The Company

PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. 

We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers.

We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards.  Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade. 

Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day.  We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities.

Job Description Summary:

What you need to know about the role:

PayPal is ready to revolutionize the industry once again. We are committed to creating exceptional experiences for our customers and are looking for a visionary design strategy leader to join our team. This leader will drive experiences for businesses of all sizes, both locally and globally.

As a Senior Director of Common Platforms, reporting to the VP, Design Foundations, you will work across various consumer and merchant segments to architect world-class experiences that transform our business. You’ll collaborate closely with product and engineering partners to define and execute a next-generation roadmap that meets today’s needs while anticipating tomorrow’s challenges. You will guide your team and collaborate with other leaders and cross-functional team members to build and deliver the best possible experiences across all aspects of commerce, from discovery to post-purchase.

Your way to impact:

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Design Lead to spearhead the design vision for our platform products, leading a team of designers to develop innovative, user-centric experiences across our diverse platforms. This role requires a strong understanding of design principles, user research methodologies, and a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality platform experiences.

Job Description:

Your day to day: 

Strategic Design Leadership: 

Establish a clear design vision for our platform products, aligning with the overall company strategy and user needs. 

Develop and maintain a set of design principles and standards to guide platform design decisions. 

Conduct user research to identify pain points, opportunities, and key user needs across various platforms. 

Define and prioritize design roadmaps for platform product development. 

 

Team Management & Mentorship: 

Recruit, hire, and develop a high-performing team of designers with diverse skillsets. 

Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to design team members, fostering their professional growth. 

Foster a collaborative and creative work environment within the team. 

Set clear expectations and performance goals for design team members. 
 

Design Execution: 

Lead the design process for platform products, including concept ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing. 

Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure design alignment and successful product launch. 

Advocate for user-centered design principles throughout the development lifecycle. 

Present design concepts and rationale effectively to senior leadership and cross-functional teams. 
 

Cross-functional Collaboration: 

Partner with product teams to understand business objectives and translate them into user-centric design solutions. 

Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation of design solutions. 

Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization to promote design thinking and user-centricity. 

What you need to bring: 

Design Expertise: 

Proven experience in designing complex, user-friendly platform experiences across various devices and platforms. 

Proficient in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping tools. 

Strong understanding of user interface (UI) design principles, accessibility guidelines, and information architecture. 
 

Leadership Skills: 

Strong understanding of business drivers and and operating with an outcomes oriented mindset  

Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor design teams, fostering collaboration and innovation. 

Excellent communication skills to effectively convey design concepts and rationale to diverse audiences. 

Experience in managing design projects from concept to launch, ensuring quality and timely delivery. 
 

User-Centric Approach: 

Deep understanding of user research methodologies and ability to conduct user testing to inform design decisions. 

Proven ability to empathize with users and translate their needs into actionable design solutions. 

Experience in data-driven design, using user analytics to inform design iterations. 

 
Requirements 

15+ years’ experience and 4-5 years managing managers  

Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in the study of user experience, design, research or related fields  

Proven experience in leading, growing and inspiring highly talented and productive UX teams  

Complete UX skillset, to deliver excellence across products and platforms, mobile apps, financial services expertise an advantage  

Experience leading delivery, through feedback, design critique, presentation to program sponsors, planning and coordinating with partners where needed   

Familiarity and experience with standard design and prototyping tools 

Additional Job Description:

Subsidiary:

PayPal

Travel Percent:

0

-

PayPal is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices.

Actual Compensation is based on various factors including but not limited to work location, and relevant skills and experience.

The total compensation for this practice may include an annual performance bonus (or other incentive compensation, as applicable), equity, and medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. For more information, visit https://www.paypalbenefits.com.

The U.S. national annual pay range for this role is

$144800 to $319000

For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.

Our Benefits:

At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset—you. That’s why we offer benefits to help you thrive in every stage of life. We champion your financial, physical, and mental health by offering valuable benefits and resources to help you care for the whole you.

We have great benefits including a flexible work environment, employee shares options, health and life insurance and more. To learn more about our benefits please visit https://www.paypalbenefits.com.

Who We Are:

Click Here to learn more about our culture and community.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion 

PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.  If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentaccommodations@paypal.com.

Belonging at PayPal: 

Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.

Any general requests for consideration of your skills, please Join our Talent Community.

We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please don’t hesitate to apply.

Notice to Applicants and Employees who reside within New York City. Click here to view the notice.