Product Development Coordinator

UF Lastinger Center for Learning; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UF Lastinger Center for Learning is seeking a Lead in Product Development to guide the literacy product line from concept through launch. You will lead cross‑functional teams, coordinate with SMEs, and maintain a clear product roadmap aligned with the Center’s strategy to improve reading outcomes.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree, with a Master’s preferred, and a track record in educational product design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area or equivalent education/experience.
• Master’s degree with background in education preferred; three years of relevant experience.
• Experience designing and developing educational products and services.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development efforts for the literacy product line from concept through launch.
• Maintain a clear product roadmap aligned with the center’s strategic vision.
• Collaborate with SMEs across the Center, College, and contractors on content and instructional design.
• Review and approve literacy course content and refine products from user feedback.
• Translate refinements into deliverables with defined timelines and drive roadblocks to resolution.
• Coordinate with communications and partnerships teams for product positioning and implementation.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Product development

Literacy education

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job no: 541325

Work type: Staff Full-Time

Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Categories: Education/Training/Instructional Design

Department: 18300000 - ED-LASTINGER CENTER

Classification Title

Project Manager I

Job Description

The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning’s mission is to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success. Specifically, the Center targets kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency as critical milestones in children's educational trajectory that are predictive of success in school and life. The Center works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems that leverage educational technologies and improve the implementation of research-based practices. Housed in one of the nation's elite public research universities, the Center operates as a dynamic, entrepreneurial workplace focused on executing UF's service mission to strengthen the human condition and improve the quality of life. The Lastinger Center is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent by valuing a broad range of thought, skill, and experience. We believe in fostering environments where team members feel included, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

Lead Product Development Processes for the Center’s Literacy Product Line

The Lastinger Center's literacy programs equip educators with evidence-based, practical supports and professional learning resources to enhance reading instruction; connect school districts to customized professional learning, coaching, and instructional supports; and engage students with innovative programs and initiatives that promote reading proficiency.

• Conduct project meetings and communicates project status with customers, project team members, vendors and supervisors
• Create project plans, including timelines and milestones.
• Lead product development efforts, including prioritizing, prototyping, testing, refining, and launching products within the literacy product line, such that each product is built following the Center’s research-based and data driven decision making process.
• Maintain a clear product roadmap for Lastinger’s literacy product line that aligns with the product line’s strategic vision, utilizing market and end-user data according to the Center’s product development protocols.
• Lead the design of literacy products, including content development, by working collaboratively with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across the Center, College and those contracted to develop content and instructional design of related products.
• Review and approve literacy course content.
• Refine products using feedback solicited from end users to achieve the greatest impact.
• Translate product refinements into clearly developed deliverables with timelines.
• Facilitate meetings and drive product roadblocks to resolution.
• Proactively communicate product recommendations and changes to literacy leadership and other team members.
• Collaborate with communications team members to develop product positioning messaging enhancements as needed and coordinate implementation with literacy strategic partnerships team.

Support Literacy Fundraising

• Lead pre-proposal stage of proposal development with philanthropic funders to help ensure alignment of proposals with product roadmaps and contribute to discussions of resource allocation and effort estimation for proposal line items.
• Work with executive leadership, to write and/or coordinate the development of fundraising proposals focused on expanding Lastinger’s literacy products in the education market.
• Evaluate the financial aspects of fundraising, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.

Support Product Development Infrastructure Development

• If needed, serve as a subject matter content expert for course review.
• Conduct post product development project assessments and evaluations.
• Track and report on product development activities across the literacy roadmap to Center.
• Contribute to the development, refinement, and ongoing improvement of the Center’s library of product development lifecycle protocols and product management tools.
• Participate in ongoing job embedded professional development to strengthen the Center’s workflows related to product management.
• Serve as a point of contact with external stakeholders.

Expected Salary

$80,000-$90,000

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

Master’s degree with background in education and three years of relevant experience. Experience in designing and developing educational products and services. Experience working directly with educators in a literacy setting. Experience convening, facilitating, and staffing cross-functional teams.

Special Instructions To Applicants

This position is time-limited and soft-funded.

Advertised

15 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close

30 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Health Assessment Required: No