Position Overview

A unique aspect of the Center is to translate cutting edge research prototypes into technologies that real people can put to use. We do much of this work in collaboration with Cortico, a non-profit that works closely with CCC and is a key collaborator for deploying the validated prototypes. The Center is looking for a prototype manager to manage the entire prototyping lifecycle, from identifying promising research concepts to devising lightweight experimental prototypes to validate candidates to integrate into production software, all while working across multiple projects at different stages. The landscape of prototypes is vast and ever-changing and can encompass a wide array of social dialogue technologies that foster constructive communication with an emphasis on advancements in AI.

About MIT CCC

Fostering collaborations across the MIT campus and beyond, the MIT Center for Constructive Communication (CCC), based at the MIT Media Lab, leverages data-driven analytics to better understand current social and mass media ecosystems and designs new tools and communication networks to foster constructive dialogue, listening, and bridging across divides. To achieve this, CCC brings together researchers in AI, computational social science, digital interactive design, and learning technologies with software engineers, journalists, political scientists, designers, and community organizers. An important aspect of the center is its commitment to design new models for more trusted and less toxic social networks.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Prototype Management (40%)

• Collaborate with researchers, designers, and software engineers at CCC and Cortico to develop research prototypes with an eye toward deployment;
• Collaborate with CCC’s translational research team to define the scope of research prototypes as they relate to CCC’s field pilots in a variety of priority spaces, such as communities, the workplace, mediation, deliberation, and journalism;
• Collaborate with CCC’s experts-in-the field to test prototypes in real-life contexts and incorporate feedback and insights based on field pilot learnings;
• Develop prototype specifications and design briefs and work closely with stakeholders to ensure successful implementation;
• Manage and refine prototype scope and prioritization in coordination with stakeholders;

Prototype Translation Management (30%)

• Support translation of prototype into production-ready systems;
• Participate in effective prototype-engineering development practices, and adapt workflow for a mixed research/production setting;
• Partner with the team to carry out user research and design human-centered solutions;
• Balancing the urgency to deploy with identifying and measuring the metrics for success;
• Effectively work in a fast pace, uncertain environment, pivoting as research needs develop;

Communications & Coordination (30%)

• Manage communications across all prototype stakeholders. 
• Facilitate and plan the agenda and content of prototype-related meetings, making recommendations and pertinent changes to program content and objectives, provide feedback on ideas and project direction, and follow-up with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal and/or external stakeholders, as needed, to ensure the achievement of deliverables;
• Coordinate field pilots and deployments;

The Culture

At the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, we are committed to showing and practicing care and respect for one another, our community at the lab, and the world more broadly through our everyday actions and larger mission. While we boldly explore new ideas, we seek out diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise. We pursue excellence playfully and with a deep commitment to rigor. This is the right place for you if you are curious, believe in the power of constructive communication, and the future of technology, and want to be part of a unique community that works on designing equitable futures informed by the social systems we occupy and the technology we build.

Qualifications and Skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree 
• Minimum 2 years of product management or equivalent experience building and shipping technology products at scale in collaboration with engineers, designers, and end users
• Adept at collecting all of the information needed to make difficult prioritization decisions, with a determination to drive action
• Deep curiosity and empathy for end-users — you love building products successfully that make people feel joy, delight and trust
• Experience collecting and synthesizing user feedback either solo or in partnership with a UI/UX researcher or designer
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills; able to create clarity and drive focus in complex and dynamic contexts
• Excellent and flexible communication skills. You know when to dig into specifics regarding trade-offs for an engineering decision but can also engage with stakeholders about the status and vision of a project
• Ability to quickly sketch/wireframe UI concepts
• Strong appreciation for visual design and user experience
• Ability to quickly learn, retain lessons and adapt to a wide variety of challenges and asks from the team

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in relevant field
• Experience working with researchers, designers, application developers, and data scientists.
• Ability to work in a fast paced dynamic environment.

​​Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check.

This position is based in the Cambridge, MA area.