Manager/Senior Manager, Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager/Senior Manager, Product Designer

Company: Mandai Wildlife Group (Mandai X)

Location: Singapore

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-07-24

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for the 'Ranger Buddies' ecosystem, encompassing digital products, gamified learning journeys, and on-ground/physical experiences.

• Drive user-centered design processes from discovery through to delivery, including user flows, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and usability testing.

• Design integrated digital-to-physical experiences, focusing on user engagement, learning outcomes, and emotional connection for children and families.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, educators, and business stakeholders to shape product direction and ensure successful delivery of engaging and purpose-driven experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Mandai X, the growth accelerator and venture-building arm of Mandai Wildlife Group, indicating a focus on innovation, rapid iteration, and potentially new venture development. The emphasis on "Ranger Buddies" suggests a specific product line aimed at educating and engaging children and families in wildlife conservation. The "Manager/Senior Manager" title implies a need for both strong individual contribution and potential leadership or mentorship capabilities within the design team.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design strategy and execution for the Ranger Buddies experience ecosystem, spanning mobile applications, web platforms, physical installations, and hybrid interactive elements.

• Craft intuitive, age-appropriate, and highly engaging experiences for children and families, meticulously balancing educational value, usability, entertainment, and emotional resonance.

• Manage the complete UX design lifecycle, from initial user research and concept development to detailed wireframing, interactive prototyping, and rigorous usability testing.

• Design seamless connected digital-to-physical experience journeys, encompassing interactive elements within parks, educational activity trails, pivotal learning moments, environmental touchpoints, and innovative interactive installations.

• Develop comprehensive user journey maps and system maps to visualize user progression across physical and digital touchpoints, identifying critical engagement opportunities, friction points, and areas for enhancement.

• Plan, conduct, and synthesize findings from usability tests for assigned features and experience journeys, translating insights into actionable design iterations and detailed deliverables like personas, journey maps, storyboards, system maps, flows, and prototypes.

• Employ gamification, behavioral design principles, compelling storytelling, and interactive techniques to drive user engagement and long-term retention within the Ranger Buddies platform.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Content Creation, and Business Development teams to effectively shape product strategy, define priorities, and ensure successful product delivery.

• Demonstrate the ability to balance strategic, long-term vision with hands-on, tactical execution in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.

• Articulate design concepts, decisions, and rationale clearly and persuasively to a diverse range of stakeholders, including those with varying functional backgrounds and seniority levels.

• Contribute to the establishment and nurturing of robust design practices and a thriving design culture within the Mandai X innovation hub.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a unique blend of digital and physical design, requiring a designer capable of thinking holistically about user experiences that span multiple modalities. The emphasis on "gamification," "behavioral design," and "storytelling" points to a need for expertise in driving user engagement and educational impact through creative design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., Interaction Design, UX Design, Graphic Design), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for roles of this caliber.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in product design, UX/UI design, interaction design, or equivalent roles, with a proven track record of shipping successful consumer-facing products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated end-to-end product design thinking, evidenced by a strong portfolio showcasing shipped digital products or designed physical experiences.

• Expertise in user-centered design principles and interaction design methodologies.

• Proven ability to translate complex problems into simple, intuitive, and elegant user experiences.

• Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools, with a high level of skill in Figma being essential.

• Experience in designing consumer-facing products, particularly those targeting families, education, gaming, media, or engagement-driven platforms.

• A strong understanding of designing for both digital interfaces (mobile, web) and physical/hybrid experiences.

• Comfort and proficiency in navigating ambiguity, independently driving initiatives, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to convey design rationale effectively.

• A highly collaborative mindset, with a proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with gamification mechanics, behavioral design patterns, and narrative storytelling techniques to drive engagement and learning.

• Familiarity with user journey mapping, persona development, and usability testing methodologies.

• Experience in designing for conservation, environmental education, or EdTech platforms.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.

• Experience working within agile or lean development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience, combined with the "Manager/Senior Manager" title, suggests that candidates should not only possess strong design skills but also demonstrate leadership potential, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers or influence design direction. The emphasis on Figma is a critical technical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design thinking, showcasing the complete design process from problem identification to solution implementation for both digital products and physical experiences.

