Director of Product

Ignite Reading

3d • $190,000 - $190,000 • Remote

About The Position

Ignite Reading is a mission-driven public benefit corporation dedicated to solving America's reading crisis by providing one-to-one virtual tutoring. Our program focuses on foundational reading skills, utilizing Science of Reading-based instruction to help students achieve significant reading growth. We are seeking a visionary and results-driven Director of Product to lead our product strategy, development, and user experience initiatives. This role is crucial in delivering on our mission and requires a strategic thinker passionate about leveraging technology to transform education. The Director will work closely with senior leadership, translate strategic conversations into a clear roadmap, and thrive in an environment of ambiguity while building infrastructure from scratch. A key aspect of this role involves harnessing AI tools to drive product efficiency, accelerate time-to-market through rapid prototyping and AI-enhanced documentation, and pioneer AI-enabled research methods for rapid experimentation and hypothesis validation.

Requirements

• Comfortable operating with high autonomy and limited process, and energized by building systems and structure where none currently exist.
• Track record of direct, high-trust collaboration with senior leadership on ambiguous, high-stakes decisions.
• Proven experience in product management, including successful development, launch, and scaling of enterprise-tier SaaS platforms.
• Working knowledge of utilizing AI prototyping tools and LLMs.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Passion for education and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the education technology space.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate a comprehensive product strategy aligned with the company's mission and goals, encompassing both the SaaS platform and student outcome maximization.
• Identify optimization opportunities and user needs, assisted by AI-powered research tools.
• Create and maintain a dynamic product roadmap reflecting market trends, user needs, and business priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure product alignment with overall company objectives.
• Leverage AI tools to streamline work processes and maximize efficiency.
• Lead and inspire a high-performing product management and UX design organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the product team.
• Model and support team members in experimenting with and leveraging AI tools in their workflows.
• Contribute to bi-weekly AI learning sessions by sharing AI use cases and wins.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Oversee the end-to-end product development process, from ideation to launch, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, user-centric products.
• Utilize AI-powered tools for rapid prototyping before engineering handoff.
• Work closely with engineering and other stakeholders to prioritize and execute product initiatives.
• Analyze performance data to inform product decisions, leveraging AI when it’s beneficial.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends.
• Drive the creation of seamless and intuitive user experiences that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Collaborate with UX designers to ensure the alignment of design principles with user needs and business objectives.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and technology partners, to gather feedback and insights that inform product development.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to foster a collaborative and customer-centric approach.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Options
• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans (80% employee coverage, 70% dependent coverage)
• Short-term Disability (100% employer paid)
• 401(k) retirement plans with company contribution
• 12-weeks paid parental leave
• Unlimited vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Technology Stipend
• Wellness Stipend
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Professional Development Stipend

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director