenges.

• Professional & Dependable: Consistently delivering high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and being a reliable team member.

• Strong Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes and seeing projects through to successful completion.

• Independent yet Collaborative: Ability to work autonomously while also actively contributing to team efforts and valuing collective input.

• Professionally Presented: Maintaining a professional demeanor and presentation, both in work output and interpersonal interactions.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working in cross-functional teams with a focus on continuous feedback and iterative improvements.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with BAs, developers, and product managers to ensure design alignment and feasibility.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, sharing design rationale, and being receptive to constructive feedback.

• User-Centric Focus: Ensuring that user needs and business objectives are collaboratively prioritized in all design discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kaelo's specified behavioral competencies suggest a culture that values professionalism, proactivity, and strong teamwork within a mission-oriented organization. The emphasis on "ownership and accountability" is critical for a role that shapes the customer experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Diverse Modalities: Effectively unifying the user experience across vastly different interfaces (visual web/mobile, conversational bots, voice IVR) requires a unique skill set and strategic thinking.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Navigating the complexities of backend systems and technical limitations while ensuring an optimal user experience.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring brand and UX consistency across a wide and evolving digital ecosystem can be demanding.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with advancements in UX/UI, conversational AI, and other digital interaction technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas such as conversation design, accessibility, or user research methodologies.

• Cross-Platform Exposure: Gaining significant experience across a broad spectrum of digital channels, enhancing versatility.

• Industry Insight: Developing a strong understanding of the health-tech and fintech sectors, their unique user needs, and regulatory considerations.

• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to play a key role in building and scaling a comprehensive design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in the "unified experience" aspect across diverse platforms. Growth opportunities are tied to specialization and gaining broad experience within Kaelo's specific industry context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Unified Experience: "How would you approach designing a consistent experience for a user who interacts with Kaelo via our website, then our mobile app, and later through a WhatsApp chatbot?" Be ready to outline a process involving a design system, user journey mapping across touchpoints, and defining core interaction patterns.

• Systemic Design: "Describe a time you had to design for a complex system with significant technical constraints. How did you ensure a good user experience despite these limitations?" Prepare a case study that demonstrates your problem-solving skills and ability to find pragmatic solutions.

• Prioritization & Trade-offs: "If faced with conflicting user needs versus business requirements or technical limitations, how do you approach decision-making and compromise?" Focus on your process for evaluation, data-driven arguments, and stakeholder communication.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "Kaelo's mission is to provide essential healthcare solutions. How do you see your role as a UX/UI Designer contributing to this mission?" Connect your design philosophy to improving lives and access to healthcare/financial services.

• Collaboration: "Describe your experience working within an Agile team. How do you typically collaborate with developers and business analysts?" Prepare examples of constructive feedback, problem-solving, and effective communication.

• Behavioral Competencies: Be ready to provide specific examples demonstrating high integrity, proactivity, resilience, ownership, and independence balanced with collaboration.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific contributions, the design process, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support queries, higher user satisfaction).

• Showcase Process: Don't just show the final screens. Explain your research, user flows, wireframes, and iterations. Highlight how user feedback influenced your decisions.

• Explain the "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design choices, linking them to user needs, business goals, and any technical considerations.

• Demonstrate Multi-Platform Thinking: If possible, select projects that show your ability to design for different devices or interaction types, emphasizing how you maintained consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing a holistic design process, strong communication skills, and an understanding of Kaelo's mission and the challenges of designing for diverse digital channels.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in unified experience design, multi-platform solutions (web, mobile, bots), and user research. Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects for presentation.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, proficiency in Figma/Sketch, and any experience in health-tech or fintech. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on explaining your process, design decisions, and outcomes. Prepare to discuss how you handle technical constraints and collaborate in Agile environments.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kaelo's product offerings, mission, and values. Understand their target audience and the importance of designing for diverse customer needs within the healthcare and financial services sectors.

⚠️ 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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