Design System Owner

Client: Confidential (Leading Belgian Logistics & Postal Services Enterprise) Location: Brussels (2 days onsite presence mandatory) Start Date: ASAP Contract Type: Freelance / ContractorRole OverviewOur client is looking for a seasoned Design System Owner who can bridge the gap between design and engineering. You will not only manage the architecture of a new Design System but also serve as the primary guardian of Web Accessibility (WCAG) across a vast ecosystem of legacy and new digital products.The ideal candidate is technically proficient in Figma architecture (Tokens/Variables) and has a proven track record in auditing and remediating complex accessibility issues.Key Responsibilities1. Design System Architecture & Token ManagementYou will be responsible for the technical setup and maintenance of the design language.Token Strategy: Create and manage Design Tokens using Token Studio within Figma.Figma Advanced Features: Utilize Figma Variables ensuring they map correctly to the token structure.Developer Handoff: Ensure all tokens and components are structured to be compliant with Style Dictionary for seamless implementation by development teams.Component Library: Research, design, and document components to ensure they are production-ready (reusable, scalable, and compliant).2. Accessibility (Audit & Remediation) :Auditing: Conduct both automatic and manual testing on various environments (Web, Mobile Apps, Staging environments).Reporting: Consolidate audit findings into actionable reports (currently managed in Airtable).Remediation & QA: Work closely with developers to test fixes, providing support on technical solutions to ensure issues are resolved.Education: Arrange and facilitate accessibility training for internal teams.Feedback Loop: Manage incoming complaints and feedback regarding accessibility issues.3. Operational Management & Strategy :Planning: Manage the backlog for both the Design System and Accessibility streams.Legacy & New: Balance work between creating new components and remediating existing legacy platforms (including internal tools, e-com plugins, and customer-facing apps).UX Support: Provide UX support for specific revamp projects (e.g., Locker screen interfaces).Critical Requirements (Must-Haves) :Expert level in Figma: specifically regarding Token Studio and Variables. If you only use Figma for visual design, this role is not for you.Deep Accessibility Knowledge: You must be comfortable performing manual audits against WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards and explaining technical fixes to developers.Technical Understanding: Familiarity with Style Dictionary and how design data transforms into code.Autonomy: The ability to work on projects with "limited knowledge/capacity" implies you must be a self-starter who can dig for answers and push projects forward without constant supervision.Nice to Have :Experience with Airtable for project tracking.Experience working in large-scale corporate or logistics environments.What to Expect (The Reality) :The Ecosystem: You will be auditing and designing for a fragmented landscape: High-traffic public websites, mobile apps, internal tools, and third-party e-commerce plugins.The Pace: There is a significant backlog of audits and remediation work scheduled for the coming year.The Goal: Complete compliance for the current ecosystem while simultaneously building the foundation (components/tokens) for the future design system.Language Requirements :English: Mandatory (Must be fluent/professional proficiency as this is the primary documentation language).Dutch and/or French: Nice to have (A strong asset for easier communication with internal stakeholders and understanding legacy context).