Senior Product Designer - UGC

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - UGC
Company: Scribd
Location: San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York City, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Washington, D.C. (United States); Ottawa, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada); Mexico City (Mexico)
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Design / User Interface (UI) Design
Date Posted: October 21, 2025
Experience Level: 6+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (with intentional in-person moments required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and shape user experiences for Scribd's products, focusing on credibility, comprehension, and contribution, particularly within User-Generated Content (UGC) and AI-powered features.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, researchers, and analytics teams to translate complex problems into intuitive and impactful design solutions across web and mobile platforms.
• Drive end-to-end design processes, from initial concept exploration and strategic definition to detailed UI design, prototyping, and iterative testing based on user data and intuition.
• Contribute to and uphold Scribd's design systems, critique culture, and overall design vision, ensuring consistency and raising the bar for collective work.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily a Product Designer position, its focus on UGC, AI, and the need to balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints aligns closely with the strategic thinking and process-driven approach valued in Revenue Operations and GTM roles. The emphasis on "measurable impact" and "turning ambiguity into action" are key indicators of an operations-minded approach to design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User Experience Strategy & Definition: Partner with Product Management and Engineering to identify user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints, translating raw insights into compelling product strategies and user flows.
• End-to-End Design Execution: Develop high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and detailed UI designs for new features and improvements across web and mobile applications, ensuring a seamless and engaging user journey.
• Data-Informed Design Iteration: Collaborate with User Research and Analytics teams to define key metrics, conduct user testing, analyze performance data, and iterate on designs to optimize user engagement and achieve business goals.
• Design System Stewardship: Contribute to the evolution and adherence of Scribd's design system, ensuring visual consistency, component reusability, and alignment with the company's overall brand and product vision.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication: Actively participate in design critiques, team meetings, and project discussions, clearly articulating design decisions and rationale to stakeholders across various departments.
• Innovation in AI & UGC: Explore and design innovative solutions for AI-assisted experiences and user-generated content platforms, focusing on enhancing credibility, clarity, and user contribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "turn ideal experiences into testable solutions" and "balance data and intuition" highlights a need for a structured, hypothesis-driven approach common in operations. The emphasis on defining problems and connecting insights to strategy is crucial for any role aiming to drive efficiency and impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is beneficial. Emphasis will be placed on demonstrated practical experience and a robust portfolio.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of successfully shipping complex digital products.
• Demonstrated experience in balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints throughout the product development lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Problem Solving: Ability to dissect complex challenges, define clear problems, and develop strategic design solutions that align with business objectives.
• End-to-End Design Proficiency: Mastery in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for both web and mobile platforms.
• User-Centric Design Principles: Deep understanding of user needs, usability heuristics, and human-centered design methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Data Analysts, fostering strong working relationships and driving consensus.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Comfort in leveraging user research, A/B testing results, and analytics data to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Design Systems Thinking: Experience in designing with and contributing to established design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Figma Fluency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Capability to thrive in ambiguous environments, proactively asking clarifying questions and defining actionable next steps.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for User-Generated Content (UGC) platforms.
• Familiarity with search engine optimization (SEO) principles and their impact on user experience.
• Experience with designing AI-assisted features, particularly those requiring clarity, user control, and trust.
• Knowledge of recommendation engines and personalized content delivery systems.
• Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for aesthetics and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years of experience and the emphasis on "measurable impact" and "strategic thinking" suggest this role requires a seasoned professional capable of operating with a degree of autonomy, similar to senior operations roles focused on process improvement and strategic initiatives. The ability to "turn ambiguity into action" is a core operations competency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Impact: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating how your design solutions directly addressed user problems and achieved measurable business outcomes (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, enhanced user satisfaction).
• Process Clarity: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, highlighting your approach to problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Visual Polish & Fidelity: Present a range of design artifacts, from low-fidelity wireframes and user flows to high-fidelity UI mockups and interactive prototypes, demonstrating your ability to adapt fidelity to the project's needs.
• Systems Thinking: Include examples that illustrate your understanding and application of design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability in your solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your ability to document design decisions and processes clearly, facilitating collaboration and knowledge transfer within cross-functional teams.
• Be prepared to discuss your methods for translating user insights and data into actionable design requirements and specifications.
