Product Manager, Digital and AI Innovation

Roca, Inc•Chelsea, MA

20h•$95,000 - $145,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Roca is seeking a Product Manager, Digital and AI Innovation to lead the design, piloting, and implementation of AI-enabled digital tools that enhance frontline practice and support behavior change. This role involves close collaboration with frontline staff, program leaders, and external partners to identify technological opportunities for improving learning, coaching, decision-making, and service delivery. The Product Manager will guide digital products from conception to implementation, translating operational needs into scalable solutions aligned with Roca’s intervention model. Working with internal teams and external developers, this role will oversee product design, pilot testing, user feedback, and adoption to ensure tools provide significant value to staff and participants. Success requires regular in-person collaboration across Roca’s sites to understand operational needs, test solutions in real-world settings, and support the adoption of new tools and practices. The role also involves shaping Roca’s approach to AI, ensuring responsible, ethical use that strengthens human relationships and judgment. This position demands curiosity, adaptability, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to balance innovation with disciplined execution, always prioritizing staff and participant needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience required; master’s degree preferred.
4–7 years of experience in digital product development, innovation, technology implementation, project management, or related work in a complex organization.
Experience translating user, program, or operational needs into product requirements, technical specifications, or implementation plans.
Experience supporting or leading the implementation of digital tools, platforms, or technology-enabled process improvements.
Experience working collaboratively with program teams, frontline staff, or end users to understand needs and improve products or workflows.
Familiarity with human-centered design, user research, pilot testing, AI-enabled products, or similar approaches.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, timelines, and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to learn, evaluate, and apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to solve organizational or programmatic challenges.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate between technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience working with vendors, consultants, developers, or external partners.
Commitment to Roca’s mission and to working with communities impacted by violence, trauma, and systems involvement.
Ability to build collaborative relationships across teams, sites, and hybrid work environments.
Valid state-issued driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout Roca's service areas in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut to support product development, pilot implementation, training, and stakeholder engagement.
Successful completion of a criminal background check and driving record review.
Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Strong attendance and high energy.
Hybrid Work Requirement: This is a hybrid position that requires employees to work in person at a Roca office at least three (3) days per week. Regular travel to Roca sites and occasional in-person meetings outside of assigned office days may also be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in startup, product management, or innovation environments.
Experience with AI-enabled products, AI/ML applications, or responsible AI practices.
Experience working in data-driven nonprofit organizations.
Track record of successful technology partnerships or innovation collaborations.
Background in cognitive behavioral therapy, youth development, or violence intervention.
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.