Orchard - Senior UI / UX Designer

Enero
Full-timeSydney, Australia

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Orchard - Senior UI / UX Designer

Company: Enero

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design / Digital Design

Date Posted: May 14, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the end-to-end digital design process, from concept and wireframing to high-fidelity UI production and developer handoff.

  • Champion a user-centric design approach, integrating UX principles and accessibility standards (WCAG) into all visual design outputs.

  • Drive client-facing design consultations and presentations, effectively communicating design rationale and project outcomes.

  • Mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and craft excellence within the Experience team.

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including strategists, developers, and copywriters to deliver integrated digital solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is described as primarily UI-focused but with a strong emphasis on UX thinking. The "Senior" title implies leadership and significant autonomy in design execution and client interaction, necessitating a strong portfolio demonstrating both visual craft and strategic user-centered design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • UI Design & Production:

    • Architect and produce visually compelling, user-friendly interfaces for responsive and adaptive websites, mobile applications, email campaigns, display advertisements, and social media content.
    • Create high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and maintain/extend design systems and component libraries for consistent brand application.
    • Develop and document production-ready assets and design intent clearly for developer implementation using tools like Figma.
    • Prepare and optimize visual assets (images, GIFs, videos) for various digital platforms, ensuring performance and aesthetic quality.
  • UX Support & Thinking:

    • Interpret user research findings, wireframes, and user flows to inform and translate into polished UI solutions.
    • Contribute to requirements gathering and brainstorming sessions with a strong design-thinking perspective.
    • Champion accessibility (WCAG standards) and human-centered design principles in all deliverables, ensuring alignment with user needs and usability best practices.
  • Leadership & Collaboration:

    • Mentor and guide junior designers, sharing expertise in design tools, craft, and effective process methodologies.

    • Lead client interactions, consultations, and presentations, articulating design concepts and rationale with confidence and clarity.

    • Partner with Creative Directors and Associate Creative Directors to ensure the highest quality and consistency of design output across projects.

    • Collaborate with strategists and copywriters to develop creative concepts that align with client business objectives and user needs.

    • Actively participate in Agile sprint planning and review processes, contributing design insights and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on UI execution and strategic UX contribution. The emphasis on client interaction and mentoring signifies a senior-level expectation for leadership and proactive engagement. The mention of "modular component libraries" and "design token systems" points to a need for scalable and maintainable design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5-7 years of experience in a UI or digital design role, preferably within a creative agency environment.

Required Skills:

  • Expert proficiency in digital design and prototyping tools, including Figma (with experience in Variables and variable collections for design tokens), Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.

  • Demonstrated experience with prototyping and interaction design tools such as Framer, Principle, InVision, or Adobe After Effects.

  • Proven ability to ideate, conceptualize, and communicate design rationale both visually and verbally.

  • Solid understanding of UI/UX principles, design thinking, human-centered design, and their practical application.

  • Experience in creating and working with design systems, component libraries, and design tokens for scalable design solutions.

  • Hands-on experience in preparing developer-ready handoff documentation and designing to technical specifications.

  • Proficiency in preparing and optimizing visual assets (images, GIFs, video) for web, social, email, and display advertising.

  • Strong knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their practical implementation in UI design.

  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and client presentation skills.

  • Self-motivated, proactive, and adept at managing competing priorities in a fast-paced agency setting. Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in UX design, including user research, information architecture, wireframing, and usability testing.

  • Familiarity with CMS platforms such as Optimizely, Drupal, AEM, WordPress, or Umbraco.

  • Motion design skills using After Effects, Premiere, or similar tools.

  • Experience designing digital display ad campaigns and animations.

  • Experience contributing to new business pitches and presenting creative concepts to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, design tokens, and developer handoff indicates a need for a designer who understands modern design workflows and can bridge the gap between design and development effectively. Experience with specific CMS platforms is a plus, suggesting potential client work in those environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-7 years of digital design work, with a strong emphasis on UI design and user experience.

  • Demonstrated projects that highlight the full design lifecycle, from initial concept and wireframing to high-fidelity UI design, prototyping, and developer handoff.

  • Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

  • Examples of work on responsive and adaptive websites, mobile applications, email campaigns, and potentially display/social media creative.

