Product Innovation Manager
Product
Newport Beach, CA, USA
Ozobot is revolutionizing the role of robotics in education with award-winning AI powered programmable robots, patented screen-free coding programs, and STEAM-based learning solutions. Our products transform how children learn and create across all grade levels, subjects, and environments. Led by a world-class team of educators, engineers, and computer scientists, Ozobot integrates innovative product design with emerging technologies, including AI & CTE solutions, powered by our proprietary Ozobot coding platforms. Ozobot integrates seamlessly with connected devices, enabling native code execution and supporting Android-powered robotics through Ozobot Apps.
Position Summary
Ozobot is seeking a strategic and analytical Product Innovation Manager to bridge the gap between product development, market intelligence, and commercial success. This role is responsible for understanding the evolving educational technology landscape, identifying emerging opportunities, and translating consumer and market insights into new product and business opportunities.
Working closely with the Product Team Lead, Sales, Customer Success, Curriculum, and Marketing, this individual will support both domestic and international markets, ensuring Ozobot's new products and services remain competitive, differentiated, and aligned with customer needs. The Product Innovation Manager will continuously monitor market trends, competitor activity, education policies, technology advancements, and customer feedback to develop hypotheses around new market opportunities and product innovation.
This role requires a curious, data-driven thinker who enjoys connecting market intelligence with product strategy and helping shape the future of STEM and robotics education. Must be able to work daily from our Newport Beach HQ.
Key Responsibilities
Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis- Analyze and synthesize consumer insights, market trends, and competitive dynamics to identify opportunity spaces and inform innovation strategy within priority need states.
- Continuously monitor the global education technology, robotics, AI, and STEM learning landscape.
- Maintain comprehensive competitive intelligence on products, pricing, positioning, messaging, partnerships, and emerging technologies.
- Track domestic and international education market trends, funding opportunities, curriculum shifts, procurement changes, and regulatory developments.
- Develop and maintain ongoing market landscape reports for executive leadership and the product organization.
- Build hypotheses around emerging customer needs, market gaps, and product opportunities using qualitative and quantitative research.
- Business Case Development: support development of business cases, including market sizing, financials, and key assumptions, ensuring recommendations are rooted in strategic insights and growth opportunities.
- Partner with the Product Team Lead to influence product roadmap decisions through market and customer insights.
- Evaluate new market segments, adjacent product opportunities, and geographic expansion opportunities.
- Support business case development for new products and product enhancements.
- Analyze customer usage data, sales feedback, educator insights, and industry trends to recommend product improvements.
- Serve as the voice of the market within Product.
- Collaborate closely with:
- Product Development
- Curriculum/EDU
- Marketing
- Sales
- Customer Success
- International Partners
- Translate complex product functionality into clear customer benefits.
- Provide competitive enablement and product training for internal teams.
- Work closely with customers to define their needs and drive compelling business value for them.
- Support the development of customer interviews, surveys, focus groups, and market research initiatives.
- Gather feedback from domestic and international customers to validate product concepts.
- Monitor customer satisfaction trends and identify opportunities to improve adoption and engagement.
- Stay informed on educational standards, instructional practices, and classroom technology trends worldwide.
- Measure launch performance and adoption metrics.
- Monitor product success against defined KPIs.
- Provide regular reporting on competitive dynamics, market trends, and strategic recommendations.
- Recommend course corrections based on market performance and customer feedback.
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Product Management, Education, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in Product Marketing, Product Management, Product Strategy, or related roles.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data and customer insights.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategic recommendations.
- Experience working cross-functionally across multiple departments.
- Experience in EdTech, robotics, STEM education, SaaS, IoT, or technology products.
- International product experience.
- Experience supporting distributor or channel partner networks.
- Familiarity with K–12 education purchasing cycles and curriculum standards.
- Experience with competitive intelligence and market research tools.
Within the first year, the Product Marketing Manager will:
- Establish a repeatable competitive intelligence and user insight program.
- Build and maintain a comprehensive global market landscape for educational robotics and STEM learning.
- Deliver actionable market insights that influence product roadmap decisions.
- Successfully support domestic and international product launches.
- Develop strategic recommendations that identify new revenue opportunities and emerging markets.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Market Research
- Product Positioning
- Competitive Intelligence
- Data Analysis
- Customer Empathy
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Project Management
- Communication & Storytelling
- Global Market Awareness
- Adaptability and Curiosity
Why Join Ozobot?
At Ozobot, we're passionate about inspiring the next generation of innovators through robotics, coding, and hands-on learning. As our Product Marketing Manager, you'll help shape the future of educational technology by identifying what's next, influencing product strategy, and bringing innovative learning experiences to classrooms around the world. Your work will directly impact educators and students across both domestic and international markets while helping Ozobot remain a leader in STEM education.
Generous benefits, time-off policies, 401k