The Purpose of Zearn
Zearn is the nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to inspire all kids to love learning math. Everything we do is driven by our belief that every kid is a math kid.
Our top-rated learning platform is designed to catch kids up and move them forward in grade-level math. And it works. Large-scale efficacy research shows students who use Zearn make significant gains in math proficiency, including the students who start multiple grade levels behind.
As a nonprofit, all of our work is driven by what is best for kids. At the same time, we operate as an intense and fast-moving technology company, inclusively solving hard problems that will impact current and future generations. The problems we solve require expertise in teaching, learning science, software development, design, video production, and countless other disciplines. As an organization that is always stretching to get to the next level of impact, every single person owns mission critical work.
If you’re ready to join our Team of problem solvers, and own work that will drive us to achieve impact at scale, we are looking for you.
Learn more about us at https://about.zearn.org/.
The purpose of the Senior Product Manager at Zearn is to lead high-impact product initiatives that enable more students to achieve dose response, the level of Zearn use proven to drive measurable learning gains, by driving rigorous product discovery and coordinated cross-functional execution from insight to launch. Reporting to the Vice President of Product, this role will own a portfolio of high impact projects and serves as a key leader in defining Zearn's approach to AI-powered experiences. This is achieved by:
Leading product vision and execution to drive a robust roadmap for large, multi-year initiatives.
- Co-develop and drive the vision for a portfolio of initiatives that align with Zearn’s mission and dose goals, recommending sequencing and tradeoffs based on user needs, technical feasibility, and market trends.
- Partner with the CPO and VP of Product to lead the execution of AI-powered initiatives, identifying and scaling high-impact applications of AI to improve learning outcomes and educator workflows.
- Lead product discovery processes that leverage market research and platform data to identify the highest-leverage problems to solve.
- Generate a multi-year pipeline of product projects, considering the complex conditions needed for successful adoption and sustained classroom use.
Driving user-centered, evidence-informed decision making to ground solutions in real-world district and school contexts.
- Embed educator and student voice into every phase of development through structured feedback loops, prototypes, and interviews to ensure solutions meet actual user needs.
- Use a mix of quantitative app data, qualitative insights, and A/B testing to drive product direction and feature prioritization.
- Develop evaluation frameworks for AI features that account for content accuracy, pedagogical effectiveness, and user trust, ensuring Zearn innovation keeps pace with the edtech landscape.
- Define clear, measurable goals for every initiative and relentlessly track against outcomes, pivoting based on evidence of what is working.
Driving cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment and urgency across Design, Engineering, and Academics.
- Serve as the central point of leadership across functional teams for your portfolio of projects, ensuring all stakeholders are moving toward shared outcomes.
- Build and maintain clear, shared timelines and workplans, proactively identifying risks and resolving blockers before they impact the roadmap.
- Ensure teams are aligned and moving with urgency and precision by facilitating clear, outcome-oriented meetings and written communications.
Ensuring operational excellence through high standards of execution and rigorous product discovery.
- Set and maintain a high bar for all aspects of product initiatives, from the product requirements quality to testing rigor to user rollout.
- Manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously, ensuring clarity of scope, roles, and timelines to drive toward clean, on-time launches.
- Anticipate challenges, adapt plans quickly, and drive toward clean, on-time launches.
The Next Problems for this Role to Tackle
- How can we use AI to reduce the operational burden on teachers so they can spend more time on instruction?
- What does responsible AI deployment look like in a K–8 math context (how do we build trust with educators while moving fast on AI capabilities)?
- How do we build internal infrastructure to pilot AI features quickly, measure impact rigorously, and scale or kill them based on evidence?
- How can we help all levels of educators quickly see the value of Zearn and get started with minimal friction?
- What data and supports can help teachers take meaningful action during Zearn time while integrating seamlessly into their school context and classroom routines?
The Skills and Behaviors You'll Use
- Evidence-Informed Strategist: You synthesize complex data (from analytics to feedback) into a clear, logical roadmap that prioritizes student dose response.
- Discovery Lead: You thrive in ambiguity, especially within the evolving landscape of AI, using prototypes and pilots to build trust and ensure pedagogical soundness.
- Cross-Functional Catalyst: You are the connective tissue between Engineering, Design, Academics, and Data, building alignment through first-principles thinking.
- AI Experience Architect: You design AI-powered features that are deeply integrated into teacher workflows and student learning paths, rather than just "cool" tech.
- Operational Owner: You set a high bar for execution excellence, anticipating risks and proactively resolving blockers to ensure high-impact launches.
Potential Markers of these Skills
- 8+ years of product management experience, including ownership of multiple cross-functional product launches in SaaS or mission-driven environments.
- A proven track record of delivering impactful user-facing features and navigating complex stakeholder environments with high stakes.
- Experience leading successful AI-powered initiatives from discovery through launch, ideally where content quality and user trust are paramount.
- Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to drive clarity and accountability across multi-disciplinary teams.
- A strong analytical mindset comfortable with data analysis, experimentation, and defining success metrics.
How We Work:
- We aim to create a numeracy movement. This is no easy feat, and no one of us can solve this on our own. Given that, Zearn is a transparent, collaborative, and open-to-feedback culture.
- Our work is often collaborative in nature:
- We own our deliverables in close collaboration with others
- We communicate openly, and share early thinking and drafts often
- We seek ways to create and improve systems, and work with each other to contribute thinking in both asynchronous and synchronous discussions.
- We create a sense of community through regularly sharing context so we can collectively solve problems to drive Zearn’s velocity.
Location:
This role is remote and can be performed in any of the following states/locations:
CA, CT, FL, IL, LA, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI and Washington D.C.
Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation range for this role is $145,000 - $170,000 per year.
We offer a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 401K matching, parental leave, and a flexible PTO policy. We also offer a collegial and passionate culture and the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of children.
TO APPLY:
Zearn is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.