Product Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Manager

Company: Sitemate

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia or Sydney, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design & Management

Date Posted: 2026-08-05

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote (with office options in Melbourne/Sydney)

🚀 Role Summary

• This hybrid role integrates Product Design, Product Ownership, and Delivery Management, requiring end-to-end accountability for product outcomes.

• You will be instrumental in shaping product strategy, from early concept exploration and UX design through to successful delivery and ongoing production performance monitoring.

• Collaboration with small, high-trust engineering teams is key, focusing on defining problems, designing innovative solutions, and managing the full product lifecycle in an AI-accelerated environment.

• The position emphasizes a proactive, product-minded approach, where individuals are comfortable with ambiguity and driving results in a fast-paced, high-velocity setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is unique in its integration of design and product management responsibilities, demanding a builder mentality capable of owning multiple facets of product development. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to product development workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept and user experience (UX) exploration to final delivery and post-release performance monitoring.

• Prepare high-level concept designs and detailed UX flows, including information architecture (IA) diagrams, for internal review and customer validation.

• Conduct user research as needed to inform design decisions and ensure a user-centered approach.

• Create high-fidelity UI designs and maintain design systems, ensuring visual consistency and strong attention to detail.

• Define feature scope and acceptance criteria in close collaboration with engineering and product leadership.

• Work closely with engineers to plan, prioritize, and deliver product features, including reviewing completed engineering work.

• Monitor released features, analyze usage metrics (e.g., via Mixpanel), and report on product performance.

• Identify and address UX gaps, quality issues, and edge cases, and triage production support issues.

• Maintain regular written communication with product/design leadership and cross-functional teams on platforms like Slack and Confluence.

• Actively experiment with and leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency in design and development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant emphasis on "owning the outcome," meaning accountability extends beyond design deliverables to the success and performance of the product in production. This requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of design and product ownership principles is essential. Candidates with backgrounds in Design, Computer Science, Product Management, or related fields will find this role aligns well.

Experience: The role requires 5-10 years of experience, with a significant portion focused on product delivery and UX/UI design. Experience in product ownership or similar roles where end-to-end product responsibility was held is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated strong ownership mindset and accountability for product outcomes.

• Proven experience leading product delivery end-to-end, similar to a Product Owner or Product Manager role.

• Proactive experimentation with AI tools to drive efficiency in design and development workflows.

• High proficiency in Figma, including experience with UI libraries and design systems.

• Solid foundation in UX/UI principles with a consistent user-centered design approach.

• Experience designing for both web and mobile applications.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, essential for clear collaboration and documentation.

• Comfort and adaptability in ambiguous situations, making pragmatic trade-offs.

• Strong visual design skills with a meticulous attention to detail. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with SaaS product development.

• Working knowledge of HTML/CSS, beneficial for understanding technical constraints and possibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Have" list strongly emphasizes a proactive, results-oriented mindset and practical experience with core design and product management tools, reflecting Sitemate's fast-paced and ownership-driven culture.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product ownership, demonstrating impact from initial concept through to production performance.

• Include case studies detailing how you defined problems, designed solutions, and managed delivery, highlighting your role in overcoming challenges.

• Present examples of UX/UI design work, emphasizing user-centered methodologies and the use of tools like Figma.

• Demonstrate experience in defining feature scope, acceptance criteria, and collaborating with engineering teams for successful implementation.

• Quantify impact where possible, showcasing improvements in usage metrics, efficiency, or problem resolution. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you've documented product requirements, UX flows, and information architecture.

• Illustrate your approach to planning and prioritizing work, potentially including Jira or similar project management tool usage.

• Showcase how you monitor and analyze production performance, including experience with product analytics tools like Mixpanel.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the hybrid nature of the role, the portfolio should reflect a blend of design thinking and product management execution. A "process walkthrough" link is provided, suggesting a preference for dynamic demonstrations over static documents.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: AUD $60,000 - $150,000 per year (including Superannuation), commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive, performance-based remuneration with potential for proactive pay increases based on results.

• Equity options, providing ownership in the company's growth.

• Generous leave entitlements: 20 days paid annual leave, plus sick, carer’s, and compassionate leave.

• Comprehensive Parental Leave: 16 weeks for primary carers and 6 weeks for secondary carers.

• Learning & Development: A professional growth budget and transparent career development plans.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support.

• Laptop and home office setup budget to ensure a productive remote or hybrid work environment.

• Flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, with the ability to work from anywhere for several weeks annually.

• Community & Connection: Weekly catered lunches, global offsites, and "Life Story" sessions to foster team bonding.

• Melbourne office perks: Micro-roasted coffee bar, on-site parking & bike storage, wellness & mothers rooms, conveniently located opposite Southern Cross station.

Working Hours: The role emphasizes outcomes over hours, offering flexibility. A standard full-time workload is expected, with no time monitoring.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is broad, reflecting the significant experience and end-to-end ownership expected. The inclusion of equity and comprehensive benefits underscores Sitemate's commitment to employee well-being and long-term engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software, specifically focusing on solutions for the "built world" (construction, infrastructure, industrial sectors). Sitemate's flagship product, Dashpivot, digitizes processes for these industries.

