Head of Product Design & UX Research | 80-100% | Hybrid working model | Zurich Switzerland

Head of Product Design & UX Research (f/m/d) | 80-100% | Hybrid working model | Zurich Switzerland
Company Description
Welcome to SMG Swiss Marketplace Group!
SMG is a pioneering network of online marketplaces and a leading European digital company that simplifies people’s lives with forward-looking products.
We operate leading marketplaces across real estate, automotive, general classifieds, and finance & insurance. We’re driven by our values: Better Together, Aim High, and Act Responsibly.
Job Description
Your Mission
As Head of Product Design & UX Research in General Marketplaces (Ricardo, , and ), you will play a crucial role in creating a consistent, high-quality, and impact-oriented UX approach across our teams. You will lead Product Designers, UX Researchers, and a UX Copywriter, helping the organization accelerate discovery, improve design quality, and deliver measurable business impact.
This role allows you to shape how design and research work at scale, embed AI-first workflows into our processes, and empower teams to create customer-focused experiences that build trust, improve conversion, and support monetization. Join our dynamic team, located in six countries (Switzerland, Serbia, Vietnam, France, Germany, and India), where creativity thrives. Together, we tackle challenges, celebrate successes, and keep learning and growing.
Specifically, you will work on:
Define and implement a consistent design and UX approach across General Marketplaces.
Lead, coach, and develop Product Designers, UX Researchers, and a UX Copywriter, fostering a high-performing and empowered team.
Drive the adoption of AI-first workflows to accelerate research, problem discovery, solution discovery, prototyping, and design delivery.
Improve the speed and quality of discovery and design processes across teams.
Ensure strong customer focus by connecting user insights, research, UX decisions, and business outcomes.
Raise the bar for design quality, usability, consistency, and measurable impact across our products.
Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Data, and Business stakeholders to improve conversion, trust, user satisfaction, and monetization.
Your responsibilities will evolve as we grow.
Qualifications
What will you bring to the ride?
At least 5 years of leadership experience in Product Design, UX, or related disciplines.
Proven hands-on experience designing high-quality digital product experiences.
Strong customer focus and the ability to translate user needs into impactful product decisions.
An outcome-oriented mindset with a clear understanding of how design and research contribute to business success.
A strong business mindset, with experience improving metrics such as conversion, trust, user satisfaction, and monetization.
Experience leading, coaching, and empowering multidisciplinary design and research teams.
A pragmatic, hands-on leadership style with high standards for performance, ownership, and delivery.
Proven experience adopting AI-first ways of working and leveraging AI to accelerate research, design, and team productivity.
Ability to work in a hybrid setup based in Switzerland.
German and French are a plus, but not a requirement. We value the skills you bring and your ability to learn quickly, so don’t worry if your career path has been unique.
Additional Information
What do we offer?
6 weeks of holidays per year (plus the option to buy 10 additional days)
40-hour work week with flexitime (capped at 45 hours)
A hybrid work setup with flexibility to work remotely
Generous parental leave: 18 weeks for maternity and 6 weeks for paternity/adoption
SBB Half-Fare Card and first-class travel between SMG offices in Switzerland
Gender-neutral pay and transparent career paths
Choose your gear: Mac or Windows laptop, and iPhone, Samsung, or Pixel mobile
An inclusive and innovative environment where your voice matters
Recruitment Process
We believe hiring is a two-way street, where both parties get to know each other. Here's what
you can expect:
Initial Screening Call
Meeting the Hiring Manager
Case Study
Team Fit Meeting
About Us
SMG Swiss Marketplace Group is a pioneering network of online marketplaces and a cutting-edge digital company that simplifies people’s lives with innovative products.
SMG Swiss Marketplace Group provides customers with the best tools to meet their life decision needs. The portfolio includes Real Estate (ImmoScout24, Homegate, Flatfox, CASASOFT, IAZI), Automotive (AutoScout24, MotoScout24), General Marketplaces (, , Ricardo) and Finance & Insurance (FinanceScout24, ).
Disclaimer
SMG Swiss Marketplace Group primarily engages with candidates directly. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies unless we have specifically requested their assistance for particular roles. Any submissions made without a prior request from our Talent Acquisition team will not be acknowledged or considered. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of recruitment agencies in respecting this policy. jid134e360a jit0832a jiy26a