Director of Product

Recidiviz•Oakland, NY

1d•Remote

About The Position

Recidiviz is thrilled to be hiring a Director of Product to join our team! We're a small, fast-moving group building technology that helps government leaders safely reduce incarceration and improve outcomes for people in the criminal justice system. That's where you come in. We're looking for a product leader who is equally energized by people and strategy — someone who can set the direction, build the systems, and develop a high-performing team of product managers to do the most important work of their careers. About us Recidiviz is creating safer, healthier communities by improving outcomes for people in the criminal justice system. We build technology to reduce the number of people in prison and to help criminal justice leaders embrace data-driven decision-making. Using software tools and thoughtful product design, we've been able to safely reduce incarceration and improve outcomes. We work side-by-side with leaders of the criminal justice system, people in prison and on supervision, and ecosystem partners to build a better path forward. In addition to the revenue we earn from state partners, some of the most respected philanthropists and foundations support our work. People who succeed at Recidiviz lead with kindness and humility, assume good intent, learn from failure, and fix problems when they see them. They are excited to work arm in arm with government leadership and staff to improve outcomes. They are great listeners. They build deep relationships with and empathy for the people we work with and the people who our mission serves, even when those two groups feel at odds. About the role This role sits at the center of Recidiviz's ability to scale. As a Director of Product, you'll lead and develop a team of experienced product managers — people with years of domain expertise, strong opinions, and a deep commitment to the mission. Your job is to make each of them sharper, more supported, and more impactful: setting the strategic context that guides their work, building the people systems that help them grow, and creating the conditions for them to do the best work of their careers. You'll report to the Chief Impact Officer and serve as a key partner on product direction, team health, and the org design decisions that will shape Recidiviz as it grows toward national scale. Some travel to our state partners, internal team gatherings, and offsites is expected.

Requirements

Deep care for the growth and wellbeing of the people you manage — you measure your success by theirs
10+ years in product management, with at least 5 years managing a team; you've led both senior ICs and emerging leaders and know how to get the best from each
Exceptional communication and relationship skills — you earn trust quickly, especially with people who have strong opinions and high standards
Experience coaching PMs toward management readiness — you've developed future managers, not just individual contributors
Comfort operating in ambiguity, with the ability to create clarity and momentum where little exists
Proven ability to build people systems from scratch — career ladders, performance frameworks, onboarding programs — in a fast-moving environment
Experience running recruiting at scale: pipeline building, interview design, and closing candidates in a competitive market
Strong strategic instincts: you can zoom out to see the system, identify what's misaligned, and help teams make better decisions with less friction
A builder's mindset paired with strategic rigor — you see gaps, you close them, and you leave things better than you found them
Ability and willingness to travel, about one trip per quarter

Nice To Haves

Experience navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments where end users, administrative buyers, and institutional partners each have distinct needs — and where building trust with all of them is part of the job.
Experience working in or closely with mission-driven, nonprofit, or public sector organizations
Personal or professional experience working with the criminal justice system
Experience in a high-growth startup where the playbook was still being written
Exposure to AI-assisted product development and the unique team dynamics it creates
A track record of elevating strong ICs into more strategic, senior thinkers — not just promoting people, but genuinely shaping their craft

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and build a high-performing PM team.
Manage and mentor experienced PMs and emerging leaders — including senior ICs who own product areas deeply and those growing toward management.
Own the full hiring engine from sourcing to close: pipeline development, interview design, and offer process.
Build the systems that give the team clarity and stability.
Partner with People Ops to own and evolve the career ladder, performance frameworks, and onboarding that make this team feel like a place worth building a career.
Build the cross-functional trust that makes great product work possible.
Partner closely with engineering, design, data science, and policy and coach the PMs to do the same.
Collaborate with executive leadership and state government stakeholders, and help the team stay close to frontline staff and the people most affected by the criminal justice system.
Set the strategic context that guides the team's work.
Define a clear direction for the PM team — helping each PM understand where their area fits in the bigger picture, what to prioritize, and why it matters.
Help PMs define strategies for their areas, translate ambiguity into clear priorities, and make more confident product calls.
Move the team toward the future of product.
Champion and model AI-assisted workflows across discovery, scoping, and prototyping.
Set standards for using these tools with judgment, not just speed.
Develop the adaptability and craft that will make your PMs exceptional long after their time at Recidiviz.

Benefits

Effective, extremely thoughtful colleagues, working together on a mission that matters
90% medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for you and your dependents
Flexible time off, including 20 days of PTO, 3 days of paid volunteering time, and 13 paid holidays per year
401(k) retirement plan with 5% company match and no vesting period
12 weeks of paid parental leave
Complimentary One Medical membership (availability based on location)
Partnership with Carrot to provide employees with inclusive fertility and family-forming benefits, as well as a small but growing number of hormonal health and gender-affirming care benefits
Monthly ClassPass credit for personal wellness
Free mental health support via Talkspace
Well-located offices in Oakland and Manhattan, with the flexibility to work remotely or go into either office as you choose
An annual company offsite and other ad-hoc gatherings
All the exhilarating challenges and stretch opportunities of a tech startup, combined with the mission-driven heart of a nonprofit