Senior Product Design Manager
Pennylane · Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Hybrid
- Contract
- €120,000 / year
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
Job highlights
- Lead Product Design for Accounting Track.
- Manage and mentor design managers.
- Shape product design strategy and vision.
- Collaborate with executive leadership.
- Drive user experience excellence.
About the role
About Pennylane's Vision
Pennylane aims to be the most beloved financial Operating System for French and European SMEs and Accounting Firms. We empower entrepreneurs by automating time-consuming accounting and finance tasks, providing critical financial insights for better business decisions.
About Pennylane
Pennylane is a rapidly growing Fintech in France, recognized as a groundbreaking accounting and financial software. We have successfully raised €225 million, including from Silicon Valley investors like Sequoia. From 7 cofounders, we've grown to 800 employees and are considered a great place to work, with a 4.6/5 rating on Glassdoor. We boast an international environment with over 25 nationalities and a strong remote-friendly culture. Thousands of customers and accounting firms trust us, with over 500,000 SMEs and 5000 accounting firms using Pennylane in France.
Design at Pennylane
Design is central to our mission, focusing on delivering an accessible, seamless, and enjoyable experience for our users. Our team of over 40 Product Designers collaborate in cross-functional squads. Autonomy, trust, and transparency are core values, reflected in our designers' involvement from problem definition to research and testing.
Team and Context
We are seeking a Senior Product Design Manager for the Accounting Track. This role requires a strong strategic and design mindset, with extensive experience in complex product environments and direct work with C-level executives. You should excel at simplifying complex topics, communicating with senior stakeholders, and influencing high-stakes discussions.
Reporting directly to the Accounting Head of Product, you will mentor and lead a team of 3 talented Product Design Managers. As our organization grows, you may also manage individual Product Designers in newly created tracks. You will collaborate closely with the Accounting Head of Engineering and other track Senior Product Design Managers.
Pennylane is based in Paris, but our Design team is remote-friendly. The team convenes in Paris a few days every two months.
Your Key Responsibilities
- Product Strategy & Design Vision: Refine and update the Product Strategy for the Accounting track, shape and promote the Product Design vision and culture, and represent design in executive forums. Contribute to company-wide strategic initiatives.
- People Management: Lead and mentor 3 Product Design Managers, oversee Product Designers at the track level, and help balance speed, quality, and design consistency with business goals.
- Design Team Leadership: Co-animate the Design Committee and rituals, participate in hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and career development. Partner with leaders and HR to hire, develop, and retain design talent. You will have opportunities to impact Pennylane at scale through cross-team initiatives.
Recruitment Process
- Screening with Recruiter (45 min)
- Interview with Direct Manager, Head of Product (45 min)
- Product & Tech Discussion (1 hr)
- Design Organization / Design Vision Interview (1 hr)
- Final Round with CPO (1 hr)
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Pennylane is committed to fostering diversity and providing an inclusive, caring, and fulfilling work environment, offering equal opportunities regardless of background.
Work Life Benefits
- Remote work possible from your country of residence in Europe (within a 2-hour time difference from CET).
- 25 vacation days.
- Competitive compensation package.
- Company shares.
- Home office budget and co-working space allowance.
- Gymlib access for fitness and wellness.
- Busuu access to improve English or French.
- Latest Apple equipment.
- Regular company events, including remote meetups (Pennylane Days) and an annual seminar.
Additional benefits for employees based in France include a French contract, RTT, PTO, lunch credits, and healthcare cover. We are working to extend these benefits to employees outside of France.
Key skills/competency
- Senior Product Design Manager
- Product Strategy
- Design Vision
- People Management
- Team Leadership
- Design Organization
- User Experience
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Stakeholder Management
- Talent Development
Skills & topics
- Senior Product Design Manager
- Product Design
- Design Management
- Product Strategy
- Team Leadership
- User Experience
- Fintech
- SaaS
- Remote Work
- Europe
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience in product strategy, design leadership, and people management, specifically mentioning your work with C-level executives and complex product environments to align with the Senior Product Design Manager role at Pennylane.
- Showcase your design vision: Prepare to discuss how you've shaped design culture, influenced product strategy, and mentored design teams. Emphasize your ability to simplify complex topics and communicate with senior stakeholders.
- Understand Pennylane's mission: Research Pennylane's vision to become a leading financial OS for SMEs and accounting firms. Connect your experience to their goals of empowering entrepreneurs and driving business decisions.
- Prepare for structured interviews: Familiarize yourself with each stage of the Pennylane recruitment process, from screening to the final round with the CPO. Be ready to demonstrate your strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for the Senior Product Design Manager at Pennylane's Accounting Track?
- The Senior Product Design Manager will focus on refining the Product Strategy for the Accounting track, shaping and promoting the Product Design vision and culture across Pennylane, and leading/mentoring a team of Product Design Managers.
- What is Pennylane's stance on remote work for this Senior Product Design Manager role?
- Pennylane has a strong remote-friendly culture. The Design team is remote-friendly, with the ability to work from your country of residence in Europe, provided it's within a two-hour time difference from CET. The team does meet in Paris a few days every two months.
- What kind of experience is crucial for a Senior Product Design Manager at Pennylane?
- Crucial experience includes a strong strategic and design mindset, extensive work in complex product environments, and proven experience working directly with C-level executives and executive committees. The ability to simplify complex topics and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders is essential.
- How does Pennylane support employee well-being and professional development?
- Pennylane offers various benefits including remote work options, a home office budget, co-working allowances, Gymlib access for fitness and wellness, and language learning through Busuu. They also focus on career development and provide opportunities for professional growth within the design team.
- What is the expected leadership style for a Senior Product Design Manager at Pennylane?
- The leadership style expected is one that mentors and leads Product Design Managers, helps balance speed and quality, and fosters design consistency. It involves co-animating design committees and collaborating with cross-functional partners and HR for talent development.
- How does Pennylane approach diversity and inclusion within its teams?
- Pennylane is committed to encouraging diversity in all its forms and strives to offer an inclusive, caring, and fulfilling work environment, providing equal opportunities regardless of background, origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or handicap.
- What are the key responsibilities regarding 'Design Team Leadership' for this role?
- Key responsibilities include co-animating the Design Committee and rituals, owning hiring, onboarding, performance follow-up, and career development processes, and partnering with leaders and HR to hire, develop, and retain design talent.
- Can you describe the typical recruitment process for a Senior Product Design Manager at Pennylane?
- The recruitment process typically involves a recruiter screening, an interview with the direct manager (Head of Product), a Product & Tech discussion, a Design Organization/Vision interview, and a final round with the CPO.