Company Description

At Informa, we love knowledge, expert information and the power of networks and connections. We are dedicated to connecting specialists with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more in their roles and businesses, and we’re doing this in ever smarter ways. We’re passionate about our customers and the markets they operate in. And because our colleagues are our greatest assets, we do everything we can to make work life at Informa supportive, rewarding and enjoyable. 

We are a FTSE 100 company with 10,000 colleagues working in over 30 countries. Within Informa's Group Technology team, the Platforms teams design, build, and operate shared platforms that drive customer value at scale, optimizing the platforms and related technology assets to provide greatest customer and commercial value at the lowest cost. 

Job Description

Purpose of the Role & Team Profile 

The Product Owner will be the bridge connecting customer needs, business strategy, and technology capabilities. In this role, you will ensure that the product(s) in your remit are being developed and supported in line with the vision and goals of Informa. You’ll help to drive a customer-centric delivery model, thinking in ‘products’ not ‘projects’ and always focused on delivering incremental chunks of business and customer value.

For roughly the first six months you will focus specifically on optimizing the relationship, backlog, and operation of a third party exhibitor management solution before expanding your remit to either multiple related solutions or solutions in other event capability areas.

Key interactions

Events Technology Operations Team 

• Reporting to Senior Product Owner in CTech’s Events Technology Operations team 

• Shared process development, learning, and problem solving with the growing product operations team 

Supporting Technology Teams 

• Partnering with CTech Content & Media and Marketing Technology practices to design exceptional customer experiences 

• Delivering high quality solution design and shippable software with CTech Solutions Architecture and Engineering centres of excellence 

• Steering contract negotiations with Procurement partners 

• Designing and implementing ITSM plans with Service Management teams 

Internal Event Teams 

• Collaborating with event brand and operations teams to prioritize backlogs and refine user stories 

• Driving lasting change with Technology Business Partners 

Suppliers and Vendors 

• Influencing supplier roadmaps 

• Ensuring on time and on spec delivery 

Key Areas of Responsibility/Accountability 

Supplier Management: 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure seamless event technology delivery, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 

• Communicate prioritized roadmap to vendor, ensuring alignment between Informa’s ambitions and the platform vision.

• Monitor and assess supplier performance, proactively addressing any issues or escalations. 

• Identify, evaluate, and contract with technology suppliers/vendors specializing in event technology solutions. 

• Facilitate the collaboration and communication between suppliers/vendors, ensuring resources and responsibilities are clearly stated and objectives met. 

Backlog Management: 

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to prioritize technology projects and initiatives that enhance event experiences. 

• Develop and maintain a technology backlog that aligns with the unique needs of our events and conferences. 

• Define clear project requirements and timelines, tracking progress to ensure on-time delivery for each event. 

• Continuously monitor progress and adjust roadmaps as needed to accommodate changing event priorities or circumstances. 

• Regularly report progress and results to senior leadership and stakeholders, highlighting areas of success and opportunities for improvement. 

Delivery Management 

• Develop and maintain platform resources and engagement documentation, ensuring those are made available to the necessary business partners 

• Be fluent in the platforms’ roadmap and Informa’s role in it.

• Ensure the integrity and compliance of data collected through the technologies in your remit and data flows through the technology stack. 

• Collaborate and support product managers in identifying alternative solutions if requirements cannot be met through enhancement of an existing approved solution.

• Maintain visibility of the external technology partners’ progress against plan to deliver change on scope, on time, and on cost.

• Act as advisor and SME to additional areas of the Informa business who engage with the digital event platform.

IT Service Management: 

• Establish and maintain IT service management processes and best practices tailored to event technology in partnership with Informa’s ITSM department. 

• Ensure the availability, performance, and security of event technology systems and services. 

• Rapidly respond to and resolve IT service incidents and requests to guarantee a smooth event experience. 

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to elevate the quality of event technology services. 

Key Outputs and Outcomes

Informa continually increases its return on technology investment 

• Supplier value is maximized through increased utility and responsible expenditures 

• A minimum number of suppliers are in play to deliver common needs 

• Time to market is minimized through intelligent integration, planning, and delivery 

Suppliers’ roadmaps are supportive of Informa’s event technology vision 

• Suppliers are well versed in Informa’s event technology vision and their roll in it 

• Suppliers are delivering enhancements aligned with that vision 

• When alignment is not possible, alternative solutions are actively sought out 

Internal stakeholders are informed, educated, and confident in their event technology 

• Event leaders have an up-to-date view of anticipated deliverables for the upcoming twelve months (0-6 months details, 6-12 months thematic) 

• Enhancement demands are following a prescribed process for qualification, planning, and delivery/rejection 

• Event team members have sufficient lines of support and training on new and existing capabilities 

• Event teams members are confident that the technology is secure and operational risk is minimised through a multi-layered service management plan 

Measures of Success

Technology adoption 

• % of events are using provided solutions 

• % of events implementing new features 

Process adherence 

• % of change requests flowing through prescribed channels 

Issue management 

• # of incidents raised 

• Mean time to issue resolution 

• Frequency and outcomes of ITSM plan testing 

Qualifications

Collaborative and communicative 

• Effective and demonstrable interpersonal and collaboration skills. 

• Strong verbal and written English language communication skills with the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and summarize and report information. 

• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to simplify and clearly communicate complex requirements. 

• Ability to work as part of matrix and virtual teams that include senior stakeholders, business and technology subject matter experts, and external partners. 

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

• Ability to work out of normal hours in support of international teams 10-20% 

Organized and driven 

• Being methodical, detail-oriented and capable of delivering a high level of accuracy. 

• Delivery and outcomes oriented, ensure delivery to deadlines. 

• Ability to multitask and prioritize a large volume of work effectively. 

• Ability to think ahead and anticipate problems, issues, and solutions. 

Influential 

• Ability to influence, engage and motivate teams, developing a sense of teamwork and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders. 

• Flexible ‘can do’ approach to business challenges. 

• High integrity - able to deal with highly confidential and market sensitive information. 

Experienced in Technology Management 

• Demonstrable experience as a digital technologist, project manager or product owner.

• Experience in managing a product backlog, prioritizing, and grooming it as necessary to maximize business outcomes, preferably in the event management, SaaS, or technology industry 

• Experience working within global organizations across time zones and in virtual teams, with the flexibility to adjust working hours when necessary.

• A general understanding of software integration approaches.

• Proficiency in common project management tools a plus 

• Educated to degree level (or qualified by experience). 

This posting will automatically expire on April 1, 2024

Additional Information

Why work at Informa

Employee experience is very important to us at Informa. On top of joining a supportive, diverse and ambitious team that welcomes all types of candidates. We are also flexible with different working patterns and prioritizes promotions internally. Our benefits include:

• Freedom & flexibility: colleagues rate us highly for the flexibility and trust they receive, and we support a range of working patterns
• Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
• Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
• Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
• Time out: 15 days PTO rising to 20 after three years and 25 after six years, plus 10 national holidays, a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
• Competitive benefits, including a 401k match, parental leave and an ESPP offering company shares at a minimum 15% discount
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, free access to a wellness app and more
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programs
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world 
• The salary range for this position is $60K-$75K/YR, depending on experience

We know that sometimes the 'perfect candidate' doesn't exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don't fit all the requirements. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Informa is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other protected characteristics under federal, state or local law. 

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