Lead Product Designer
Who We Are
At Open Government Products, we are an experimental tech team within the government, committed to improving society through technology. We’re passionate about solving complex problems, designing for public good, and building delightful digital experiences that have a lasting impact on society.
Our multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, and product managers build products that make public services more intuitive, efficient, and impactful. We rapidly prototype, test, and launch solutions that address real societal challenges, bypassing bureaucracy to deliver change where it matters most.
Projects like Data.gov.sg, Parking.sg, FormSG, and Vaccine.gov.sg are just a few examples of how we've made a difference in the lives of citizens. You can learn more about our products on our website.
The Role
As a Lead Product Designer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the design direction of critical government products, ensuring they are user-centred and strategically aligned with policy goals. You will spend about two-thirds of your time on hands-on design work, leading efforts for highly complex products or platforms, translating user insights into refined and intuitive experiences. The remainder of your time will focus on design strategy, mentorship, and leadership, depending on your career aspirations and the team's needs.
Your impact will extend across the organisation—whether it's simplifying disconnected services, elevating the design craft of your team, or driving organisational design standards that inspire change across multiple government agencies. You’ll use your expertise to solve ambiguous, open-ended problems and create innovative design systems that accelerate productivity and improve the public’s interaction with the government.
Key Responsibilities
Hands-on design: Lead the design of complex, impactful products that address large-scale societal challenges. Break down ambiguous problems, transforming insights into refined prototypes and delivering intuitive, user-centred experiences across government services.
Rapid prototyping: Focus on action over deliberation. We prioritise testing ideas early to quickly identify potential issues and demonstrate what’s possible, allowing for faster, more effective iteration.
Leadership & strategy: Mentor and coach designers while guiding cross-functional teams. Advocate for user-centred design across the organisation by setting strategic design direction and standards that elevate the quality of public services, ensuring cohesive, integrated experiences across platforms.
Collaboration: Partner closely with engineers and policymakers to ensure the successful execution of your designs. Bridge the gap between product teams and stakeholders to align on priorities, streamline complex systems, and drive successful outcomes.
Organisational impact: Drive initiatives that tackle systemic design challenges and foster innovation. Develop and implement new design methodologies that inspire and enhance the organisation’s approach to solving public service issues.
Ownership: Take full responsibility for your work, offering insights on current projects and proposing new ideas for future initiatives. Building something you believe in leads to more meaningful and impactful outcomes.
Continuous learning: Embrace the unknown. Working on novel ideas often requires learning new architectures, frameworks, technologies, or even languages. Continuous learning isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential for growth and success.
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking someone who has:
Proven experience in product design: We value practical experience and a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to design impactful products and experiences. While specific degrees are less important, we seek candidates with more than 8 years of experience in digital product design.
Excellence in craft with an eye for details: You possess an exceptional eye for detail and a keen sense of visual design. Your portfolio should highlight your past work and your ability to clearly articulate the reasoning behind your design decisions.
Passion for user-centred design: You are deeply committed to designing with the user in mind. You bring hands-on experience with user research methodologies and have a strong understanding of mobile-first and responsive design principles.
Proficiency with design tools: You are highly skilled in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a valuable plus.
Effective communication: You are adept at bridging the gap between users and engineers, incorporating feedback from non-technical stakeholders and communicating design details clearly to technical teams for seamless implementation.
Proactive mindset: You are not content with the status quo and are eager to drive change. You take initiative to make things happen, particularly when it comes to pushing for improvements and innovation in government services.
Commitment to public good: You are motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact on society. As a public servant, you are willing to challenge political pressures and policies when they do not align with the best interests of the public.
Why Work With Us?
At Open Government Products, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that make a tangible difference in society. With 70% of our initiatives starting from the ground up, you will have the ownership and freedom to influence products that shape how citizens interact with their government. Join us in using technology for public good, driving innovation, and building a better future for society.