The role

We're hiring a Senior Design Manager to lead our 5-person UGC Product Design team at a moment where AI is reshaping the space, complexity is increasing, and the decisions we make now will define how we operate for years to come.

UGC spans customer trust, core features, and discovery across Scribd and Slideshare-and AI is opening up real opportunities to make that content more useful, more trustworthy, and easier to navigate at scale.

This role owns team performance, clarity, and execution across that space. You'll set the bar for strategic thinking and design delivery, bring focus to complex problems, and translate ambitious ideas into product impact that reaches millions of people.

If you enjoy leading smart, curious designers through messy problem spaces, you'll have a lot of fun here.

Lead and develop the UGC design team

• Build and lead a high-performing team of senior product designers-owning their growth, output, and accountability.
• Challenge designers to define the real problem before jumping to solutions-and hold that bar consistently.
• Provide direct, specific feedback that sharpens thinking and improves outcomes.
• Own performance management with conviction-including raising the bar, addressing gaps early, and following through on consequences.
• Partner closely with the Principal UGC Design Lead-challenging thinking, aligning on standards, and making sure great craft direction translates into great execution.

Improve systems, not just features

• Drive how the team integrates AI into our practice-from workflow and prototyping to how we think about quality and speed.
• Bring clarity and focus to ambiguous problems, and drive simplification.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities, resourcing, and sequencing of design work.
• Strengthen planning, handoff, and cross-team alignment-without adding unnecessary process.
• Help shape how the broader Design org thinks about ways of working, tooling, and raising the bar across pillars-not just within UGC.

Strengthen culture and accountability

• Shape team rituals that reinforce clarity, ownership, and high standards.
• Hold designers accountable to role expectations and impact.
• Create an environment of psychological safety paired with high performance.
• Contribute to Design org hiring, calibration, and bar-raising efforts.

The essentials

• Track record of raising the bar for senior designers-including direct, consequential performance conversations.
• 10+ years of product design experience, including 5+ years people management experience.
• A hands-on approach to AI-actively experimenting with how it can change the way your team works, not just thinks about it.
• Comfort leading through ambiguity where the problem definition is part of the work.
• Strong product judgment-able to connect design decisions to business outcomes and push back when the framing is wrong.
• Experience operating as a peer to senior product and research leadership-influencing roadmap, resourcing, and strategic direction.

The application

• Resume.
• Portfolio or work samples that demonstrate leadership and measurable impact.
• Password, if applicable.

At Scribd, Inc. your base pay is one part of your total compensation package and is determined within a range. Our pay ranges are based on the local cost of labor benchmarks for each specific role, level, and geographic location. San Francisco is our highest geographic market in the United States.

In the state of California, the reasonably expected salary range is between $160,000 [minimum salary in our lowest geographic market within California] to $242,000 [maximum salary in our highest geographic market within California].

In the United States, outside of California, the reasonably expected salary range is between $132,000 [minimum salary in our lowest US geographic market outside of California] to $230,000 [maximum salary in our highest US geographic market outside of California].

In Canada, the reasonably expected salary range is between $167,000 CAD[minimum salary in our lowest geographic market] to $212,000 CAD[maximum salary in our highest geographic market].

We carefully consider a wide range of factors when determining compensation, including but not limited to experience; job-related skill sets; relevant education or training; and other business and organizational needs. The salary range listed is for the level at which this job has been scoped. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for a competitive equity ownership, and a comprehensive and generous benefits package.

Working at Scribd, Inc.

Are you currently based in a location where Scribd, Inc. can employ you?
Employees must have their primary residence in or near one of the following cities. This includes surrounding metro areas or locations within a typical commuting distance:

United States:

Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Dallas | Denver | Chicago | Houston | Jacksonville | Los Angeles | Miami | New York City | Phoenix | Portland | Sacramento | Salt Lake City | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle | Washington D.C.

Canada:

Ottawa | Toronto | Vancouver

Mexico:

Mexico City

Benefits at Scribd, Inc.

• Scribd Flex (flexible work model)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Mental health support and disability coverage
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, holidays, winter break, volunteer time, and sabbaticals
• Paid parental leave and family support benefits
• Retirement matching and employee equity
• Learning and development programs and professional growth opportunities
• Wellness and home office stipends
• Complimentary access to the Scribd, Inc. suite of products
• Enterprise access to leading AI tools