Director of Product

Remote, NYC, Oakland Location: Remote, New York City, or Oakland, CA Role Type: Full-time Compensation: $201,250 Reports to: Chief Impact Officer Visa sponsorship: Not available Hires remotely in: United States Experience: 10+ years 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.

Core 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. You run a high-performing team, and you measure your success by the growth and impact of the people around you.
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. You know what great looks like at every level and you make that visible.
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. You are the reason the team always knows what they're working toward and the org has clarity on our product strategy.
Move the team toward the future of product. AI is reshaping what it means to be a PM — and your job is to help the team stay ahead of that shift. 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.

Wild success

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Minimum qualifications

Deep care for growth/wellbeing of people you manage; success measured by theirs
10+ years in product management; 5+ years managing teams including senior ICs & emerging leaders
Exceptional communication & relationship skills; earn trust quickly especially with strong opinions/high standards
Experience coaching PMs toward management readiness; developed future managers not just ICs
Comfort operating in ambiguity; create clarity & momentum where little exists
Proven ability building people systems from scratch: career ladders/performance frameworks/onboarding programs
Experience running recruiting at scale: pipeline building/interview design/closing candidates competitively
Strong strategic instincts: zoom out/system view/identify misalignments/help teams decide better with less friction
Builder's mindset + strategic rigor: see gaps/close them/leave things better than found
Ability & willingness to travel about one trip per quarter

Preferred qualifications

Experience navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments (end users/admin buyers/institutional partners) building trust with all
Experience working in or closely with mission-driven/nonprofit/public sector organizations
Personal/professional experience working with criminal justice system
Experience in high-growth startup where playbook was still being written
Exposure to AI-assisted product development & unique team dynamics it creates
Track record elevating strong ICs into more strategic/senior thinkers—not just promotions but shaping craft

Compensation

Compensation is standardized based on roles/responsibilities ensuring equity & responsible stewardship; no negotiation. Salary: $201,...