Product Manager

University of Louisiana, Lafayette•Lafayette, LA

About The Position

The Product Manager at the Center for Applied AI at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette leads user-driven product development and coordinates cross-functional efforts across agency partners, researchers, students, and technical teams. The role connects end users and agency partners with the technical and research teams developing data, analytics, and AI-enabled products. It translates user needs and stakeholder priorities into clear product requirements, roadmaps, and measurable outcomes so technical capabilities become practical solutions for real-world needs. The Product Manager reports to the Director of the Center for Applied AI.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Product Management, User Experience, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field.
2–3 years of professional experience in product management, user research, project coordination, data analysis, or related roles.
Experience conducting user research and translating user needs into actionable product requirements.
Experience coordinating work across multiple technical and non-technical teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to build stakeholder relationships and manage expectations without formal authority.
Strong analytical, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
Understanding of data governance, data quality, analytics, or metrics concepts.
User research and synthesis skills, including conducting interviews, identifying patterns, and translating insights into product direction.
Ability to assess systems and identify opportunities to improve user experience.
Skills in product roadmap development and prioritization; cross-functional coordination; project tracking, timeline and milestone management; and tracking and interpreting usability, adoption, and performance metrics.
Ability to work autonomously and influence without formal authority.
Comfort with ambiguity and adaptability to new tools and systems; trustworthiness when handling sensitive data.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with documentation, roadmap planning, and project tracking tools.
Experience in startup, research, or early-stage product environments.
Familiarity with geographic information systems.
General familiarity with AI/ML concepts and limitations.

Responsibilities

Conduct user interviews and usability research; maintain a product requirements catalog and decision log.
Meet with clients to identify requirements, gather feedback, and navigate regulatory constraints.
Work with students and AI researchers to define project scope and deliverables.
Build and maintain a 3–6-month product roadmap with the director.
Meet with data, analytics, and technology teams to align priorities, track progress, resolve blockers, and manage dependencies.
Translate client requirements into technical and UI/UX requirements; coordinate with design teams.
Hold regular meetings with clients, teams, students, and researchers to review progress.
Keep stakeholders informed of project status, completed work, and upcoming priorities.
Report weekly to leadership (co-investigators) on completed work, learnings, roadmap changes, and client impact.
Manage stakeholder expectations around timelines, scope, and resource constraints.
Define and track key metrics for adoption, product health, and project progress.
Create and maintain product documentation, including requirements, specifications, and feature briefs.
Coordinate with the director on strategy and resource allocation.