Senior Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Manager

Company: Back Market

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (Hybrid)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design Management / GTM Operations (Design Strategy Focus)

Date Posted: 2026-04-10T00:00:00

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 1 remote week per quarter, 3 flex days)

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads the design strategy and execution for Back Market's critical purchase experience, encompassing search, product discovery, comparison, and checkout flows.

• Manages and mentors a distributed team of 4 designers (3 Product Designers, 1 Content Designer), fostering their growth and high-quality output.

• Partners closely with Product and Engineering counterparts to co-own vision, translate user insights into tangible experiences, and drive key conversion metrics.

• Contributes to the broader Design leadership team, championing design quality, user-centricity, and operational excellence across the organization.

• Leverages data and experimentation (A/B testing) to inform design decisions and optimize user journeys within an e-commerce/marketplace context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Design Manager," this role has significant implications for Go-To-Market (GTM) operations through its focus on the purchase experience and conversion optimization. The responsibilities align with managing design strategy that directly impacts revenue and customer acquisition/retention, a key area for revenue operations. The emphasis on data, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration with Product and Engineering further solidifies this connection.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, execute, and champion the design vision and strategy for the entire purchase experience, from initial product discovery through to successful checkout and post-purchase services.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of product and content designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment that encourages innovation and user advocacy.

• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate strategic objectives, user research, and market insights into impactful, user-centric design solutions.

• Drive hands-on design work for critical projects, ensuring a seamless blend of strategic vision and meticulous execution, particularly where user experience directly influences conversion rates.

• Champion design quality and user-centric principles in all cross-functional discussions, proactively identifying and addressing potential trade-offs to maintain a superior user experience.

• Establish and refine design team rituals, operational processes, and collaboration frameworks to ensure efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement.

• Actively participate in the Design leadership team to elevate design standards, share best practices, and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the design organization.

• Utilize data analytics and A/B testing results to inform design iterations, measure impact, and continuously optimize the purchase funnel for both user satisfaction and business objectives.

• Integrate AI-driven insights and tools into the design process to enhance user experience and drive innovation within the purchase journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strategic thinking and execution, which is crucial for operations roles. The emphasis on "defining and executing vision and design strategy" and "partnering with cross-functional stakeholders" are core to operations management. The mention of "critical projects where strategic vision meets hands-on craft" indicates a need for both strategic planning and tactical execution, common in senior operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in product design, with a significant portion in leadership roles.

• Proven experience in design leadership, including managing and mentoring distributed teams of 3+ direct reports, or equivalent people leadership experience.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop design teams, fostering growth and high performance in remote and hybrid settings.

• E-commerce/Marketplace Expertise: In-depth understanding of the purchase funnel, product discovery, and checkout optimization within online retail environments.

• Strategic Vision & Tactical Execution: Ability to articulate long-term design strategies while also possessing keen attention to detail for immediate design improvements.

• Data-Driven Design & Experimentation: Hands-on experience with A/B testing, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and leveraging user data to inform design decisions.

• AI Tooling Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in leveraging AI tools within design workflows to enhance user experience and drive innovation.

• Organizational & Prioritization Skills: Strong ability to bring clarity to complex situations, prioritize effectively, and guide teams through ambiguity.

• Emotional Intelligence: Humble, empathetic, caring, and supportive leadership style.

• Communication Proficiency: Excellent English communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and influence senior stakeholders effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Hands-on experience with advanced purchase funnel optimization techniques.

• Fluency with modern design tools such as Figma, advanced prototyping tools, and AI-powered design platforms.

• Experience building and scaling design systems.

• Fluency in additional languages relevant to Back Market's global operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills strongly emphasize aspects relevant to operations: "Data-Driven Design & Experimentation" and "Organizational & Prioritization Skills" are core to operations management. "AI Tooling Proficiency" is increasingly critical in modern operations. The "e-commerce or marketplace purchase experiences" requirement points to a specific domain expertise that often overlaps with GTM and revenue operations focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Purchase Funnel Optimization Case Studies: Detailed examples showcasing your strategic approach to improving conversion rates, user satisfaction, and key performance indicators (KPIs) within e-commerce or marketplace purchase flows.