  • Demonstrations of your ability to work with, extend, and maintain design systems and component libraries, including examples of design token implementation. Process Documentation:

  • Showcasing your approach to user research interpretation and how it informed your UI design decisions.

  • Examples of wireframes, user flows, and interaction designs that demonstrate a deep understanding of UX principles.

  • Documentation of your developer handoff process, including how you communicate design intent and specifications.

  • Evidence of applying WCAG accessibility standards in your design work.

  • Examples of how you have optimized visual assets for various digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should clearly illustrate the candidate's ability to not only create aesthetically pleasing interfaces but also to employ a strategic, user-centered design process. Emphasis on design systems, tokens, and developer handoff suggests a need for organized, scalable, and technically informed design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UI/UX Designers in Sydney, Australia, with 5-7 years of experience, the estimated salary range is AUD $110,000 - $140,000 per annum. This can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation.

Benefits:

  • Structured internal and external training programs.

  • Comprehensive education programs for continuous learning and skill development.

  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering wellbeing support.

  • Commitment to a healthy work/life balance.

  • Opportunities for professional and personal development.

Working Hours: Full-time employment, typically around 40 hours per week, with a focus on work/life balance, suggesting flexibility within the standard work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from Australian job boards and salary aggregators for similar roles in Sydney, considering the specified experience level and industry. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text, highlighting Enero's investment in employee growth and well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health and Wellness Agency, leveraging creativity and technology.

Company Size: Enero is part of a larger group, and Orchard operates as a distinct agency within it. While specific size for Orchard isn't stated, Enero Group is a significant entity in the marketing services sector. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also the agility of a specialized agency.

Founded: Orchard is described as "Australia's leading health and wellness agency," suggesting a strong market presence and established history. The Enero Group's founding date is not specified but is implied to be long enough to establish a significant group presence.

Team Structure:

  • The "Experience team" is mentioned, led by an Experience Design Director.

  • Collaboration is highlighted with strategists, UX consultants, developers, copywriters, Creative Directors, and Associate Creative Directors.

  • The structure encourages cross-functional teamwork, with designers working closely with other disciplines to achieve project goals.

  • A mentoring relationship exists between senior and junior designers. Methodology:

  • Focus on inventing "better outcomes through creativity and technology."

  • Blends modern marketing with science, powered by deep digital experience.

  • Employs design thinking and human-centered design principles.

  • Operates with a collaborative studio environment and a "leave egos at the door" mentality.

  • Participates in Agile sprint planning and review processes.

Company Website: www.enero.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Orchard's specialization in health and wellness, combined with a creative and technology-driven approach, sets a unique context. The culture is described as fun, hardworking, collaborative, and ego-free, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being and development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UI/UX Designer role. It signifies a level of expertise where individuals are expected to lead design initiatives, mentor others, and engage directly with clients. The role requires a deep understanding of both the aesthetic and functional aspects of digital design, coupled with strategic thinking about user journeys and business objectives.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI/UX Designer will report to the Experience Design Director and collaborate closely with Creative Directors and Associate Creative Directors. They will also mentor junior design team members.

Operations Impact: The Senior UI/UX Designer's impact is critical in translating complex health and wellness concepts into engaging, user-friendly digital experiences. Their work directly influences patient engagement, healthcare professional interactions, and the effectiveness of brand campaigns, ultimately contributing to client success and business outcomes for Orchard.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UI/UX, potentially specializing further in areas like interaction design, motion graphics, or UX research, given the "Desirable Skills" section.

  • Leadership Development: Growing into a lead designer role, managing larger projects, and potentially taking on more significant client relationship responsibilities. Mentoring junior staff provides early leadership experience.

  • Strategic Contribution: Contributing to the evolution of the agency's design systems, processes, and client strategies. Involvement in new business pitches offers exposure to business development.

  • Industry Exposure: Working with diverse clients in the health and wellness sector provides unique industry insights and a broad portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a clear career path beyond this role, potentially towards an Experience Design Lead, Senior UX Consultant, or even a Creative Director position, depending on individual strengths and agency structure. The emphasis on client interaction and mentoring suggests opportunities to develop leadership and strategic planning skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, within a collaborative studio environment described as "amazingly stocked kitchen pantry and lolly table." This suggests a dynamic, well-resourced, and social workspace.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Level 2/100 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW, Australia. This is a well-established business district in Sydney.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The office is designed to foster interaction and idea-sharing among inspiring people.

