Digital & AI Innovation Product Manager

Roca, Inc•Chelsea, MA

About The Position

The Digital & AI Innovation Product Manager reports to the Executive Vice President of Evaluation and Learning and leads Roca’s efforts to design, pilot, and implement AI enabled digital tools that strengthen frontline practice and support behavior change. This role sits close to programs and practice, working alongside frontline staff, program leaders, and external partners to turn ideas into usable products. The Product Manager is responsible for moving projects from concept to pilot to implementation, working closely with internal teams and external developers such as Ten Point Data to translate program needs into clear product and technical requirements. The [PW1] Product Manager ensures tools are aligned with Roca’s intervention model, meet real operational needs, and are feasible to scale. This is a hands-on leadership role that bridges frontline practice, product development, and change management. The Digital & AI Innovation Product Manager plays a central role in shaping how AI is used at Roca. This includes ensuring AI tools are practical, ethical, and aligned with Roca’s values, strengthening rather than replacing human judgment and relationships. Success in this role requires balancing innovation with discipline, moving quickly while testing and learning, and building trust across programs by keeping staff and participant needs at the center of the work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience is required; master’s degree is preferred.
7+ years of experience in digital product development, innovation, or technology strategy in complex organizations (nonprofit, government, or social enterprise)
Proven track record of implementing digital solutions that improved organizational effectiveness or program outcomes
Experience working collaboratively with program teams, using human-centered design or similar approaches
Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
Outstanding communicator who can translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders
Deep commitment to working with communities impacted by violence
Builder of collaborative culture that thrives across teams, sites, and screens
Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships
Ability to travel around the service areas of MA, MD, and CT
Valid state issued driver’s license
Criminal background and current driving record check
Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed.
Ability to work with diverse cultures.
Strong attendance and high energy.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI/ML applications in social impact or workforce development contexts
Background in cognitive behavioral therapy, youth development, or violence intervention
Experience working in data-driven nonprofit organizations
Track record of successful technology partnerships or innovation collaborations
Experience in startup or product management environments
Familiarity with youth justice, criminal justice reform, or community violence intervention

Responsibilities

Advance Roca’s digital innovation strategy aligned with organizational priorities, program growth, and national scale, with AI as a core pillar
Identify Roca’s unique value proposition in the behavioral health and violence intervention technology space
Ensure digital innovation efforts strengthen frontline practice, support behavior change, and reinforce Roca’s intervention model
Measure and communicate the impact of digital innovation initiatives to leadership, funders, and partners
Lead the full lifecycle of digital products from concept through pilot, implementation, and early scale
Translate program and practice needs into clear product requirements, priorities, and learning goals
Oversee the design and implementation of scalable, high impact digital tools that reduce administrative burden and improve consistency and quality of practice
Conduct user research with frontline staff, supervisors, program leaders, and partners to inform design and iteration
Ensure quality standards across all digital and AI-enabled products
Shape how AI is used across Roca’s digital tools, ensuring applications are practical, ethical, and aligned with organizational values
Develop and apply frameworks for responsible AI use that prioritize dignity, data privacy, equity, and human judgment
Explore AI applications that improve administrative efficiency, data analysis, and decision support while freeing staff time for direct services
Design and manage pilots, including goals, timelines, success measures, and learning questions
Gather and synthesize feedback from users to inform iteration and improvement
Use pilot results to guide decisions about refinement, scaling, or discontinuation
Support adoption of new tools through onboarding, training, documentation, and ongoing support
Partner with program leadership to integrate digital tools into daily workflows
Foster trust and buy in by engaging staff early and responding to real operational constraints
Build and manage partnerships with technology firms, AI developers, academic institutions, funders, and innovation hubs
Work closely with external developers such as Ten Point Data to design, build, and refine digital products
Develop models for incubating, adapting, and scaling promising digital solutions across sites and partner systems
Collaborate with site and organizational leadership to ensure alignment and support for innovation adoption