About Roca
Roca is an internationally recognized violence intervention and behavioral health program that works with the young people most likely to shoot or be shot. Founded in 1988 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Roca now serves nearly 2,000 of the highest-risk young people each year across seven sites in Massachusetts, Baltimore (MD), and Hartford (CT).
Roca’s mission is to relentlessly disrupt violence by engaging young people, police, and systems to heal trauma, find hope, and drive change.
Roca’s work is grounded in Rewire CBT, a breakthrough adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy designed for young people living with trauma, disconnected from traditional services, and involved in/impacted by violence. Through relentless outreach, long-term relationships, and skill-building, Roca helps youth move from reacting to choosing, from surviving to living.
About Digital Innovation at Roca
Digital innovation at Roca strengthens how behavior change happens in real world settings. Technology and AI are used to support frontline staff, supervisors, and partners so they can focus more on relationships, skill building, and early intervention, and less on administrative work.
Roca is developing and piloting AI enabled digital tools that support frontline practice, coaching, learning, and decision making. These tools are designed to be mobile, practical, and easy to use in high pressure environments. AI is used to reinforce skills through practice and feedback, reduce time spent on data entry, and surface insights that help staff act earlier when risk is rising.
This work includes modernizing case management, building AI supported practice and coaching tools, improving access to knowledge and training, and using data and predictive insights to inform daily decisions. All tools are co-designed with staff, tested through pilots, and refined before scaling. Digital innovation at Roca is grounded in practice, shaped by learning, and guided by a commitment to using AI responsibly in ways that strengthen, rather than replace, human judgment and relationships.
Position Overview
The Digital & AI Innovation Product Manager reports to the Executive Vice President of Evaluation and Learning and leads Roca’s efforts to design, pilot, and implement AI-enabled digital tools that strengthen frontline practice and support behavior change. This role works closely with frontline staff, program leaders, and external partners to identify opportunities where technology can enhance learning, coaching, decision making, and service delivery.
The Product Manager leads digital products from concept through implementation, translating operational needs into practical solutions that are aligned with Roca’s intervention model and scalable across programs and partners. Working closely with internal teams and external developers such as Ten Point Data, the Product Manager oversees product design, pilot testing, user feedback, and adoption to ensure tools deliver meaningful value to staff and participants. Success in this role requires regular in-person collaboration with staff across Roca’s sites to understand operational needs, test solutions in real-world settings, and support the adoption of new tools and practices.
The Digital & AI Innovation Product Manager also helps shape Roca’s approach to AI, ensuring that emerging technologies are used responsibly, ethically, and in ways that strengthen rather than replace human relationships and judgment. Success in this role requires curiosity, adaptability, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to balance innovation with disciplined execution while keeping staff and participant needs at the center of the work.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Digital Innovation Strategy and Leadership
- 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 Digital Product Development
- 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
AI Strategy and Responsible Use
- 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
Pilot Design, Testing, and Learning
- 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
Implementation and Change Management
- 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
Partnerships and Ecosystem Development
- 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
Minimum Qualifications and Skills
The nature of Roca’s work requires an individual with deep commitment, energy, and dedication to our mission. Roca seeks a highly motivated professional who aligns with the organization’s values and culture and is passionate about improving outcomes for young people at the center of urban violence. The ideal candidate is a trusted collaborator and problem solver who brings curiosity, humility, adaptability, and a sense of humor to their work. They are energized by learning, innovation, and continuous improvement and enjoy partnering with colleagues across disciplines to build practical solutions that strengthen frontline practice and support behavior change.
- 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.
Bonus Experience:
- 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.
Requirements for the position:
- 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.
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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.
Compensation:
The salary range for this position is $95,000–$145,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Roca offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, generous paid time off, professional development opportunities, and the opportunity to contribute to innovative work that improves outcomes for young people at the center of urban violence.