Senior Design Manager - Mercari Marketplace (Commerce New Service)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Manager - Mercari Marketplace (Commerce New Service)

Company: Mercari, Inc.

Location: Minato City, Tokyo, Japan

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Leadership / Product Design Management

Date Posted: 2026-09-07

Experience Level: 7+ Years (with progression to management)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Office: Roppongi)

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads end-to-end user experience design for new and emerging product initiatives within Mercari's Marketplace (Commerce New Service).

• Shapes the strategic direction of design and builds the capabilities of the design team for new business ventures at Mercari.

• Drives design excellence, consistency, and innovation by establishing standards and fostering a culture of craft.

• Collaborates closely with Product, Engineering, Research (UXR), and Business Development to explore new problem spaces and influence product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical leadership function within Mercari's New Business Design Team, focusing on incubating and scaling new product initiatives. The emphasis on "end-to-end user experience design" and "shaping strategic direction" indicates a high degree of autonomy and influence. The role requires not just design craft but also significant people leadership and strategic business acumen.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and mentor individual designers through design critiques, providing constructive feedback and coaching to support their craft and career growth.

• Own the design strategy and direction for assigned product initiatives, translating business objectives and market opportunities into compelling user experience strategies.

• Lead design decisions by employing strong systems thinking, integrating user research insights, and articulating user-centered rationale to cross-functional partners.

• Collaborate deeply with Product Managers, UXR specialists, and Business Development teams to shape overall strategy, influence roadmaps, and ensure design excellence throughout the execution phase.

• Foster collaboration across various new business domains and with other design leads to ensure design consistency, promote shared learning, and prevent the formation of silos.

• Drive design scalability by building and maintaining design systems, reusable patterns, and efficient processes that enable consistency and speed across multiple initiatives.

• Manage design resources, prioritize timelines, and allocate resources across projects to maximize team impact and achieve desired business outcomes.

• Represent the design perspective in strategic business discussions and contribute to go-to-market planning for new product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of people management, strategic planning, and hands-on design leadership. The emphasis on "owning design strategy," "influencing product direction," and "managing resources" points to a senior-level role with significant accountability for both team performance and product success. The need to "build design systems, patterns, and processes" indicates a focus on operationalizing design for efficiency and scalability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is generally expected for such a role. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 7+ years in product design, UX leadership, or related fields, with a clear trajectory demonstrating progression into management roles.

Required Skills:

• Proven success in leading and developing design teams, including hiring, mentoring, performance management, and fostering a positive team culture.

• Strong craft skills encompassing UX, interaction design, and visual design, with meticulous attention to detail and a high standard for quality.

• A compelling portfolio that showcases high-quality, shipped work and demonstrates significant design leadership capabilities.

• Experience leading design strategy in complex or ambiguous problem spaces and effectively translating that strategy into impactful user experiences.

• Demonstrated track record of influencing product direction, business strategy, and cross-functional decision-making through design thinking and effective storytelling.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a deep understanding of design systems, scalable patterns, and design infrastructure.

• Ability to represent the design perspective effectively to senior leadership and manage design resources, timelines, and cross-project allocation. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in scaling design organizations or building design teams from an early-stage to maturity.

• Background in designing for marketplace, e-commerce, or transaction-based products.

• Experience launching or scaling new business initiatives within a technology company.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and a demonstrated ability to apply research insights to inform design strategy.

• Understanding of both international and Japanese domestic user needs, cultural nuances, and trust dynamics in digital platforms.

• Comfort with experimentation, rapid prototyping, and continuous learning in uncertain environments, with the ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information.

• Proven track record of building and shipping products that demonstrably drive business value and significant user impact.

• Language proficiency: English (Independent - CEFR B2) and Japanese (Independent - CEFR B2) are preferred.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize both breadth and depth of experience. "7+ years of experience" coupled with "progression into management roles" signifies a need for seasoned professionals. The portfolio requirement is critical, needing to showcase not just design execution but also leadership impact. The preferred skills indicate a strong preference for candidates with marketplace experience and an understanding of the Japanese market, aligning with Mercari's core business.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 7 years of product design and UX leadership experience.

• Must include examples of successfully shipped products and initiatives that demonstrate design leadership, strategic influence, and tangible user/business impact.