Company Size: Over 150 employees, indicating a scale-up phase with established processes but still retaining agility and a close-knit feel.

Founded: 2018, suggesting a relatively young but rapidly growing company that has achieved significant product-market fit.

Team Structure:

• Small, high-trust teams comprising engineers, designers, and product managers, fostering close collaboration.

• Cross-functional integration is a core principle, breaking down traditional silos between design, product, and engineering.

• Reporting likely involves collaboration with product/design leadership, with a focus on shared accountability for team objectives. Methodology:

• Emphasis on transparency, high velocity, hustle, diversity, and innovation as core operating principles.

• Data-driven decision-making, with access to key company metrics and financial performance insights.

• Agile development practices are implied by the focus on rapid iteration and frequent shipping.

• AI-accelerated workflows are being integrated, suggesting a forward-thinking approach to productivity.

Company Website: https://sitemate.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Sitemate's culture appears to be a significant differentiator, valuing autonomy, rapid execution, and a strong sense of shared ownership, which is directly reflected in the hybrid nature of this Product Design Manager role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role sits at a mid-to-senior level, requiring a blend of deep design expertise and product management acumen. It's for individuals who are ready to take on significant ownership and drive product strategy from inception to post-launch.

Reporting Structure: While specific reporting lines aren't detailed, the role implies close collaboration with product and design leadership, likely reporting to a Head of Product or similar senior role. The emphasis on "small, high-trust teams" suggests a flat hierarchy within the immediate working group.

Operations Impact: The Product Design Manager has a direct and substantial impact on business outcomes by owning product performance. This includes driving user adoption, ensuring product-market fit, and contributing to the company's growth through successful feature delivery and ongoing optimization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Potential to grow into a more senior Product Management or Design Leadership role, or to become a subject matter expert in specific product areas.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning is encouraged through a professional growth budget, exposure to AI tools, and the inherent challenges of an end-to-end ownership role.

• Impactful Contributions: Opportunity to significantly influence the product roadmap and company strategy in a rapidly scaling SaaS company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path is less about traditional hierarchical progression and more about increasing scope of ownership, impact, and specialization within a dynamic, high-growth environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers flexibility, supporting both remote and hybrid work arrangements. Sitemate maintains offices in Melbourne and Sydney, providing options for those who prefer an in-office or hybrid setup.

Office Location(s):

• Melbourne: Opposite Southern Cross station, with amenities like micro-roasted coffee, parking, bike storage, wellness rooms.

• Sydney: Location not specified but implied as an option. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Encourages close collaboration within small, high-trust teams, utilizing tools like Slack for seamless communication.

• Tools & Technology: Access to essential productivity tools like Figma, Jira, Confluence, and Mixpanel, with encouragement to leverage AI tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for connection through weekly catered lunches (if in office), global offsites, and "Life Story" sessions, fostering a strong sense of community.

Work Schedule: The focus is on outcomes, not hours. While a full-time commitment is expected, there's flexibility in managing the workday, with no time monitoring or unnecessary meetings. This allows for efficient workflow management and integration of work with personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote flexibility, combined with well-equipped office spaces, caters to a modern workforce while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on relevant experience and the unique hybrid nature of the role.

• Portfolio Walkthrough: A dedicated session to present your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your contributions, and how you navigated challenges. Be prepared to articulate your process and impact.

• Technical/Design Assessment: May include discussions on UX/UI principles, Figma proficiency, and how you approach problem-solving in design and product contexts.

• Product Ownership/Delivery Discussion: Questions will assess your understanding of product lifecycle management, feature scoping, acceptance criteria, and collaboration with engineering.

• Culture Fit Interview: Evaluation of your alignment with Sitemate's core values (transparency, high velocity, hustle, diversity, innovation) and your comfort with autonomy and ownership.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Hybrid Experience: Clearly showcase projects where you've combined design responsibilities with product ownership and delivery management.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics (e.g., user engagement, conversion rates, efficiency gains) to demonstrate the tangible results of your work.

• Showcase Process: Detail your thought process, from problem identification and research to design execution and post-launch analysis. Explain your rationale behind key decisions.

• Demonstrate Ownership: Emphasize your accountability for product outcomes, not just task completion. Discuss how you handled challenges and ownership of issues.

• AI Tool Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've used AI tools to improve your design or product development process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would approach ambiguous product challenges or identify UX gaps in a live product.

• Design System & Figma: Prepare to discuss your experience with design systems, component libraries, and best practices for collaboration in Figma.

• Agile & Delivery: Understand how you contribute to agile ceremonies and collaborate with engineering teams for efficient delivery.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sitemate's product (Dashpivot), their industry, and their stated company values to articulate your fit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process heavily emphasizes portfolio demonstration and the ability to articulate a holistic approach to product development, aligning with Sitemate's integrated role structure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and maintaining design systems. Proficiency with advanced features, collaboration, and component libraries is expected.