• Team Leadership & Development Examples: Evidence of your ability to lead, mentor, and grow design teams, including examples of 1:1s, feedback mechanisms, and career development initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Projects: Demonstrations of successful partnerships with Product Management and Engineering, highlighting your role in co-creating product vision and translating insights into actionable designs.

• Data-Driven Design & Experimentation Projects: Case studies that clearly illustrate how you've used data analytics and A/B testing to inform design decisions and measure the impact of your work on business outcomes.

• AI Integration Examples: Showcase any projects where AI tools were utilized to enhance user experience or streamline design processes within the purchase journey.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you've mapped, analyzed, and optimized design workflows to improve efficiency and output quality for your team.

• Design System Frameworks: If applicable, present any frameworks or methodologies used for building and scaling design systems that ensure consistency and efficiency across product experiences.

• Agile/Hybrid Process Integration: Show how your design processes integrate seamlessly with Agile or hybrid development methodologies, including sprint planning, feedback loops, and iterative development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Purchase Funnel Optimization Case Studies," "Data-Driven Design & Experimentation Projects," and "Workflow Design & Optimization" directly aligns with the need for operations professionals to demonstrate process improvement capabilities and measurable impact. The requirement for "Cross-Functional Collaboration Projects" is also a key aspect of operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the Senior Design Manager title, the location in Barcelona, Spain, and the implied experience level (5-10 years), a competitive salary range for this role in Barcelona would typically fall between €60,000 and €85,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major European tech hubs, considering the cost of living in Barcelona and the company's focus on a global marketplace.

Benefits:

• Mission-Driven Work Environment: Contribute to a company with a strong environmental and sustainability mission (certified B Corp).

• Hybrid Work Environment: Flexible work arrangement with 2 remote days per week, 1 remote work week per quarter, and an additional 3 flex days for enhanced work-life balance.

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Access to various groups for community building, networking, and support.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities for professional development and guidance from experienced individuals.

• Comprehensive Accessibility Policies: Commitment to an inclusive workplace that accommodates diverse needs.

• Cultural Competency Training: Opportunities to enhance understanding and collaboration across diverse backgrounds.

• Impactful Work: Direct contribution to making refurbished tech reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly.

• Career Development: Hands-on career development within an innovative and fast-paced environment.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically assuming a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model and additional flex days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for similar Senior Design Manager roles in Barcelona, considering the tech industry and the company's established presence. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, highlighting aspects important to operations professionals such as flexibility, development, and a mission-driven purpose.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Marketplace (Refurbished Electronics)

Company Size: Back Market has grown significantly and is considered a mid-to-large sized tech company, employing over 1,000 individuals globally across various functions including engineering, product, design, marketing, operations, and customer care. This size indicates established processes but also room for agility and impact.

Founded: Back Market was founded in 2014, signifying a company with a solid track record and established market presence, yet still operating within a dynamic and evolving tech landscape.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: A diverse group of 24 designers located across Europe, New York, and Tokyo, fostering a global perspective.

• Reporting Structure: This role reports into Design leadership and partners closely with Product and Engineering counterparts. The Senior Design Manager directly leads a team of 4 designers, with potential for team expansion.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: High emphasis on collaboration between Design, Product, and Engineering to co-own product vision and drive business outcomes.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong reliance on user data, experimentation, and A/B testing to inform design strategies and product iterations.

• User-Centric Design: A core philosophy focused on understanding and meeting user needs, particularly within the purchase experience.

• Agile Development Integration: Design processes are expected to integrate with agile methodologies, ensuring iterative development and continuous improvement.

• Sustainability & Circularity Focus: The company's mission deeply influences its operations and product development, with a commitment to environmental impact.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and mission are crucial context for operations professionals, as sustainability and circularity often drive operational efficiency and strategy. The team structure and collaboration emphasis highlight the operational dynamics of a global tech company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the design function, with significant strategic responsibility and people management duties. It bridges the gap between individual contributor design expertise and broader product/GTM strategy, akin to a Senior Manager or Director level in operations. The focus on owning a critical user journey (purchase experience) and driving key business metrics (conversion) positions it as a high-impact role.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Design Manager reports into Design leadership and works in close partnership with Product and Engineering managers. This structure emphasizes cross-functional alignment, a hallmark of effective GTM and revenue operations. The direct management of a design team signifies responsibility for team performance, development, and operational efficiency within their domain.

