Program / Product Manager - AI and Accessibility

Imagine shaping the future of inclusive technology at a global scale, where your work directly breaks down barriers and empowers millions of users of all abilities. Partnering with Aquent, a leader in placing top-tier talent, you will step into a pivotal role at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Design, driving the strategy for cutting-edge, accessible AI products. Collaborating with world-class engineering, design, and research teams, you will pioneer next-generation experiences that ensure technology is truly open, intuitive, and impactful for everyone.

About the Partner & Client

Aquent has partnered with a global retail and technology pioneer dedicated to making everyday life better for millions of customers worldwide. This organization is committed to leveraging massive scale to make a meaningful, real-world impact on digital inclusivity. By joining this team, you will help shape ethical innovation and accessibility standards across an expansive digital ecosystem.

Role Overview

In this dynamic, cross-functional role, you will define and execute the product vision and roadmap for integrating accessibility into core AI-powered products and features. You will bridge the gap between advanced machine learning and human-centric design, ensuring that generative models, computer vision systems, and interactive interfaces meet standard accessibility guidelines while pioneering new ways AI can assist users. Your leadership will directly influence how ethical AI practices, bias mitigation, and compliance frameworks are established and integrated into the software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the product vision and roadmap for integrating accessibility into core AI-powered products, leveraging advanced models like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT.
• Identify opportunities where AI technologies (e.g., Computer Vision, Speech-to-Text, LLMs, Assistive AI) can create novel accessibility features and improve user experience for people with disabilities.
• Establish and drive cross-functional AI accessibility governance frameworks, ensuring ethical AI practices, bias mitigation, and compliance with WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the EU AI Act.
• Integrate accessibility auditing, screen reader testing, and automated checks directly into the AI software development lifecycle (SDLC) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with UX researchers, UI/UX designers, and Machine Learning engineers to design inclusive multimodal interaction patterns and ensure training datasets do not perpetuate disability bias.
• Partner with QA teams to establish robust testing protocols involving assistive technologies (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack, Switch Control).
• Serve as the internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) and champion for accessible design and AI ethics, engaging directly with the disability community to incorporate lived experiences into product design.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of Product Management or Technical Program Management experience delivering software products at scale.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards and frameworks (WCAG 2.1/2.2 Level AA, Section 508, ADA, WAI-ARIA).
• Functional understanding of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning workflows, Generative AI models, and multimodal user interfaces.
• Hands-on experience testing or working with assistive technologies (Screen Readers, Speech Recognition, Switch Devices, High Contrast modes).
• Demonstrated track record of leading cross-functional teams (Design, Engineering, Legal, QA) without direct authority.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical/AI concepts into accessible business language.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications in accessibility (e.g., IAAP WAS, CPACC, or CPWA).
• Experience with AI ethics, dataset bias auditing, or inclusive AI design principles.
• Familiarity with dynamic product compliance frameworks (e.g., European Accessibility Act, EU AI Act).
• Prior experience conducting user testing sessions directly with individuals with disabilities.