• Showcase how you approach iterative design, including your strategies for testing, feedback integration, and performance measurement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio with "strategic thinking, measurable impact, and visual polish" directly mirrors the expectations for operations professionals who need to demonstrate ROI and process improvements through case studies and documented results. The emphasis on "turning ambiguity into action" and "systems mindset" further reinforces the need for structured, process-oriented thinking.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• California (Highest Geographic Market): $118,000 - $184,000 USD per year.
• Other US Locations (Lower Geographic Markets): $97,000 - $175,000 USD per year.
• Canada: $123,500 - $164,000 CAD per year.

Note: These ranges represent the minimum and maximum for the Senior Product Designer level across Scribd's defined geographic markets. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as candidate experience, specific skills, education, and the precise location of employment within these regions.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with 100% of employee premiums covered.
• Family Support: 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Income Protection: Short-term and long-term disability plans.
• Retirement Savings: 401k (US) or RSP (Canada) matching contributions.
• Home Office Setup: Onboarding stipend for home office peripherals and accessories.
• Professional Development: Learning & Development allowance and dedicated L&D programs.
• Wellness Support: Quarterly stipend for wellness, WiFi, and other related expenses.
• Mental Health Resources: Access to mental health support and resources.
• Product Access: Free subscription to the Scribd Inc. suite of products.
• Referral Bonuses: Incentives for referring successful candidates.
• Work-Life Balance: Sabbaticals, generous Vacation & Personal Days, Paid Holidays (including winter break), and Flexible Sick Time.
• Community & Engagement: Company-wide events, team engagement budgets, volunteer days, and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
• Technology Access: Free access to best-in-class AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation.

Working Hours:

• Full-time position, typically corresponding to a standard 40-hour work week. The company offers a "Scribd Flex" benefit, allowing employees to choose their daily work style in partnership with their manager, balancing individual needs with intentional in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges are provided with a clear methodology based on geographic market tiers, which is a sophisticated approach typical of operations-driven compensation strategies. The extensive benefits package, including L&D allowances and wellness stipends, reflects a company that invests in its employees' long-term productivity and well-being, a common characteristic of well-resourced operations departments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Publishing, Subscription Services, Knowledge Sharing Platform (including Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, Fable). Company Size: Mid-to-Large (Specific number not provided, but the extensive location list suggests a significant employee base). Founded: Scribd was founded in 2006, indicating a mature company with established processes and a history of innovation.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Operates collaboratively, with a culture of "friendly debates," shared ownership, and "critiques that feel more like conversations." Designers are expected to raise the bar collectively.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Integral to the design process, involving close partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Analytics from early exploration through launch.
• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, Senior Product Designers typically report into a Design Lead or Director of Product Design, who in turn may report to a VP of Product or similar executive.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: A core tenet, emphasizing understanding user needs and translating them into intuitive experiences.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Designs are tested, learned from, and measured for impact using research and analytics.
• Agile & Iterative: The process involves moving fluidly between prototypes and polished UI, with continuous iteration based on feedback and data.
• Systems Approach: Designing with the bigger picture in mind, contributing to and leveraging a design system for consistency and scalability.
• GRIT Framework: Employees are expected to demonstrate Goals, Results, Innovation, and Teamwork, reflecting a drive for performance and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.scribd.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "GRIT" (Goals, Results, Innovation, Teamwork) directly aligns with operational excellence principles. The blend of "individual flexibility and community connections" through "Scribd Flex" and intentional in-person moments indicates a structured approach to work-life balance that prioritizes both efficiency and collaboration, akin to well-managed GTM operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. It requires significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or influence more junior designers. The scope involves end-to-end ownership of complex features and contributions to the broader design system and team culture.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives, functioning as a key design partner within these cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: While this is a design role, its impact is deeply intertwined with business operations and revenue. By designing user experiences that enhance credibility, comprehension, and contribution (especially in UGC and AI contexts), the designer directly influences user engagement, content creation, knowledge discovery, and ultimately, subscription rates and platform growth – key metrics for GTM and operations teams. The focus on "measurable impact" and "shaping product direction" underscores this business-critical function.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and influencing design strategy at a higher level.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like UGC, AI-driven experiences, or subscription growth optimization through design.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Develop strong relationships and understanding of Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing, potentially leading to transitions into product management or other strategic GTM roles over the long term.