Operations Impact: The Senior Design Manager's work directly impacts revenue through the optimization of the purchase experience. By improving conversion rates, user satisfaction, and the overall attractiveness of refurbished tech, this role contributes significantly to Back Market's top-line growth and its mission of promoting circular commerce. The strategic ownership of this critical user journey means design decisions have quantifiable business results.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Director-level role, managing larger teams or broader design domains within Back Market.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of Back Market's purchase experience and contribute to high-level product strategy discussions.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop deeper expertise in product management and engineering collaboration, enhancing overall GTM strategy understanding.

• Specialization in E-commerce/Marketplaces: Deepen expertise in optimizing complex online retail environments and driving circular economy initiatives.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Further develop coaching and leadership skills by guiding a growing team and contributing to the broader design community within Back Market.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis translates the design management role into an operations context, highlighting its strategic impact on revenue and GTM, and outlining potential career progression paths relevant to operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Back Market operates a hybrid work model, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. The office environment in Barcelona is designed to foster collaboration and innovation for the days teams are present.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. This location offers a vibrant tech ecosystem and cultural hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office space is likely designed to encourage team interaction, brainstorming, and cross-functional meetings on in-office days.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools (Figma, prototyping, AI tooling) is provided, supporting efficient and innovative design processes.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design team members, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders on office days, facilitating strong working relationships and operational alignment.

Work Schedule: The role follows a standard full-time schedule with significant flexibility due to the hybrid model (2 remote days/week, 1 remote week/quarter, 3 flex days). This allows for focused individual work and efficient management of operational tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key consideration for operations professionals, impacting how teams collaborate, manage workflows, and maintain operational cadence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio, focusing on leadership experience, e-commerce expertise, and demonstrated impact.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess leadership style, strategic thinking, team management approach, and alignment with Back Market's culture and mission. Expect questions on how you've handled team challenges and driven results.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product and Engineering counterparts to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of product development cycles, and ability to balance user needs with business objectives.

• Design Leadership Interview: An interview with other design leaders to discuss your vision for the purchase experience, approach to design quality, and contributions to design operations and strategy.

• Case Study Presentation (Potential): You may be asked to present a past project or a hypothetical scenario demonstrating your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate design decisions and their impact.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: Clearly articulate the business impact of your design work using metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, revenue lift). For this role, focus on purchase funnel metrics.

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you’ve led teams, mentored designers, and driven operational improvements within design processes.

• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Demonstrate your ability to connect design decisions to broader business goals and product strategy.

• Detail Your Process: Explain your approach to problem-solving, user research, ideation, iteration, and how you leverage data and AI.

• Tailor to Back Market: Emphasize experience in e-commerce, marketplaces, and a passion for sustainability and circularity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Purchase Funnel: Be prepared to discuss common challenges and optimization strategies for e-commerce purchase flows.

• Data & Experimentation: Think about how you would use data and A/B testing to diagnose issues and test solutions within the purchase journey.

• Team Management Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've managed underperforming team members, resolved conflicts, and fostered growth.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating complex design ideas and trade-offs to non-design stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is framed with operations professionals in mind, emphasizing the need to quantify impact, demonstrate process management, and highlight strategic alignment, which are key in operations roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary design tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating design systems within Figma is a plus.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with advanced prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Principle, ProtoPie) for creating interactive user flows and testing.

• AI Tooling: Familiarity and experience with leveraging AI tools in design workflows, such as AI-powered content generation, image enhancement, or user insight analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior, conversion funnels, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

• A/B Testing Platforms: Hands-on experience with experimentation tools (e.g., Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize) to design, run, and analyze A/B tests.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI to interpret data and present insights effectively to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (Indirectly): While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts customer journeys within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design projects, sprints, and team workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Expertise in platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Confluence for communication and knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operations roles, as it details the technology stack. The emphasis on analytics, A/B testing, and project management tools directly aligns with the operational aspects of managing design strategy and execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible results and making a measurable impact on the planet and business objectives. This aligns with operations’ focus on ROI and efficiency.

