The role

We're hiring a Design Manager to lead our UGC Product Design team at a critical moment. UGC is one of Scribd's most strategically important and rapidly evolving spaces — spanning trust, discovery, creation tools, and the full user lifecycle across both Scribd and Slideshare. It's also where AI is opening up opportunities for richer discovery, smarter content experiences, and new ways for people to engage with knowledge at scale. This role owns team performance, clarity, and execution across that space. You'll set the bar for thinking and delivery, bring focus to complex problems, and translate ambitious ideas into product impact that reaches millions of people. You'll also help shape what's next — contributing to strategy, influencing how the team works, and building the kind of environment where senior designers do their best work. If you enjoy leading smart, curious designers through messy problem spaces and turning big ideas into experiences people actually use, you'll have a lot of fun here.

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 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

• 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.
• Help the team raise the bar for how we work as tools evolve—including how we use AI to move faster, prototype more ambitiously, and expand what design can do.
• 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

• Track record of raising the bar for senior designers—including direct, consequential performance conversations.
• 8+ years of product design experience, including 3+ years people management experience.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, cross‑functional spaces where the problem definition is part of the work.
• 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.

Salary & Compensation

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.

Benefits

• 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 stipendsComplimentary access to the Scribd, Inc. suite of products
• Enterprise access to leading AI tools

Equal Opportunity Employment

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.