• Should highlight experience in leading design strategy within complex or ambiguous problem spaces, detailing the thought process and rationale.

• Needs to present case studies that illustrate the ability to translate business opportunities into compelling user experience strategies.

• Must demonstrate proficiency in systems thinking, user research integration, and user-centered decision-making.

• Evidence of managing design resources, timelines, and cross-project allocation for multiple initiatives should be included. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the process of developing and implementing design systems, scalable patterns, and efficient workflows.

• Examples of how user research was integrated into the design process to inform strategy and decision-making are crucial.

• Documentation should reflect the ability to navigate ambiguity, experiment, and iterate rapidly, showing decision-making with incomplete information.

• Demonstrate the process of collaborating with Product, Engineering, UXR, and Business Development, highlighting communication and influence strategies.

• Include examples of how design initiatives were scaled and how efficiency and consistency were achieved across multiple projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Design Manager role, the portfolio is not just a showcase of past work but a testament to leadership capabilities. It needs to clearly articulate strategic thinking, team management, and the ability to drive significant impact. The emphasis on "process documentation" within the portfolio suggests a need for candidates who can articulate how they achieve results, not just what they've achieved.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Design Managers in Tokyo with 7+ years of experience, managing teams, and working in a hybrid environment for a major tech company, an estimated annual salary range would be ¥12,000,000 - ¥18,000,000 JPY. This range accounts for the strategic nature of the role, the scope of responsibilities, and the cost of living in Tokyo.

Benefits:

• Full-time employment with full flextime, meaning no core working hours, offering significant flexibility for operations professionals.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays, in accordance with Japanese labor laws and company policy.

• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities, including potential for conference attendance and training.

• Support for career growth and advancement within Mercari Group.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options, depending on company policy and individual performance.

• Commuting support or benefits, as applicable for an office-based role.

Working Hours: Full Flextime (no core time), indicating a flexible work schedule that allows for individual management of working hours, provided responsibilities are met. Standard full-time hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on aggregated data for senior design leadership roles in Tokyo, considering factors like experience level, management responsibility, and company size. The "Full Flextime" benefit is a significant draw for operations professionals seeking work-life balance and autonomy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Marketplace Technology. Mercari operates a C2C marketplace, facilitating the buying and selling of used goods and other items, with a mission to "Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people."

Company Size: Mercari Group is a significant global organization. While specific employee numbers for the "Commerce New Service" team are not detailed, the overall company is large, indicated by its global presence and established market position. This implies access to resources and established processes, but also potential for organizational complexity.

Founded: Mercari was founded in 2013. This relatively young age for a major tech company suggests a culture that is likely dynamic, innovative, and adaptable, with a strong focus on growth and evolution.

Team Structure:

• The New Business Design Team is responsible for end-to-end user experience design for emerging product initiatives.

• This team operates within the "Commerce New Service" division, indicating a focus on innovation and new venture development.

• The Senior Design Manager will lead a team of individual designers, fostering their growth and directing their efforts.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product, Engineering, Research (UXR), and Business Development functions, suggesting a matrixed or cross-functional operational model. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on integrating user research and market analysis to inform design strategy and product direction.

• Systems Thinking: Applying a holistic approach to design, considering how new initiatives fit within the broader Mercari ecosystem and user journeys.

• Agile & Iterative Development: The "high ambiguity" and "rapid prototyping" mentioned suggest an agile approach, prioritizing speed of iteration and learning in uncertain environments.

• User-Centered Design: A core principle, ensuring that all design decisions are grounded in understanding and meeting user needs.

Company Website: https://careers.mercari.com/en/

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercari's mission and culture document are highlighted as key resources. The company's focus on "circulating value" and "unleashing potential" suggests a purpose-driven organization. The "New Business Design Team" structure implies a focus on innovation and a fast-paced environment, ideal for operations professionals who thrive on building and optimizing new processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Management role within the Design function, equivalent to a Senior Manager or Director level in other organizations. It requires a blend of deep design expertise, strategic foresight, and proven people leadership. The scope includes not only team management but also shaping the design strategy for entirely new business ventures.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Design Manager will likely report to a Director or VP of Design or Product, or potentially a head of a new business unit. They will, in turn, manage a team of individual contributors (Designers).