• User-Centricity: Deeply understanding and prioritizing user needs in all design and operational decisions.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work together openly and share information to achieve common goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas, challenging the status quo, and always seeking ways to optimize processes and experiences.

• Empathy & Support: Cultivating a supportive and caring environment for team members, promoting well-being and professional growth.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Design works closely with Product and Engineering, operating as integrated teams to drive product development and GTM strategies.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encourages open feedback loops for continuous improvement of designs, processes, and team dynamics.

• Data-Informed Discussions: Collaboration is often grounded in data and insights, leading to more objective and effective decision-making.

• Agile Cadence: Workflows are structured around agile principles, promoting iterative progress and responsiveness to change.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are framed to resonate with operations professionals, emphasizing data, process, impact, and cross-functional synergy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Tactical Execution: Maintaining a clear long-term vision while ensuring immediate design needs and quality are met for critical purchase flows.

• Managing a Distributed Team: Effectively leading, motivating, and ensuring high performance from a team spread across different time zones and locations.

• Driving Conversion in a Competitive Market: Continuously optimizing the purchase experience in a dynamic e-commerce landscape to meet ambitious conversion targets.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Staying ahead of AI advancements and strategically integrating new tools and capabilities into the design process without compromising user experience or ethical standards.

• Championing Design Quality Amidst Trade-offs: Advocating for user needs and design excellence when faced with business constraints or competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Leadership Skills: Opportunities to hone people management, coaching, and strategic leadership skills within a growing global company.

• E-commerce & Marketplace Specialization: Deepen expertise in optimizing complex online purchase journeys and understanding the nuances of circular commerce.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to broader product strategy, roadmapping, and business planning alongside Product and Engineering leadership.

• Innovation in AI for Design: Explore and implement cutting-edge AI applications within the design lifecycle.

• Mentorship and Community: Benefit from Back Market's commitment to employee development through mentorship programs and Employee Resource Groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are presented with an operations lens, focusing on process, team management, and strategic execution, while growth opportunities highlight skill development relevant to career progression in operations and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you defined and executed a design strategy for a critical user journey, like a purchase funnel. What was your approach, what were the key metrics, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic planning, execution, and impact measurement).

• "How do you balance the needs of the business with the needs of the user when making design trade-offs? Provide an example from your experience." (Focus on negotiation, stakeholder management, and user advocacy).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Back Market's mission of promoting circular commerce and making tech sustainable? How would you integrate this mission into the design of the purchase experience?" (Focus on cultural alignment and mission-driven approach).

• "How do you ensure collaboration and alignment between Design, Product, and Engineering teams? Describe a successful cross-functional project you were part of." (Focus on cross-functional operations and communication).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem (business and user), Your Role, The Process (research, ideation, design, testing), The Solution, and The Results (quantified impact).

• Emphasize Strategic Input: Highlight how you translated business goals into design strategies and how your design decisions directly contributed to key metrics like conversion rates.

• Showcase Leadership: If possible, include examples of how you guided your team through a project, managed their work, or influenced stakeholders.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, challenges encountered, and how you'd apply your experience to Back Market’s specific purchase funnel.

• Be Concise and Visual: Use clear visuals and concise language to communicate your ideas effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to highlight transferable skills for operations roles, such as strategic thinking, data utilization, process management, and stakeholder communication, within the context of a design leadership position.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Ashby platform.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience in e-commerce purchase funnels, design leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. Ensure each case study quantifies impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to design leadership, e-commerce, conversion optimization, A/B testing, team management, and strategic planning. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting your selected case studies, focusing on articulating your strategic approach, process, and the quantifiable business impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with Back Market's mission.

• Research Back Market: Understand their business model, mission, values, and recent product launches. Consider how your design leadership can contribute to their goals, particularly in the purchase experience and sustainability efforts.

⚠️ 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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