  • Resources: A well-stocked kitchen and lolly table indicate a focus on employee comfort and a positive atmosphere.

  • Technology: As a digital design role, expect access to industry-standard design software and hardware. The mention of design systems and developer handoff implies strong integration with development tools and workflows.

  • Team Interaction: Frequent collaboration with strategists, developers, copywriters, and design leadership is integral to the role.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a stated commitment to a "healthy work/life balance," suggesting that while the role is demanding, it values employee well-being and aims for sustainable working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description paints a picture of a vibrant, modern agency office environment that encourages both focused work and team interaction. The Pyrmont location offers good connectivity within Sydney.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements and required experience.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through key projects, design process, and rationale. Expect in-depth questions about your approach to UI/UX, design systems, developer handoff, and client interactions.

  • Skills & Technical Assessment: Potential exercises or discussions focused on specific design challenges, problem-solving scenarios, or technical proficiency with design tools.

  • Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential team members and leadership (e.g., Creative Director, Experience Design Director) to assess collaboration style, communication, and cultural alignment with Orchard's values.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss your vision, career aspirations, and overall fit within the agency.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your UI design, UX thinking, and ability to work within established design systems or build new ones. Prioritize projects relevant to digital interfaces, responsive design, and ideally, health/wellness clients if possible.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your process (research, wireframing, UI design, prototyping, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

  • Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly demonstrate your expertise in Figma, design systems, design tokens, WCAG accessibility, and developer handoff. If applicable, showcase your UX research and wireframing contributions.

  • Showcase Visual Craft: Ensure your visual designs are polished, well-crafted, and demonstrate a strong understanding of typography, color theory, layout, and branding.

  • Prepare for Client Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would present designs to clients and handle feedback or objections.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Design Thinking Application: Be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving for ambiguous briefs, applying human-centered design principles.

  • Technical Proficiency: Brush up on advanced features of Figma, including variables, component variants, and prototyping. Understand how to structure design systems for scalability and developer efficiency.

  • Accessibility: Be ready to explain how you incorporate WCAG standards into your design process and rationale.

  • Agency Context: Research Enero and Orchard to understand their client base, values, and recent work. Tailor your responses to reflect an understanding of their business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio presentation and potential design challenges suggests a strong focus on practical skills and the ability to articulate design thinking. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process in detail and demonstrate how they translate strategy into effective visual solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • UI/UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (must-have, including Variables for design tokens), Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator.

  • Prototyping & Interaction: Framer, Principle, InVision, Adobe After Effects.

  • Design Systems & Tokens: Figma Variables, established design token methodologies.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly mentioned for this role, understanding how design impacts metrics will be beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) and A/B testing concepts would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant to this design role, but understanding how digital interfaces integrate with backend systems or CRM data may be beneficial for context.

Content Management Systems (CMS):

  • Desirable: Optimizely, Drupal, AEM, WordPress, Umbraco. Familiarity with these platforms indicates an understanding of where designs will be implemented.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is heavily focused on industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a clear emphasis on Figma and its advanced features for design systems and tokens. Experience with specific CMS platforms is a significant plus, indicating a need for designers who can work within common web development environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Creativity & Technology: A core belief in leveraging both to invent "better outcomes."

  • Excellence in Craft: A commitment to producing high-quality, visually compelling, and user-friendly digital interfaces.

  • Collaboration & Ego-Free: A culture that values teamwork, open communication, and leaving personal egos aside for the benefit of the project and client.

  • User-Centricity: A dedication to understanding user behavior and needs to create meaningful experiences.

  • Continuous Improvement: Encouragement for ongoing professional development and learning.

  • Well-being: A focus on maintaining a healthy work/life balance and supporting employee welfare.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with strategists, UX consultants, developers, copywriters, and creative leadership.

  • Client-Facing: Comfortable and confident in presenting design concepts and rationale directly to clients.

