[Hiring] Product Design Strategist @Paper

Role Description

The line between product designer and product manager is blurring - and we're looking for someone who lives in that space naturally. This role is approximately 60% product design and 40% product strategy, but really it's 100% about owning outcomes.

• Design interfaces that make learning feel less like homework and more like leveling up.
• Define what gets built and why.
• Manage the details that turn good ideas into shipped products.
• Use modern tools to work faster and more creatively than traditional workflows allow.

We believe the best designers are a step ahead of the project managers they work with. If you've ever felt like you're capable of more than your job title suggests, this role was designed for you.

What You'll Own

• Design the experiences that move metrics.
• Craft beautiful, engaging interfaces for elementary and middle school students, making complex educational concepts feel accessible and fun.
• Shape product strategy by connecting user needs, business goals, and technical constraints into coherent solutions.
• Keep track of schedules, dependencies, and unresolved decisions while bringing developers the complete picture.
• Understand Paper's business context before tackling design problems.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating illustration skills and visual design that connects with younger audiences (elementary through middle school).
• Experience designing consumer products, gaming experiences, educational tools, or youth-focused apps.
• Comfort with modern design tools (Figma, etc.) and excitement about new workflows.
• An eye for detail and an instinct for what makes interfaces feel engaging.

Requirements

• Deep curiosity about game mechanics, habit formation, and behavioral psychology.
• Ability to balance qualitative insights with quantitative data to make product decisions.
• Track record of defining, scoping, and managing features through to measurable impact.
• Comfort writing specs, setting priorities, and having difficult conversations about what not to build.

Benefits

• Comprehensive & competitive compensation, health benefits, retirement plan, stock options, and more.
• Generous paid parental leave.
• Unlimited access to tutoring and educational support for children of Paper employees.
• A $500 stipend to set up your workspace and $100 monthly stipends for ongoing workspace needs.
• 4 extra weeks off, including statutory holidays and a full Paper Week from Dec 25 to Jan 1.

Who Thrives Here

• Frustrated when design work gets handed off without visibility into outcomes.
• Desire to see designs shipped, measured, and iterated based on real outcomes.
• Excited to build for students who deserve better tools.
• Refusal to be confined to traditional roles of design or product management.

Ready to Apply?

• Your portfolio emphasizing work for younger audiences, examples of game mechanics, and projects where you shaped product strategy.
• Your resume highlighting where you've gone beyond traditional design deliverables.
• A brief note (300-500 words) addressing your excitement for this hybrid role and an example of connecting business and user goals.

Salary Range

The annual salary range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000 USD or $100,000 - $120,000 CAD, plus equity.