• Process Improvement: Contribute to refining the design team's processes, critique culture, and adoption of new tools and methodologies, building skills in operational efficiency within creative functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Senior Product Designer often involves developing strategic thinking and process management skills that are highly transferable to operations roles. The emphasis on "measurable impact" and "shaping product direction" positions this role as a key contributor to business outcomes, analogous to a Senior Operations Analyst or Manager focused on growth initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Scribd embraces a hybrid work model ("Scribd Flex") that balances individual flexibility with intentional in-person collaboration. This means while remote work is accommodated, regular in-office presence is expected for building connection, culture, and collaboration. Office Location(s): The company has a broad presence across major tech hubs in the United States (e.g., San Francisco, New York, Austin, Seattle), Canada (e.g., Toronto, Vancouver), and Mexico (Mexico City). Employees must reside in or near these locations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with opportunities for spontaneous interactions and planned team meetings.
• Tooling: Access to modern design and productivity tools, including Figma and AI tools, to support efficient workflow and innovation.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with fellow designers for critiques and knowledge sharing, as well as with cross-functional partners on a daily basis.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected. The "Scribd Flex" policy allows for flexibility in daily work styles, provided managers approve and in-person collaboration needs are met. This flexibility supports the need for focused design work and iterative processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with intentional in-person moments is a strategic operational choice to balance remote efficiency with the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, a common consideration for optimizing team performance in modern work environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role and company culture.
• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio case studies, discussing their process, decisions, and impact. This may be followed by a design exercise or discussion on a specific product challenge.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, product managers, engineers, and design leadership to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager/Director Interview: Deeper dive into strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Scribd's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your specific role, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., "Increased user engagement by X%," "Reduced friction in Y process by Z%").
• Showcase Your Process: Detail your journey from problem identification to solution. Explain why you made certain decisions, referencing research, data, and strategic considerations.
• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Highlight how your designs integrate with or contribute to existing design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Tailor to UGC/AI: If possible, include examples relevant to UGC, content creation, AI-assisted features, or platforms where credibility and information comprehension are key.
• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives that highlight your problem-solving abilities, creativity, and collaborative approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Scribd's products (Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, Fable), mission, and target audience. Understand their business model (subscription-based).
• Grit Framework: Be prepared to discuss how you embody Goals, Results, Innovation, and Teamwork in your work.
• AI & UGC: Familiarize yourself with current trends and challenges in AI-generated content and user-generated content platforms, especially regarding trust, credibility, and user experience.
• Design Principles: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy and how you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "measurable impact" and "quantifying outcomes" in the portfolio review is a direct parallel to how operations professionals are evaluated. Preparing case studies that demonstrate process improvement, efficiency gains, or revenue impact is crucial for both roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned as required). Candidates should be proficient in creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes within Figma.
• Collaboration: Tools that facilitate cross-functional communication and teamwork (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence - though not explicitly stated, these are common in tech environments).
• AI Tools: Scribd provides access to AI tools, suggesting an expectation for designers to leverage these for productivity, workflow streamlining, and innovation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).
• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar platforms to track user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion metrics.
• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret and present data visually, potentially using tools like Tableau or Looker, to communicate insights to the team.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how user data flows through systems and impacts customer experience is beneficial. Experience with tools that manage user feedback or integrate with product analytics would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of AI tools and the need to leverage them for productivity and innovation is a forward-looking aspect. For operations roles, understanding and implementing AI for process automation, data analysis, and forecasting is becoming increasingly critical. Proficiency in advanced analytics and data visualization tools is also a common requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A driving force behind exploring new ideas, understanding user behavior, and tackling complex problems. This aligns with an operations mindset of continuous learning and improvement.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and shared ownership. This fosters an environment where collective problem-solving leads to better outcomes.
• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are informed by research, analytics, and user feedback, ensuring that design solutions are effective and impactful. This mirrors the data-centric nature of operations.
• Efficiency & Clarity: The goal is to make complex ideas feel simple and to drive efficient, user-centered experiences. This resonates with operations' focus on streamlining processes and improving productivity.
