At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of our innovative creative engine for advertising technology.
- Company: Join Pencil, a trailblazer in AI-driven advertising solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment focused on collaboration and user-centric design.
- Why this job: Shape the future of content creation while empowering small businesses and creatives.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and familiarity with creative tools and workflows.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
At Pencil, we are driving innovation in advertising technology through our state-of-the-art SaaS product, which harnesses Generative AI to redefine content creation. Our mission is to make AI the default in advertising without replacing creative people. To achieve this, we need to make sure that our technology isn’t just in the hands of big brands - we need to try to help small businesses and creative individuals too.
You’ll own Pencil’s core creative engine: our unified editor suite. The goal is simple: make it fast and intuitive to go from “almost there” to “perfect,” with speed, confidence, and control.
Our editors work across a diverse range of output families, including Digital, Display Ads, Email, and Print. While each medium presents distinct constraints and subtle complexities that must be respected, these nuances should not lead to fragmentation or hinder our speed of execution. This role is about setting clear direction, building shared foundations, and driving momentum across the suite so the product feels coherent while still meeting the bar for each output.
You won’t be expected to be the deepest specialist in every editor domain. You will be expected to set strategy, create clarity, and establish reusable primitives and patterns that allow the team to move quickly and ship high-quality experiences across formats.
Requirements
- Have owned a complex product area end-to-end (strategy → roadmap → delivery → iteration) and driven meaningful outcomes.
- You must have hands-on experience with editors, creation tools, builders, workflows, or AI-assisted tools - whether for design, video, content, or email and can navigate the complexity of multi-format platforms.
- Are comfortable working in technically complex systems.
- Have strong product judgment and can make hard tradeoffs quickly by knowing when to push, simplify, or escalate.
- Have shipped nuanced, high-quality UX by partnering closely with Engineering and Design.
- Can influence without authority and keep cross-functional teams aligned and moving.
- Enjoy mentoring and raising the bar for how a team operates, not just what it ships.
You’ll thrive here if you…
- Move Fast. You’re comfortable making decisions with imperfect information, iterating quickly, and fixing things before they become fires.
- Stay Human. You care deeply about users and teammates, and design with empathy for real workflows.
- Act Like an Owner. You take responsibility for outcomes, not just outputs, spotting problems early and taking initiative to fix them.
- Keep It Simple. You fight unnecessary complexity, design reusable patterns, and make hard things feel intuitive.
- Love to Surprise. You enjoy finding unexpected ways to delight users, especially in the last mile of polish and usability.
Lead Product Manager employer: Pencil
At Pencil, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that champions innovation and creativity. As a Lead Product Manager, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of advertising technology while working alongside passionate individuals who value collaboration and personal growth. Our commitment to employee development, coupled with our focus on making AI accessible to all businesses, makes Pencil an exceptional place to build a meaningful career in a vibrant location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to product management. Think about how your experience aligns with the role at Pencil, especially around driving innovation and working with complex systems.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for AI and creative tools during interviews. Share examples of how you've used technology to enhance user experiences and how you can contribute to making AI the default in advertising.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our innovative team at Pencil.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Innovation:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for advertising technology and AI shine through. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of making AI accessible for everyone, not just big brands.
Highlight Your Experience with Complex Products:Make sure to detail your hands-on experience with editors and creation tools. We’re looking for someone who has owned a product area end-to-end, so share specific examples of how you've driven meaningful outcomes in your previous roles.
Emphasise Collaboration Skills:Since this role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, highlight your ability to influence without authority. Share instances where you’ve kept teams aligned and moving towards a common goal, as that’s key for us at StudySmarter.
Keep It Simple and Clear:Your application should be straightforward and easy to read. Avoid unnecessary jargon and focus on making your points clear. Remember, we appreciate simplicity and clarity in both design and communication!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pencil
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Pencil's product offerings and understand how their technology works. Familiarise yourself with their unified editor suite and think about how you can contribute to making it faster and more intuitive. This will show your genuine interest and help you speak confidently about how you can drive innovation.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to make strategic decisions under pressure. Think of examples from your past experiences where you had to navigate complex systems or make tough trade-offs. Be ready to discuss how you prioritised tasks and drove meaningful outcomes in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Pencil values teamwork, so be prepared to discuss how you've influenced cross-functional teams in the past. Share specific instances where you aligned different stakeholders towards a common goal, and highlight your mentoring experiences. This will demonstrate your ability to keep teams moving and engaged.
✨Emphasise User-Centric Design
Since the role requires empathy for users, come prepared with examples of how you've designed products with real workflows in mind. Discuss how you’ve gathered user feedback and iterated on designs to enhance usability. This will illustrate your commitment to creating high-quality user experiences.