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on Mercari's ability to launch successful new business initiatives. Strong design leadership is positioned as a key driver for revenue growth, user trust, satisfaction, and the overall success of new ventures. The manager's influence extends to shaping product strategy and go-to-market planning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into higher levels of design leadership (e.g., Director, VP) within Mercari Group, overseeing larger teams or broader design functions.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the future product portfolio and business strategy of Mercari through design leadership.

• Team Building & Scaling: Experience in building and scaling a design team from the ground up, which is a valuable skill for future leadership roles in fast-growing tech companies.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Deepening collaboration and strategic influence with Product, Engineering, and Business Development, enhancing broader business acumen.

• Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in marketplace design, e-commerce innovation, or new business incubation within a leading tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a high-impact, high-growth opportunity. The "build from the ground up" aspect of the design practice offers a unique chance to shape processes and culture, which is highly attractive to operations-minded individuals seeking to make a significant mark.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model with a primary office located in Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo. This suggests a blend of remote flexibility and in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan. This is a well-known business and entertainment district in Tokyo, offering good accessibility and a vibrant working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration indicate an environment where teamwork and knowledge sharing are encouraged.

• Tools & Technology: While specific tools are not listed, it's expected that a leading tech company like Mercari will provide access to modern design software, collaboration platforms, and robust IT infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with direct reports, peers in Product and Engineering, and senior leadership, fostering a dynamic and engaging work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Full Flextime with no core hours provides significant autonomy. This allows for individuals to structure their workdays to maximize productivity, accommodate personal needs, and align with team collaboration needs, which is beneficial for managing complex design projects and cross-functional workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and flextime nature of the work arrangement is a key differentiator. For operations professionals, this offers flexibility while still providing the benefits of in-person collaboration and access to office resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of resumes and portfolios against the stated requirements.

• Skill Assessment: Potential for a design assessment (e.g., HackerRank,

GitHub for engineering roles; specific assessments may apply for design leadership) to gauge craft and problem-solving abilities.

• Interviews: Multiple rounds of interviews are expected, likely including:

  • Hiring Manager Interview: Focused on leadership experience, team management, and strategic vision.
  • Peer Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other Designers to assess collaboration and functional fit.
  • Senior Leadership Interview: Evaluation of strategic thinking, business acumen, and cultural alignment with Mercari's mission and values.
  • Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their work, focusing on strategy, process, impact, and leadership.

• Reference Check: Online references will be requested, typically around the final interview stage.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio presentation around compelling narratives that highlight your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and leadership impact.

• Process & Rationale: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions, detailing your research methods, systems thinking, and how you translated ambiguity into actionable strategies.

• Quantifiable Impact: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your work using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, revenue, efficiency gains, or team performance.

• Leadership Examples: Showcase specific examples of how you mentored designers, influenced cross-functional teams, and managed resources to achieve business objectives.

• Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to resonate with Mercari's mission and values, demonstrating an understanding of their marketplace business and user base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for case study discussions that involve ambiguous problems, requiring you to define the problem space, propose solutions, and outline a design and execution strategy.

• Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership style, and how you build and scale design teams and processes.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with design systems, scalability, and driving efficiency in design operations.

• Research Mercari's current products, market position, and any recent news or initiatives to demonstrate informed interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes not just design skill but also strategic leadership and operational execution. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to think and act like a senior leader.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, or similar platforms for UX/UI design, wireframing, and prototyping.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for team communication and cross-functional collaboration.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design projects, timelines, and workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Understanding of how to leverage data from platforms like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or internal analytics tools to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for user surveys, usability testing, and qualitative data analysis (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for cross-functional alignment.

• Experience with design systems and component libraries is crucial for driving consistency and efficiency in tool usage across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly list a technology stack, a Senior Design Manager is expected to be proficient in leading design tools and have a strong understanding of how design integrates with analytics and project management systems to drive business outcomes. The emphasis on "design systems" and "scalability" suggests a need for tools that support these efforts.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission & Values Embodiment: A strong commitment to Mercari's mission ("Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people") and company values is paramount.

• Inclusion & Diversity: A commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse backgrounds are valued, essential for driving innovation and understanding a global user base.

• User-Centricity: A deep empathy for users, ensuring that design decisions are always made with the user's needs and experience at the forefront.

