Senior Product Manager, Wattpad
Content Discovery
CA$110-135k
More information about location
Platform for sharing original writing
Open for applications
Platform for sharing original writing
1001+ employees
Open for applications
CA$110-135k
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
Wattpad's mission is to create a world where everyone's story can be heard, and anyone can belong.
Role
Who you are
- 5+ years of experience in product management, with a focus on AI/ML, search, or recommendations
- Proven track record of successfully launching and iterating on AI/ML powered content discovery products
- Experience working with large datasets and cloud-based platforms
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills
- Passion for storytelling and the Wattpad platform
Desirable
- Experience with or strong interest in Generative AI and its applications in content creation and discovery
- Experience with A/B testing and experimentation
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies
- Background in content-based industries (e.g., media, entertainment, publishing)
What the job involves
- We are looking for a passionate and experienced Senior Product Manager to join our growing team and lead the product strategy, roadmap, and execution for AI/ML powered Content Discovery features, such as Search & Recommendations, across Wattpad
- You will focus on enhancing user experience and driving engagement by leveraging the power of AI/ML to connect readers with the stories they'll love
- You will work closely with Data Science and Engineering teams to build and optimize algorithms that personalize content discovery and surface the best content for every user
- This is a high-impact role with the potential to shape the future of storytelling on Wattpad
- Contribute to the product vision and strategy for AI/ML powered content discovery experiences across Wattpad's platforms, working closely with product leadership to define the long-term direction
- Conduct in-depth user research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and unmet needs in content discovery and personalization
- Translate user needs and business requirements into detailed product specifications and use cases
- Collaborate closely with Data Science and Engineering teams to design, develop, and implement AI/ML models and algorithms for search ranking, query understanding, recommendation systems, and personalization
- Prioritize and manage the product backlog, ensuring alignment with overall company goals and strategic direction
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of search and recommendation features, and drive continuous improvement
- Stay informed about the latest advancements in AI/ML, information retrieval, and recommender systems to identify new opportunities for innovation
- Clearly communicate product plans, progress, and results to stakeholders across the organization
Application process
- Wattpad is conducting all interviews in a distributed manner using applicable third party software where needed and using visual interface tools such as Google Hangouts and Zoom
Our take
Content is king and Wattpad has managed to create a platform that aggregates the most loved original writing content in the world, turning the traditional publishing industry on its head.
Where authors used to submit drafts to dozens of publishing houses in the hope of getting some eyeballs on their work, Wattpad opened up the process to millions of young authors by letting them easily submit their work, and fostering a community around their software that offers feedback and help.
The e-reading platform is now looking to double down on its strategy of taking its user-generated fiction and turning it into successful intellectual property upon which original series and movies can be based. However a significant challenge for Wattpad is in producing original, marketable content from its platform given the popularity of fanfiction, stories which are based on existing intellectual property.
Another challenge for Wattpad is the current economic conditions which have affected much of the tech sector and are not sparing digital publishing. Having shelved bold plans for the future it also laid off 15% of its workforce in March 2023. Having realigned for its current business needs however, it is now well placed to weather the current market downturn.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 4 rounds)
Jan 2018
$51m
LATE VC
Apr 2014
$46m
SERIES C
Total funding: $117.8m
Company benefits
- Full health benefits
- Career development & Mentorship opportunities
- RRSP matching
- Generous parental Leave top-up
- Flexible hours
- Regular hackathons
- Healthy snacks & drinks
- Your choice of hardware
- Monthly work-from-home allowance
- Beautiful offices in Toronto and Halifax
- Easy access to transit
Company values
- UserObsessed- We make every decision by stepping into our users’ shoes
- Inclusive - We help everyone belong
- Trailblazer - We push ourselves on how we think and how we act
- BuildItForward - We’re always building a foundation for tomorrow
- PlayToWin - We’re driven to lead the pack
- Resourceful -We make the most of every minute and every dollar
- TeamWork - We do what’s best for the greater good
Company HQ
St. Lawrence, Toronto, ON
Articles
Leadership
Allen lau
(CEO)Lau attended University of Toronto where he earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering followed by a master's in the same subject. Thereafter he briefly worked as a software engineer for Brightspark before founding his first notable company, Tira Wireless, a mobile development startup. He is also the co-founder of Two Small Fish Ventures, a fund that invests in Toronto and Waterloo-based early-stage internet companies with strong network effects.
Ivan Yuen
(CSO)Prior to Wattpad, Ivan co-founded FeedM8 and served as the company’s CTO. Before that he was one of the first employees of Tira Wireless, where he helped grow the technical team and developed new and emerging wireless technologies. Ivan graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Computer Engineering and also earned an MBA from the Rotman School of Management.
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