Chief Product Officer, Lucas Learning chez George Lucas Educational Foundation

Description

Lucas Learning, a small, focused division within the George Lucas Educational Foundation, is dedicated to developing production-quality, first-of-its-kind learning simulations that advance project-based learning in K–12 classrooms. The work is intentionally ambitious – designing state-of-the-art interactive learning experiences at the intersection of game design, emerging technology, and learning science to demonstrate what is possible when learning is more engaging, rigorous, student-centered, and relevant. These simulations are designed to accelerate innovation, support educator practice, and show what high-quality project-based learning can look, sound, and feel like. Lucas Learning does not operate as a direct distribution business; instead, its work is intended to influence the field and support future partnerships through credible, well-designed, interactive learning experiences.

The Chief Product Officer (CPO) provides strategic, creative, and product leadership for Lucas Learning. The CPO oversees the prototyping of new simulations and ensures that promising concepts are strengthened into production-quality vertical slices – robust, well-documented exemplar experiences that demonstrate end-to-end quality and can support partnership exploration. This role combines general management responsibilities with hands-on product and creative leadership. The CPO translates founder and executive vision into concrete product concepts, roadmaps, and prototypes, working directly with a cross-functional internal team and external partners to build, test, refine, and strengthen engaging project-based learning simulations that can be shared through future partnerships and serve as influential exemplars for the field.

Role and Responsibilities

Leadership Alignment, Strategy & Roadmap (25%)

• Set and communicate the direction for Lucas Learning’s exemplar portfolio in close partnership with the executive committee and senior leadership.
• Translate leadership vision into clear priorities, success measures, and roadmaps that guide day-to-day decisions and long-term planning.
• Develop clear narratives and materials, such as concept briefs, demo walkthroughs, learning rationale, and evidence of impact, to support partnership exploration.
  

Interactive Learning Design Leadership (25%)

• Lead hands-on product and creative direction across game design, UX, narrative, learning design, and art direction.
• Ensure simulations are engaging and grounded in sound learning principles.
• Design experiences that build transferable skills such as inquiry, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.
• Maintain a high bar for quality and relevance for K–12 students and educators, starting with middle school.
  

AI & Technology Leadership (15%)

• Shape a sustainable technical approach for exemplar-quality work and long-term maintainability.
• Innovate with AI in both development workflows and experience design using hands-on expertise.
• Establish clear guardrails for responsible AI use in K–12 learning contexts.
  

Build, Test & Deliver Exemplars (20%)

• Lead cross-functional execution from early prototypes to production-quality vertical slices that are robust, well-documented, and ready to share externally.
• Plan milestones and delivery rhythms.
• Oversee playtesting and structured feedback with teachers and students to ensure the experience works in real classroom conditions.
• Define readiness criteria for sharing work externally and exploring partnerships.
  

Team Leadership & Stewardship (10%)

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of approximately 3–4 direct reports, such as a technology lead, learning design lead, and art director.
• Establish clear decision-making practices and ways of working.
• Manage external vendors and specialist partners as needed.
• Oversee an annual budget of approximately $4 million with transparency and accountability.
  

Other Responsibilities (5%)

• Prepare for and participate in board meetings, executive reviews, and special projects as needed.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• History of driving innovation in games or interactive media by introducing new design approaches, technologies, or production methods that improved quality or expanded what the product could do.
• Track record in the gaming industry, including shipped games or interactive products across console, PC, mobile, or related platforms, with clear ownership of meaningful product decisions. Knowledge of education markets is a plus.
• Experience partnering with founder-level or board-level stakeholders and translating high-level vision into clear priorities and execution plans.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams from early concept through shipped, production-quality interactive releases.
• Hands-on experience applying AI in product development or experience design.
• Experience operating as a true player-coach, actively reviewing builds, shaping feature decisions, and engaging in early prototyping, not solely overseeing from a distance.
• Experience in a small team, studio, or startup environment where the scope is broad and quality expectations are high is preferred.

Note: This role is intentionally designed for leaders coming from games and interactive media rather than traditional education roles. While prior K–12 experience is not required, the successful candidate must take the realities of designing for real classrooms, including the needs of teachers and students seriously.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strategic product leadership with strong creative judgment and a high standard for craft.
• Forward-looking perspective on AI, with the ability to identify meaningful opportunities and understand risks in K–12 contexts.
• Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, collaboration, and accountability across disciplines.
• Deep understanding of game and interactive experience design, including playtesting and iterative improvement.
• Ability to integrate learning design, game systems, AI capabilities, and technical architecture into cohesive, production-quality interactive experiences.
• Demonstrated technical fluency with software architecture and interactive systems, including deep engagement in engineering tradeoffs and product integration decisions.
• Direct experience working hands-on with software development teams to ship interactive products.
• Ability to translate vision into clear priorities, roadmaps, and decision points.
• Confidence in communicating with and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Genuine interest in innovating in education and alignment with GLEF’s mission.
• U.S.-based. Must be able to work primarily in West Coast hours; West Coast location strongly preferred.

Preferred Skills & Competencies

• Experience designing for youth or family audiences, including accessibility and trust considerations.
• Familiarity with project-based learning principles.
• Experience creating reference-quality work intended to influence broader practice.
• Experience developing materials that support partnership exploration, such as demos and concept documentation.

Technical Skills

• Strong product development practice for interactive experiences, including prototyping, playtesting, and iterative refinement.
• Hands-on facility with AI-enabled tools and systems used in development and experience design.
• Ability to evaluate tradeoffs across feasibility, quality, maintainability, and learning goals.
• Comfort reviewing work across disciplines and giving clear, actionable feedback.
• Practical understanding of building stable experiences suitable for external sharing and partnership contexts.

Preferred technical experience includes establishing responsible AI practices in learning environments, familiarity with analytics and qualitative research methods, accessibility and inclusive design standards, and experience documenting work for external reuse or handoff.

Work Environment, Schedule, and Physical Requirements

This role is primarily remote and requires a dedicated home office workspace with reliable high-speed internet and standard office equipment. Extended periods of work at a computer and participation in video calls are expected. Occasional travel is required for team gatherings and organizational meetings. The role also requires availability for in-person meetings, workshops, and design reviews as needed, and coordination across time zones. Employees must maintain a primary residence and work location in a single U.S. state for tax and compliance purposes.

Benefits

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is $266,000–$300,000 annually, with eligibility for an annual performance-based bonus of up to 10% of base salary for exceptional performance. An employee’s pay position within the range will be based on several factors, including relevant qualifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and organizational needs.

Benefits

This is a full-time position. The George Lucas Educational Foundation offers comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance; an employer-matched retirement plan of up to 6% of salary, vested immediately; and an annual education stipend to support professional development.

About the George Lucas Educational Foundation

The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to transforming prekindergarten through 12th grade education so all students can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. Founded in 1991 by filmmaker George Lucas, the Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) private foundation operated for educational purposes. We welcome all who are devoted to improving education.

The George Lucas Educational Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a culture where ideas and decisions from everyone help us grow, innovate, and pursue our mission to improve education in a rapidly changing world. We strongly encourage and welcome all people to apply, as applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or veteran or military status.