• Inclusion of case studies detailing the user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases that led to successful product launches or experience enhancements.

• Clear articulation of the design challenges faced, the strategic decisions made, and the impact of the design solutions on user engagement, learning outcomes, or business objectives.

• Demonstration of proficiency in translating user needs and business goals into intuitive and engaging user interfaces and interactions, particularly for consumer-facing applications.

• Examples of designing for hybrid or connected digital-to-physical experiences, illustrating how these elements integrate seamlessly. Process Documentation:

• Detailed documentation of user-centered design methodologies employed, including user research techniques, journey mapping, information architecture, and wireframing.

• Demonstration of proficiency in creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, showcasing the ability to test and iterate on design concepts effectively.

• Evidence of planning, conducting, and synthesizing findings from usability testing sessions, with clear examples of how feedback informed design iterations and improvements.

• Examples of designing for engagement and retention, potentially through gamification, behavioral design, or compelling storytelling elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should explicitly highlight examples of designing for children and families, and ideally, showcase projects that involve a blend of digital and physical interactive elements. The ability to demonstrate impact through metrics (e.g., increased engagement, learning retention) will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer/Manager role in Singapore with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the innovative nature of Mandai X, the estimated annual salary range is SGD 90,000 - SGD 140,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and the final determination of the Manager vs. Senior Manager level.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision care.

• Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays, aligned with Singaporean labor laws.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training programs, workshops, and attendance at relevant industry conferences.

• Access to a dynamic and collaborative work environment within Mandai X, fostering innovation and creativity.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives tied to the success of new ventures and product lines.

• Employee benefits associated with the broader Mandai Wildlife Group, which may include discounted park access or other group-specific perks.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be 40 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday, with flexibility offered to accommodate project needs and hybrid work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical Senior Product Designer/Manager compensation in Singapore for candidates with 5-10 years of experience, considering the tech/design industry and the specific context of a venture-building arm. Benefits are standard for full-time roles in Singapore and are enhanced by the unique environment of Mandai X.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wildlife Conservation, Tourism, Technology, Venture Building. Mandai Wildlife Group is a renowned organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and education. Mandai X operates as its innovation and venture-building arm, focusing on leveraging technology and creative business models to drive conservation impact on a global scale. This dual focus creates a unique culture that blends purpose-driven mission with entrepreneurial agility.

Company Size: Mandai Wildlife Group is a significant organization. Mandai X, as its venture accelerator, likely operates as a more agile, startup-like unit within the larger group, potentially comprising a few dozen to over a hundred employees. This provides the resources of a large entity with the dynamism of a startup.

Founded: Mandai Wildlife Group has a long history of over 50 years. Mandai X is a more recent initiative, established to accelerate growth and impact through new ventures.

Team Structure:

• The Ranger Buddies team is likely a cross-functional unit, comprising Product Managers, Product Designers (this role), Engineers (front-end, back-end, potentially mobile), Content Specialists (educators, storytellers), and Business Development professionals.

• This role will report to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or a Director within Mandai X, with direct collaboration across product and engineering teams.

• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with educators, conservation experts, and business stakeholders to ensure product alignment with mission and market viability. Methodology:

• Mandai X likely employs agile and lean methodologies for rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration, focusing on data-driven decision-making and user feedback.

• Design processes will emphasize user research, journey mapping, service design thinking, and iterative prototyping to validate concepts and refine user experiences.

• Efforts will be made to integrate technology solutions with physical experiences, requiring a design approach that bridges the digital and physical realms.

Company Website: https://www.mandai.com/ and https://www.mandaix.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of a mission-driven organization with a venture-building arm suggests a culture that values impact, innovation, and collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable with a fast-paced environment and a strong sense of purpose.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Senior Individual Contributor or potential Team Lead position within the Product Design function at Mandai X. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive complex design initiatives from conception to launch. For individuals aspiring to leadership, this role offers a pathway to manage design projects, mentor junior designers, and shape the design vision for key ventures.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to the Head of Product, a Design Lead, or a Director within Mandai X. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a significant impact on the success of the Ranger Buddies platform by creating engaging experiences that drive user adoption, retention, and learning. This directly contributes to Mandai X's mission of influencing attitudes and behaviors towards conservation and sustainability, thereby supporting the broader Mandai Wildlife Group's goals. The role's success will be measured by user engagement metrics, educational impact, and the overall growth and success of the Ranger Buddies venture.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Progress to a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing a team of designers and taking ownership of the design strategy for multiple ventures.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as gamification design, educational technology (EdTech), or designing for physical/experiential products.