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A dedication to high-quality design, attention to detail, and continuous improvement of design skills and processes.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Encouragement to take ownership of initiatives, operate with a high degree of autonomy, and drive results.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: A highly collaborative style, working closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and Business Development to achieve shared goals.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent communication within the design team and with cross-functional partners.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, learning from each other's experiences, and building collective knowledge.

• Experimentation & Learning: A willingness to experiment, iterate quickly, and learn from both successes and failures in a dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercari's emphasis on its mission, values, and Inclusion & Diversity statement provides a clear framework for understanding the expected cultural fit. For an operations leader, embracing these values means ensuring that processes and team dynamics support these principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Ambiguity: Navigating the complexities of leading design for multiple emerging initiatives with evolving business models and unclear market definitions.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Maintaining high standards of design craft and consistency while rapidly iterating and meeting aggressive timelines for new product launches.

• Team Building & Scaling: Simultaneously building design team capabilities, processes, and culture while executing on time-sensitive initiatives.

• Resource Management: Making critical decisions about resource allocation and prioritization across competing initiatives based on evolving business priorities and limited resources.

• Organizational Navigation: Effectively managing cross-team dependencies, influencing stakeholders across a complex organization, and growing design agency through ambiguity and change.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone strategic thinking, business acumen, and leadership skills in a high-stakes new business environment.

• Design System Evolution: Contribute to and potentially lead the development or expansion of Mercari's design systems, gaining expertise in scalable design infrastructure.

• Cross-Functional Mastery: Deepen understanding and influence across Product Management, Engineering, and Business Development, expanding broader business skills.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences, workshops, and gain insights into cutting-edge marketplace and e-commerce trends.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within Mercari and to mentor emerging design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Unique Challenges" section provides a clear roadmap of the complexities involved. A candidate's ability to articulate strategies for overcoming these challenges will be key. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for significant career advancement and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to establish a design practice or team from scratch. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach building processes and culture?" (Focus on your experience with ambiguity, team building, and process creation.)

• "How do you balance driving design strategy with the need for rapid execution and iteration in a fast-paced environment? Provide an example." (Highlight your ability to manage competing priorities and maintain quality.)

• "Walk me through a complex product initiative where you influenced the business strategy through design. What was your approach to stakeholder management and storytelling?" (Demonstrate your strategic influence and communication skills.)

• "How do you approach resource allocation and prioritization across multiple, potentially ambiguous, product initiatives with competing demands?" (Showcase your decision-making and operational management skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Mercari's mission and its focus on circulating value? How does this align with your personal values or professional goals?" (Research Mercari's mission, values, and culture document thoroughly.)

• "How would you foster a culture of Inclusion & Diversity within your design team and in your collaborations with other departments?" (Connect your approach to Mercari's stated I&D commitment.)

• "Describe your experience working with international markets and understanding cultural nuances. How would you apply this to designing for Mercari's diverse user base?" (Showcase your cultural awareness and adaptability.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your leadership philosophy and strategic approach. Then, deep-dive into 2-3 key projects that best represent your design leadership, strategic influence, and impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the strategic decisions made, the design process, the solutions, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you mentored designers, influenced cross-functional partners, managed resources, or built design systems/processes.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you navigated uncertainty, made decisions with incomplete information, and adapted your strategy as needed.

• Mercari Context: Frame your experience and insights in the context of Mercari's marketplace business and its mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for this role requires demonstrating not only design expertise but also strategic leadership, operational discipline, and cultural alignment. Practicing answers that weave together these elements, supported by specific examples from your portfolio, will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of experience in product design and UX leadership, with a strong emphasis on management, team building, and strategic influence. Use keywords from the job description such as "design strategy," "team management," "mentoring," "cross-functional collaboration," and "marketplace design."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that demonstrate your design leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to drive tangible results. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your solution, your process, and the measurable outcomes. Prepare a compelling narrative for each.

• Prepare for Case Discussions: Anticipate scenario-based questions about managing ambiguity, leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and scaling design processes. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making frameworks.

• Research Mercari: Thoroughly understand Mercari's mission, values, products (especially marketplace offerings), and recent company news. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and business objectives.

⚠️ 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.