  • Mentorship: Senior members actively support and guide junior team members, fostering a learning environment.

  • Agile Methodologies: Participation in Agile sprints implies iterative development, feedback loops, and adaptive planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Orchard by Enero appears to be a blend of high-performance agency work with a strong emphasis on positive team dynamics, individual growth, and client success within the specialized health and wellness sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing UI Polish with UX Strategy: Effectively integrating deep UX thinking into a role primarily focused on UI production, ensuring designs are not just beautiful but also highly functional and user-centered.

  • Client Management & Feedback: Navigating client expectations, presenting complex design rationales, and incorporating feedback constructively, especially in the fast-paced agency environment.

  • Technical Constraints & Handoff: Designing within technical limitations and ensuring seamless, accurate handoff to development teams, especially with complex interactive elements or design systems.

  • Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with evolving design tools, methodologies, and digital trends to maintain a competitive edge.

  • Brand Guideline Adherence & Extension: Applying and thoughtfully extending existing brand guidelines and design systems across diverse digital touchpoints while maintaining consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in interaction design, motion graphics, and potentially UX research through project work and internal training.

  • Leadership & Mentorship: Developing leadership capabilities by mentoring junior designers and potentially leading project design efforts.

  • Client Strategy: Gaining exposure to client business objectives and strategic thinking through direct client interaction and new business pitch involvement.

  • Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise in the health and wellness sector, understanding its unique design challenges and opportunities.

  • Design System Evolution: Contributing to the development and refinement of robust design systems and tokenization strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior design role in an agency, requiring a blend of creative talent, technical proficiency, and strong interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with advancing a career in digital design leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Walk me through a project where you had to balance a strict brand guideline with a complex user experience requirement. How did you approach it?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and how you ensured both aesthetic and functional goals were met.)

  • "Describe a time you had to present a design concept to a client who was resistant to your ideas. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific example demonstrating your communication, persuasion, and client management skills.)

  • "How do you approach the developer handoff process to ensure your designs are implemented accurately? What tools and documentation do you use?" (Highlight your understanding of the design-to-development workflow, including your proficiency with Figma, design tokens, and clear documentation.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about Orchard and our work in the health and wellness sector?" (Research Enero/Orchard's client roster, case studies, and values. Connect your skills and interests to their mission.)

  • "How do you contribute to a collaborative and ego-free team environment?" (Provide examples of your teamwork, communication style, and how you handle constructive feedback.)

  • "Describe your experience with design systems and design tokens. How do they improve efficiency and consistency?" (Be ready to discuss your practical experience and the benefits of these methodologies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your UX philosophy and UI approach. Then, select 3-4 key projects. For each, clearly state the client/project goal, your specific role, the problem you solved, your design process (wireframes, UI, prototypes, research), the final solution, and the results/impact.

  • Demonstrate "Why": For every design decision, be prepared to explain the rationale behind it, linking it back to user needs, business objectives, or technical considerations.

  • Showcase Technical Proficiency: Explicitly point out your use of Figma, design tokens, and your developer handoff process within your project examples.

  • Engage and Interact: Treat the presentation as a conversation. Be open to questions throughout and be ready to elaborate on specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skill but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and a clear understanding of agency workflows and client needs within the health and wellness domain.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI/UX Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

  • Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features projects that align with the requirements: strong UI design, UX thinking, design systems, design tokens, WCAG accessibility, and developer handoff. Prioritize examples showcasing your work on responsive websites, apps, or digital campaigns.

  • Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5-7 years of agency experience, proficiency in Figma and other relevant design tools, and your ability to lead design initiatives and client interactions. Use keywords from the job description such as "UI Design," "UX Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," and "WCAG."

  • Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your design process, and answering strategy-based questions. Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems, tokens, and developer handoff in detail. Research Enero and Orchard to prepare for company-specific questions.

  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Enero's group of agencies, Orchard's specialization in health and wellness, and their recent work. Understand their stated values and culture to better articulate your fit.

⚠️ 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

Requires 5-7 years of UI or digital design experience, preferably in an agency, with an expert portfolio and proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. Must have a strong understanding of UX principles, design systems, and accessibility standards.