Design Manager

Nine is Australia’s largest locally owned media company. Working at Nine, you’ll have access to a unique range of experiences and opportunities, helping drive the success of the country’s most trusted television, radio, digital and publishing brands. 

Our content reaches almost every Australian - meaning what we do has real impact. We bring people together, celebrate the big moments, and capture the everyday ones.

Some of our most beloved brands have been part of Australian life for generations, and others - new on the scene - have already found their place firmly in our lives. We’re evolving and we need people like you to bring new ideas, innovate and make your mark.

Join our Publishing team as a Design Manager and lead and develop a small team of dynamic product designers. In this critical role you will drive the design vision and execution for key product areas, while fostering a culture of design excellence and innovation. You will take the lead on complex design projects, collaborating closely with product leaders, engineers, and other stakeholders to solve intricate user problems and deliver truly exceptional user experiences.

Our Publishing division is home to some of Australia’s most iconic brands,including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Good Food, and nine.com.au. Our digital products connect more than 10 million Australians with content that matters the most to them.

You’ll be joining a high performing team that prides itself on its curious, creative, inclusive and empathetic culture.

What you’ll do:

• Design leadership: Drive cohesive design direction across our product suite, aligning with business goals for a unified user experience.

• Champion user-centricity: Advocate for user needs through research and data, ensuring insights inform strategic design decisions.

• Collaborate and influence: Create strong partnerships with product, engineering and other key stakeholders to integrate design early, influencing roadmaps with strong design rationale.

• Solve complex problems: Lead the resolution of highly complex, strategic design challenges with significant, cross-product impact.

• Elevate design standards: Uphold and improve design standards, processes, and tools, enhancing team effectiveness.

• Measure impact: Use data and research to understand design's impact on user behavior and business outcomes.

• Manage & coach: Empower product designers' growth through guidance, feedback, and fostering a positive, inclusive team environment.

• Optimise delivery: Manage team workload and allocation for timely, high-quality project delivery.

What you’ll bring:

• 8+ years experience in Product Design or equivalent, with a strong portfolio showcasing expert-level design skills and delivering impactful, scalable solutions.

• 2+ years of experience in managing and developing designers, including performance and career growth.

• Proven ability to lead end-to-end design for large-scale, strategic product initiatives, influencing strategy from concept to launch.

• Expertise in user-centered design principles, interaction design, and visual design for exceptional user experiences.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and translating insights into actionable design strategies.

• Skilled in design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma).

Desirable:

• Experience in news or media product design.

• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies.

• Skilled in data-driven design and A/B testing.

• Background in service design or systems thinking.

How we work

At Nine, our flexible work options vary by role and team. Depending on the position, this may include flexible hours, hybrid work, or part-time arrangements. We welcome discussing your flexibility needs during the hiring process - just ask the Talent Acquisition team. 

Our employee benefits include:

• 18 weeks paid parental leave with no distinction between primary and secondary carers.
• Access to 'Employee Exclusives' program - a way of getting closer to our incredible brands, offering unique experiences, behind-the-scenes access, and awesome perks.
• Digital newspaper subscription to our mastheads.
• Annual gift voucher for Stan subscription.

More info at Nine Careers.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

We're committed to a safe, respectful and inclusive Nine. From day one, you'll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work and will be supported to perform at your best.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and of all ages, genders, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures as we recognise the importance and value of diverse perspectives. Should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please advise us when you apply.

Work rights: Please note to apply for this role you must already have the right to lawfully work and live in Australia.