Lead Product Designer, Applied Experiments

About the role

Open Government Products (OGP) is a fast-paced, startup-like team of engineers, designers and product managers working on public good, with a flat hierarchy and open-source approach. Within the Applied Experiments Division, the team tackles ambiguous open problems and runs experiments to inform better government decisions. The Lead Product Designer leads design on these problems, drives discovery and experimentation, and turns fuzzy challenges into user-centred solutions; about two-thirds of the time is spent hands-on, with the rest on design process, cross-functional leadership and managing 2-3 designers.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex products addressing large-scale societal challenges, turning insights into refined prototypes and intuitive experiences across government services.
• Manage 2-3 direct reports, guiding their professional development and career growth.
• Prioritise rapid prototyping and early testing of ideas to iterate quickly.
• Partner with engineers and policymakers, and bridge product teams and stakeholders to align on priorities and streamline complex systems.
• Set design direction and standards, introduce new methods and advocate for user-centred design across OGP.

Required profile

• More than 8 years of experience in digital product design, with a portfolio showing impactful products and experiences.
• Strong eye for detail and visual design, able to explain the reasoning behind design decisions.
• Deep commitment to user-centred design, with hands-on experience in user research and a strong understanding of mobile-first and responsive design.
• Effective communication between users and engineers, and with non-technical stakeholders.
• Leadership skills, including handling difficult conversations, performance management and conflict resolution.
• A proactive, change-driven mindset and a commitment to public good.

Required skills

• High proficiency in Figma and modern design tools.
• Experience with frontend technologies is a valuable plus.
• Helps teams use AI and emerging tools responsibly to improve user outcomes and design quality.