• Venture Building: Gain experience in the entire venture lifecycle, from ideation and incubation to scaling, potentially transitioning into product management or business strategy roles within Mandai X.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Develop a broad understanding of product development, engineering, and business strategy, opening doors to diverse career paths within the Mandai ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to shape a purpose-driven product and contribute to a growing venture-building arm. The growth path emphasizes both design specialization and broader product/venture leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description mentions "JustCo – Central Plaza | Coworking & Office Space" in Singapore. This suggests a modern, flexible office environment that may include private offices, shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and collaborative zones typical of a coworking space. This environment is often designed to foster collaboration and provide a dynamic atmosphere.

Office Location(s): Singapore, specifically at JustCo – Central Plaza, which is a central business district location, implying good accessibility and proximity to other businesses and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The coworking space likely offers a stimulating and collaborative environment, encouraging interaction with professionals from various industries.

• Access to modern design tools and technology within the workspace will be standard, supporting efficient workflow and prototyping.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration with immediate team members (Product, Engineering) and broader stakeholders across Mandai X and the Mandai Wildlife Group will be readily available.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with 40 hours per week. The hybrid work arrangement allows for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work, offering flexibility in managing personal and professional commitments. This structure is designed to support both focused individual work and team synergy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The use of a coworking space indicates a modern, flexible approach to workplace design, prioritizing collaboration and accessibility. The hybrid model further supports this by offering work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the recruitment team to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your experience, approach to product design, leadership potential, and understanding of the Ranger Buddies mission.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: A practical exercise or a deep dive into your portfolio, where you'll be asked to present case studies, explain your design process, and articulate how you'd approach specific design problems relevant to Ranger Buddies. This is a critical stage to assess your end-to-end design thinking.

• Cross-functional Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and possibly educators or business stakeholders to evaluate your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader at Mandai X to discuss strategic fit, cultural alignment, and overall suitability for the Manager/Senior Manager level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best represent your end-to-end design process, focusing on those that demonstrate impact, problem-solving, and ideally, experience with consumer-facing products, families, or hybrid digital-physical experiences.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Hybrid Design: If you have experience with designing for both digital and physical touchpoints, make this a focal point. Explain how you connected these experiences and addressed user needs across different modalities.

• Showcase User-Centered Approach: Emphasize how user research and feedback informed your design decisions. Include examples of usability testing and iteration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increase in engagement, user satisfaction scores, conversion rates).

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design rationale, how you handle design trade-offs, and your approach to collaborating with non-designers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Mission: Thoroughly research Mandai Wildlife Group and Mandai X's mission, vision, and values, with a specific focus on the Ranger Buddies initiative. Understand their goals for conservation education and engaging families.

• Empathize with the User: Consider the target audience: children and families. Think about their motivations, pain points, and how they interact with technology and physical environments.

• Think Holistically: Be prepared to discuss how digital and physical experiences can be integrated. Consider the user journey across different touchpoints.

• Focus on Engagement & Learning: The role emphasizes engagement and educational outcomes. Prepare to discuss how design can drive these aspects, potentially through gamification or storytelling.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your design process for any given challenge, explaining your thinking and decision-making at each step.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and alignment with Mandai X's purpose-driven mission. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: High proficiency is required for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe XD, InVision) may be beneficial for specific use cases or handoffs.

• User Research & Testing Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and user interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude to understand user behavior and measure product performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI might be helpful for understanding user data trends, though direct creation may not be the primary responsibility.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how product design integrates with user data managed in CRMs or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required high-proficiency tool. The other tools listed represent common technologies used in product design and analytics to support user research, prototyping, and performance tracking.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven Innovation: A strong commitment to using design and technology to achieve conservation goals and make a positive impact on the planet.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and designing for the needs, behaviors, and experiences of children and families.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership: Valuing teamwork and open communication across disciplines to achieve shared objectives.