• "GRIT": Demonstrating Goals, Results, Innovation, and Teamwork is fundamental to the company's performance culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Conversational Critiques: Design reviews are framed as collaborative discussions rather than formal presentations, encouraging open feedback and constructive debate.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working closely with PMs, engineers, and researchers to ensure alignment and shared understanding.
• Knowledge Sharing: The culture promotes learning from both successes and failures, with an emphasis on collective growth and continuous improvement of processes and craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "data-driven approach," "efficiency," and "measurable impact" through the "GRIT" framework directly mirrors the core values and objectives of successful Revenue Operations and GTM teams. The collaborative critique style is a form of process refinement and quality assurance.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Ambiguity and Structure: Navigating the inherent ambiguity of product development, especially with emerging technologies like AI, while still delivering structured, well-defined solutions.
• Designing for Credibility in an AI Era: Creating user experiences that build trust and ensure clarity in an environment where AI-generated information is prevalent.
• Integrating UGC Effectively: Designing intuitive and engaging experiences for user-generated content that balances creator tools, consumer consumption, and platform guidelines.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Continuously ensuring alignment and shared understanding across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Research) to deliver cohesive product experiences.
• Maintaining Design System Cohesion: Evolving and applying a design system effectively across multiple products and features while accommodating new requirements and innovations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Future of Content: Deepen expertise in designing for AI-powered features and understanding the evolving landscape of digital content consumption and creation.
• UGC & Community Design: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for platforms that foster user contribution and community engagement.
• Strategic Design Thinking: Develop advanced strategic skills by contributing to product direction and business objectives through design.
• Mentorship & Influence: Opportunity to mentor more junior designers and influence the design direction and culture of the team.
• Industry Exposure: Scribd's benefits include L&D allowances, which can be used for conferences, courses, or certifications relevant to product design, AI, or related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges listed, such as balancing ambiguity, driving measurable results, and ensuring cross-functional alignment, are hallmarks of operational challenges. The growth opportunities in AI and data-driven design are directly transferable to evolving operations roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Impact: "Walk me through a complex product you designed from concept to launch. What was your role, what were the biggest challenges, and what was the measurable impact of your design?" (Focus on quantifiable results and your strategic contribution.)
• Ambiguity & Problem Solving: "Describe a time you had to design a solution for a highly ambiguous problem. How did you define the problem, what steps did you take, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your ability to create structure and drive action.)
• Collaboration & Influence: "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a situation where you had to influence a stakeholder who disagreed with your design direction." (Showcase your communication and negotiation skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• GRIT Alignment: "How have you demonstrated Goals, Results, Innovation, and Teamwork in your previous roles?" (Prepare specific examples.)
• Scribd's Mission: "What excites you about Scribd's mission to spark human curiosity, and how do you see design contributing to that?" (Connect your passion to their purpose.)
• Hybrid Work: "How do you approach collaboration in a hybrid work environment, and what are your strategies for building strong relationships with remote and in-office colleagues?" (Demonstrate understanding of their work model.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem and user need your project addressed.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your design decisions and process.
• Focus on Impact: Dedicate significant time to discussing the results and metrics achieved. Quantify outcomes whenever possible.
• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially in team projects.
• Engage Your Audience: Treat the presentation as a conversation, inviting questions and feedback throughout or at designated points.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice emphasizes demonstrating "measurable impact," "strategic contribution," and "ability to create structure and drive action," all of which are critical for operations roles. Preparing for questions about company values and culture, like "GRIT," is essential for any candidate aiming to integrate effectively into a team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a portfolio via the application link. Ensure your portfolio includes at least 2-3 detailed case studies.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your case studies to highlight projects demonstrating strategic thinking, measurable impact, and experience with complex problem-solving. If possible, include examples relevant to UGC, AI, or content platforms.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 6+ years of experience, focusing on achievements related to user experience design, cross-functional collaboration, and driving product success. Use keywords from the job description like "User Experience," "Prototyping," "Figma," "Data Analysis," and "Systems Thinking."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design decisions, and the impact of your work using specific examples. Be ready to discuss how you embody Scribd's "GRIT" values and your understanding of their mission.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Scribd's products (Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, Fable), their market position, and their company culture, particularly their "Scribd Flex" and "GRIT" philosophy.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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