Corporate strategy Jobs in Chicago, IL

Senior Associate, Corporate Strategy

PayPal moves money for millions of small businesses around the world and our strategy team is at the center of figuring out what comes next. As a Senior Associate, Corporate Strategy, you'll work on the questions that matter most: Where should PayPal place its bets in a rapidly shifting payments landscape (and where shouldn't it)? How do we win on platforms where the competitive dynamics are changing fast? What does the SMB ecosystem look like in a world where AI is rewriting how commerce works? This is a critical role. You'll own meaningful workstreams, build the analytical foundation that shapes leadership decisions, and be in the room when those decisions get made. And when a new idea has enough momentum, you won't just hand it off you'll help bring it to life. If you're someone who gets energized by hard problems, moves fast, and wants your work to have real impact this is the role.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Dig into the strategic questions PayPal's senior leadership cares about most - market sizing, competitive positioning, partnership opportunities, growth strategy - and develop the analysis and recommendations that drive decisions
• Build original strategic content: business cases, competitive assessments, investment frameworks, and executive narratives that are sharp, well-reasoned, and built to persuade
• Incubate new product and business concepts from the ground up - pressure-testing ideas, developing go-to-market hypotheses, and building the early-stage business cases that determine whether an opportunity is worth pursuing
• Collaborate across Product, Finance, Sales, and Partnerships to take strategic initiatives from early framing all the way through to execution - including, at times, standing up net-new initiatives that didn't exist before
• Thrive in ambiguity - structure problems that don't have an obvious shape yet, and find the right path forward even when there's no established playbook
• Help raise the bar for how the team works by bringing strong analytical instincts and a habit of sharing frameworks and approaches that make everyone sharper

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications :

• Strategy consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, or a similarly rigorous analytical environment
• Creative, non-linear thinker who challenges conventional frameworks and finds angles others miss especially in early-stage, zero-to-one problem spaces
• Fluent in AI tools and actively integrating them into how you work, not just aware they exist
• Energized by fast-moving environments where priorities shift, information is incomplete, and the expectation is that you figure it out
• Background in payments, fintech, or ecommerce; familiarity with the SMB merchant world is a plus
• Some exposure to product development, venture, or early-stage incubation the instinct to build, not just analyze, is something we value

PayPal does not charge candidates any fees for courses, applications, resume reviews, interviews, background checks, or onboarding. When making an application directly, we will never ask you to share passwords, one-time passcodes (OTP), or verification codes. Any such request is a red flag and likely part of a scam. All communication regarding your application will come from official PayPal email domains. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately.

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 comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeingphysical, emotional, and financialdelivering meaningful value where it matters most.?We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

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 paypalglobaltalentacquisition@paypal.com.