• Jira: Used for project management, task tracking, and workflow management, particularly in collaboration with engineering teams.

• Confluence: For documentation, knowledge sharing, and detailing product requirements, feature specifications, and meeting notes.

• Slack: The primary communication platform for real-time team collaboration and updates.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mixpanel (or similar product analytics tools): Crucial for monitoring usage metrics, understanding user behavior, and reporting on feature performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly listed as primary tools for this role, understanding how product design impacts user acquisition and retention within a CRM context is beneficial. The company likely uses CRM systems for sales and customer success operations. AI & Emerging Tools:

• AI Tools (General): Proactive experimentation and integration of AI tools for efficiency in design, coding assistance (e.g., Claude Code), or research is highly encouraged.

• Figma Make: Potentially used for enhancing Figma workflows or integrating with other tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design collaboration, project management, and product analytics, reflecting the operational needs of a fast-paced product team. The explicit mention of AI tools indicates a forward-looking approach to development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Transparency: Open sharing of company metrics, customer stories, and financial performance through monthly All-Hands meetings.

• High Velocity: Commitment to efficient processes and rapid decision-making, enabled by integrated systems and a focus on eliminating manual work.

• Hustle/Drive: Performance-based rewards and recognition, with a culture that values proactive effort and results.

• Autonomy: Focus on outcomes rather than hours, granting flexibility in managing one's workday and responsibilities.

• Diversity & Inclusion: A strong commitment to building diverse teams and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, reflected in their global team composition.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches, especially in leveraging AI for productivity.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with engineers, product leadership, marketing, sales, and customer success.

• Open Communication: Emphasis on clear written and verbal communication across platforms like Slack and Confluence.

• Learning Culture: Encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous learning through team interactions, "Life Story" sessions, and shared metrics.

• Outcome-Oriented: Collaboration is geared towards achieving shared product goals and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Sitemate's culture is built around a set of defined values that directly influence how individuals operate, collaborate, and are rewarded, creating a distinct and high-performance work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Breadth of Ownership: The role demands proficiency across design, product ownership, and delivery, which may be a shift for individuals accustomed to specialized roles.

• Pace of Execution: Sitemate operates at a high velocity, requiring individuals who can learn quickly and ship frequently without waiting for ideal conditions.

• Owning Outcomes: Responsibility extends beyond output (designs) to the success and performance of shipped products, including addressing bugs and UX issues post-release.

• Production Support Integration: Monitoring production support and triaging issues is an integral part of the role, not a separate task.

• Adapting to Culture: A strong culture and established operating procedures may require unlearning some previous work habits.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Develop expertise in product management, delivery coordination, and advanced UX/UI design by owning the full lifecycle.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience and become adept at leveraging AI tools for enhanced productivity and innovation in product development.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunities to grow into senior product or design leadership roles within a scaling tech company.

• Industry Insights: Deepen understanding of the construction and industrial tech sectors through product development for Dashpivot.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, particularly for individuals who thrive in dynamic environments and are eager to expand their skill sets across multiple disciplines.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you owned a product feature from concept to post-launch. What were the key challenges, and how did you measure its success?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and metrics.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Dashpivot, considering our focus on high velocity and integrated roles?" (Assess understanding of Sitemate's methodology and your design/product process.)

• "Imagine a critical bug is reported in a feature you recently shipped. How would you prioritize and manage the triage and resolution process?" (Evaluate your approach to production support and ownership.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Sitemate's hybrid role structure that combines design, product, and delivery?" (Demonstrate understanding of the role's unique demands and your enthusiasm for it.)

• "How do you align with Sitemate's values of transparency, high velocity, and autonomy?" (Provide specific examples of how you embody these values in your work.)

• "How do you stay updated on AI tools and experiment with them in your workflow?" (Showcase your proactive approach to innovation and efficiency.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project, starting with the problem, your approach, key design decisions, collaboration with engineering, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Storytelling: Weave a narrative around each project, highlighting your ownership, the challenges you faced, and the lessons learned.

• Tool Demonstration: Be prepared to briefly showcase your Figma skills or discuss your experience with other relevant tools like Jira or Mixpanel.

• AI Integration: If you've used AI tools in your projects, be ready to explain how and what the impact was.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only technical skills but also the candidate's mindset, adaptability, and cultural fit within Sitemate's unique operational framework.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link (Ashby portal).

• Craft a compelling resume that highlights your experience in end-to-end product ownership, UX/UI design, and collaboration with engineering teams. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare a strong portfolio that showcases your hybrid design and product management capabilities. Focus on projects that demonstrate ownership, problem-solving, and impact.

• Research Sitemate: Understand their product (Dashpivot), their market, their company values, and their unique approach to product development.

• Practice your portfolio presentation: Be ready to articulate your process, decisions, and outcomes clearly and concisely, emphasizing your ability to thrive in a fast-paced, integrated role.

⚠️ 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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