Manager, Product Design (UGC)

Product Design Manager

Scribd, Inc. is on a mission to advance human understanding. Our four products — Scribd®, Slideshare®, Everand™, and Fable — help billions of people across the globe move beyond access and into insight, application, and expertise.

We support a culture where our employees can be real and be bold; where we debate and commit as we embrace plot twists; and where every employee is empowered to take action as we prioritize the customer.

We believe the best work happens when individual flexibility is balanced with meaningful community connection. Scribd Flex empowers employees to choose the workstyle and location that support their best performance, while committing to intentional in-person moments that strengthen collaboration and culture. Occasional in-person attendance is required for all Scribd, Inc. employees, regardless of location.

So what are we looking for in new team members? At Scribd, Inc., we hire for "GRIT." Traditionally defined as the intersection of passion and perseverance toward long-term goals, GRIT reflects the mindset we expect from every employee. For us, it also serves as a practical framework for how we work: setting and achieving Goals, delivering Results within your role, contributing Innovative ideas and solutions, and strengthening the broader Team through collaboration and attitude.

This posting reflects an approved, open position within the organization.

Design at Scribd, Inc. makes complex ideas feel simple. We help millions of people learn, explore, and share knowledge every day.

We care deeply about our customers and design with the business in mind. We bias toward action and over-communication. We debate openly and push each other toward better ideas and better craft. We celebrate wins, learn from losses, and laugh through both.

We're hiring a Product Design Manager to lead our UGC Design team—owning team performance, clarity, and execution across a complex, system-heavy space.

You will partner closely with our Principal UGC Design Lead, who drives craft and strategic direction. Your role is to sharpen thinking, reinforce standards, and translate strategy into clear priorities and delivery discipline.

This role reports to the Director of Product Design and will play a critical role in raising the bar for how UGC Design operates—across performance, cross-functional alignment, and impact.

This role is ideal for a manager who thrives in ambiguity, sets a high standard, and is comfortable creating productive tension in service of better outcomes.

Lead and Develop the UGC Design Team

• Manage and mentor a team of senior product designers working across content trust, multi-doc discovery, and core experiences across Scribd and Slideshare.
• Define what "great" looks like at each level and reinforce that bar consistently.
• Provide direct, specific feedback that sharpens thinking and improves outcomes.
• Own career development and performance management—including addressing gaps early and clearly.
• Partner with the Principal UGC Design Lead to ensure strong craft direction and clear expectations across the team.

Improve Systems, Not Just Features

• Bring clarity and focus to ambiguous problems, and drive simplification.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities, resourcing, and sequencing.
• Strengthen planning, handoff, and cross-team alignment—without adding unnecessary process.
• Ensure consistency and quality across surfaces, tools, and workflows.

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

• Demonstrated experience raising the bar for senior designers and navigating performance conversations with clarity and empathy.
• 8+ years of product design experience, including 3+ years people management experience.
• Experience leading teams in complex or system-heavy product areas.
• Strong product judgment and strategic thinking, especially in ambiguity.
• Ability to partner effectively across functions and stakeholders.
• Clear communicator who can align teams and move decisions forward.

The Application

• Resume with 8+ years experience designing complex, consumer-facing products and 3+ years leading teams.
• Portfolio with 3+ case studies that show strategic leadership, measurable impact, and a point of view grounded in the why.
• 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 $137,000 [minimum salary in our lowest geographic market within California] to $214,500 [maximum salary in our highest geographic market within California].

In the United States, outside of California, the reasonably expected salary range is between $113,500 [minimum salary in our lowest US geographic market outside of California] to $204,000 [maximum salary in our highest US geographic market outside of California].

In Canada, the reasonably expected salary range is between $144,000 CAD[minimum salary in our lowest geographic market] to $191,000 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 suite of products
• Enterprise access to leading AI tools

Get to Know Scribd, Inc: About Scribd, Inc. Life at Scribd, Inc.

We want our interview process to be accessible to everyone. You can inform us of any reasonable adjustments we can make to better accommodate your needs by emailing accommodations@scribd.com about the need for adjustments at any point in the interview process.

Scribd Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, and believe that a diversity of perspectives and experiences create a foundation for the best ideas. Come join us in building something meaningful.