Director, Product (AI Lab)
Remote
US Remote
Full time
At Curriculum Associates, we believe in the potential of every child and are changing the face of education technology with award-winning learning programs like i-Ready that serve a third of the nation’s K–8 students. For more than 50 years, our commitment to making classrooms better places, serving educators, and supporting accessible learning experiences for all students has driven the continuous improvement of our innovative programs. Our team of more than 2,500 employees is composed of lifelong learners who stand behind this mission, working tirelessly to serve the educational community with world-class programs and support every day.
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Product Director to assist in leading the strategic direction and development of our AI Labs product portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Director Product, you will be instrumental in defining, delivering, and scaling products that meet the evolving needs of educators and learners worldwide. This role demands a blend of strategic thinking, deep market understanding, strong leadership, and first hand execution within a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
The impact you'll have:
1. Product Strategy & Vision:
- Assist in defining and championing the long-term vision, strategy, and roadmap for our AI Labs portfolio, aligning with the company's overall mission and business objectives.
- Conduct in-depth market research, competitive analysis, and customer segmentation to identify unmet needs, emerging trends in educational technology, and new market opportunities.
- Translate complex market insights and user needs into clear, compelling product requirements and use cases.
2. Product Leadership & Management:
- Lead, mentor, and inspire a growing team of talented Product Managers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and accountability.
- Oversee the entire product lifecycle from ideation and concept validation through development, launch, adoption, and iteration.
- Participate in our agile product development processes, ensuring efficient execution and high-quality delivery.
- Champion a user-centric design approach, working closely with UX/UI designers to create intuitive and engaging learning experiences.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Data science, Marketing, and Research teams to ensure product alignment, successful go-to-market strategies, iteration and post-launch optimization.
- Communicate effectively with executive leadership, providing regular updates on product performance, strategic initiatives, and market dynamics.
- Build strong relationships with external partners, subject matter experts, and key educational stakeholders to gather insights and foster strategic alliances.
4. Performance & Impact:
- Define, track, and analyse key product performance metrics (e.g., adoption rates, engagement, retention, learning outcomes), using data to inform product decisions and identify areas for improvement.
- Ensure compliance with relevant educational standards, privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, FERPA), and accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG).
Who we're looking for:
- Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in Product Management, with at least 5+ years in a leadership role (e.g., Senior Product Manager, Lead Product Manager) within a SaaS or software product company, ideally in the education technology (EdTech) sector.
- Experience with AI/ML-driven products or adaptive learning technologies.
- Proven history of successfully launching and scaling complex software products that have achieved significant market adoption and business impact.
- Deep understanding of the education landscape (e.g., K-12, Higher Ed, corporate learning) and pedagogical best practices.
- Strong experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
- Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate market trends and data into actionable product strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing product teams.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
- Strong business acumen and experience with P&L responsibility or budget management.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Business, Education, or a related field. Master's degree or MBA preferred.
Bonus Points If You Have:
- Familiarity with specific educational frameworks or curriculum standards.
- Experience in a multi-national or multi-campus environment.