• Agility & Iteration: Embracing a fast-paced, iterative approach to product development, learning from feedback, and adapting quickly to new insights.

• Creativity & Curiosity: Encouraging novel ideas, exploration, and a continuous drive to learn and push boundaries in design and venture building.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Working closely within cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Content, Business) with shared ownership of product success.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas, feedback, and constructive criticism are shared openly and respectfully.

• Design Advocacy: Actively participating in design reviews, sharing best practices, and contributing to the overall design maturity of the organization.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engaging with various stakeholders to gather input, present design solutions, and build consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely a blend of the mission-driven ethos of a conservation organization and the entrepreneurial spirit of a venture builder. Candidates who are passionate about the mission and thrive in dynamic, collaborative environments will be a good fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Mission and Commercial Viability: Designing experiences that are both deeply impactful for conservation and engaging for users, while also ensuring the commercial success of new ventures.

• Integrating Digital and Physical Experiences: Creating seamless and intuitive user journeys that span across mobile apps, web platforms, and physical environments (e.g., parks).

• Designing for Diverse Audiences: Catering to the needs and perspectives of children (various age groups) and their parents, ensuring age-appropriateness and educational value.

• Rapid Iteration in a Venture Setting: Adapting to fast-paced development cycles, potential pivots, and the inherent ambiguity of building new ventures.

• Establishing Design Standards: Contributing to the development and implementation of strong design practices within a growing innovation arm.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Deepen expertise in areas like gamification for education, behavioral design for conservation, or designing for immersive/interactive physical experiences.

• Venture Building Acumen: Gain exposure to business strategy, market analysis, and the full lifecycle of startup creation and growth.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Collaborate with experts in conservation, education, technology, and business, expanding your knowledge base.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially step into management roles.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend relevant conferences or workshops focused on product design, EdTech, or conservation innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of roles in innovative venture-building units, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The growth opportunities are significant for individuals looking to expand their skillset beyond core design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an interactive educational experience for children aged 6-8 within a wildlife park that connects to a mobile app?" (Assesses digital-physical integration, age-appropriateness, and educational focus).

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with business constraints or technical limitations. How did you navigate this?" (Evaluates problem-solving, negotiation, and design trade-offs).

• "How would you design a gamified system to encourage repeat visits to Ranger Buddies activities and foster a greater understanding of wildlife conservation?" (Tests understanding of gamification, engagement loops, and mission alignment).

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you designed a consumer-facing digital product from end to end. What was the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?" (Assesses portfolio depth, process, and ability to articulate impact). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Mandai X's mission and the Ranger Buddies initiative specifically?" (Assesses alignment with purpose and company values).

• "How do you approach collaborating with engineers, product managers, and content creators who may not have a design background?" (Evaluates cross-functional collaboration skills).

• "How do you define 'success' for a product like Ranger Buddies, and how would your design work contribute to that success?" (Tests strategic thinking and impact measurement).

• "Describe a situation where you received critical feedback on your design. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?" (Assesses openness to feedback and learning agility). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your unique contributions, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes. Aim for a clear beginning, middle, and end.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, prototypes, and journey maps to illustrate your points. Avoid text-heavy slides; let the visuals speak for themselves.

• Focus on "Why" and "How": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions. How did you arrive at this solution? Why was it the right approach?

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. If metrics are unavailable, articulate the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, user research findings, and alternative solutions you considered.

• Showcase Adaptability: If possible, include examples of how your designs evolved based on user feedback or changing project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a user-centered design process, strong collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and a genuine passion for Mandai X's conservation mission. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these attributes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Mandai Wildlife Group careers portal via the provided URL.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design thinking, particularly those involving consumer products, digital-physical integration, or engagement-driven experiences. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your role, and the outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience and skills directly relevant to product design, UX/UI, interaction design, Figma proficiency, and experience with consumer-facing or family-oriented products. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process and the rationale behind your decisions. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail and how they align with the mission of Mandai X and the Ranger Buddies initiative.

• Research Mandai X: Understand the company's mission, values, and the specific goals of the Ranger Buddies platform. Prepare thoughtful questions to demonstrate your engagement and interest.

⚠️ 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.

---