The UI/UX Designer is a senior-level role responsible for leading strategic Product design efforts, combining deep user research, advanced interaction design, and business alignment to create high-impact digital products. This position involves driving large-scale product initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams (including senior stakeholders), and mentoring mid-level and junior designers. The UI/UX Designer ensures that user-centric principles, brand consistency, and strategic business objectives converge to deliver innovative, revenue-generating, and user-delighting products. Success in this role is measured by product performance metrics (user adoption, retention, revenue impact), design-led innovation, team leadership, and operational alignment. The successful person will also have experience working in a start-up, as well as some AI knowledge. What you’ll do: Strategic Product Design Execution Lead high-impact product design efforts, from discovery to launch, ensuring user-centric and business-aligned solutions. Develop advanced wireframes, prototypes, and product flows that address complex user scenarios and business objectives. Collaborate with product managers and business leads to define product roadmaps, ensuring design decisions drive tangible value. User Research Validation Implement advanced research methods (field studies, A/B testing, analytics) to guide product strategies. Synthesise user insights into actionable design recommendations, influencing product-level decisions. Track product design changes, measuring their impact on user engagement, retention, or revenue. Cross-Functional Leadership Mentorship Oversee design workstreams for multi-workstream or strategic product initiatives, mentoring mid-level designers. Facilitate design reviews, guiding discussions with data, best practices, and business logic. Align with project managers and developers to prioritise design tasks within agile sprints, ensuring timely and high-quality deliveries. Design System Brand Evolution Contribute to and enhance Freethinking’s design system, introducing scalable product design patterns. Ensure brand guidelines are consistently applied, bridging multiple product teams and platforms. Propose new brand or design system components that elevate user experiences across Freethinking’s product portfolio. Thought Leadership Professional Development Publish or present findings at industry events, internal forums, or client workshops, establishing Freethinking as a product design leader. Explore emerging design trends (e.g., AI-driven personalisation, advanced motion design) and evaluate their relevance to client needs. Stay current on industry standards (accessibility, data privacy, emerging frameworks) to ensure compliance and innovation. Your Expertise 5 years of experience in product design, showcasing complex, large-scale product initiatives and innovative design solutions. Proficiency in leading product design projects from research to final implementation, including advanced prototyping and design tools. Strong knowledge of usability testing, data analytics, interaction design, and business strategy. Demonstrated thought leadership (articles, conference talks, or internal evangelism) and team mentorship experience. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Design, Business, or related field. Advanced knowledge of product lifecycle management, design thinking, and Lean UX or Agile frameworks. Familiarity with SAFe or large-scale Agile processes, bridging design and multi-team development sprints. Other information applicable to the opportunity: Initial contract Location: Johannesburg – hybrid way of work Why work for us? Want to work for an organization that solves complex real-world problems with innovative software solutions? At iOCO, we believe anything is possible with modern technology, software, and development expertise. We are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovative solutions across multiple industries using an array of technologies.  You will be part of a consultancy, working with some of the most knowledgeable minds in the industry on interesting solutions across different business domains.  Our culture of continuous learning will ensure that you will have all the opportunities, tools, and support to hone and grow your craft.  By joining IOCO you will have an open invitation to developer inspiring forums. A place where you will be able to connect and learn from and with your peers by sharing ideas, experiences, practices, and solutions.  iOCO is an equal opportunity employer with an obligation to achieve its own unique EE objectives in the context of Employment Equity targets. Therefore, our employment strategy gives primary preference to previously disadvantaged individuals or groups.