Senior Product Owner

Overview of the position

The Senior Product Owner (SPO) is responsible for strategically managing the development of some of our most complex products or features. You will work closely with developers, designers and other stakeholders to ensure that all ideas become a reality. You will have a deep understanding of the technical and functional aspects of the product; this means knowing how it works, what makes it unique, and how it fits into the larger picture of the user’s needs and company’s overall strategy. In the Product Management team, the SPO will also work very closely with the Product Manager team to align business expectations with software development and mentor other Product Owners, having a significant impact on our company’s portfolio.

Main Tasks and Responsabilities

• Working with the engineering team to clarify requirements and help them understand the business side of the product.
• Communicating with stakeholders to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding features, functionality, and deadlines.
• Creating user stories and acceptance tests that clearly articulate requirements for each feature or change request.
• Collaborating with UI/UX designers to create mockups of what the final product will look like, incorporating user feedback.
• Strategically prioritizing complex product backlog items based on business value, time needed to complete, and order in which they were created, using the best prioritization frameworks on the market.
• Reviewing prototypes or other proofs of concept for feasibility before allowing them to move to the next stage of development.
• Coordinating with engineering managers, tech leads and developers to make sure that they understand the requirements for each project.
• Verifying that the finished product meets the needs of customers by conducting usability tests or reviewing customer feedback.
• Communicating project status and roadblocks to other team members.
• Ensuring that maximum business value is delivered as early as possible, through conducting workshops and refined planning.
• Engaging with stakeholders to ensure that there is a competitive product vision and roadmap.
• Interacting and coordinating efforts with other Scrum teams, Product Managers and customers.
• Working with Architecture team and Software Development team to define the interaction diagrams between all the components in the project.
• Being able to provide status for each project they manage and have an estimation of completion to production.
• Coaching other Product Owners in the team, sharing experiences and expertise to help them grow.

Education Level
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or related.

Suggested Experience
At least 3-5 years of experience as a Product Owner

Technical Skills

• Experience in delivering cloud-based software projects
• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies, prioritization frameworks and implementation experience
• Knowledge of distributed programming models with web services and modular approach.
• Knowledge of JIRA, Confluence and other project management tools.
• Knowledge of Wireframing/Prototyping tools, such as Figma, Miro or Balsamiq.
• Experience in understanding/creating Open API is desirable.

Soft Skills

Communication skills: As a Senior PO, you communicate with many different stakeholders, including other members of the product development team, marketing teams, sales representatives and customers. You need to have experience communicating effectively in written form, verbally and through visual means, such as presentations and infographic or translating complex technical topics into simple language for stakeholders.
Project management skills: Project management is the ability to oversee the completion of a project on time and within budget. As a Senior PO, you may not have control over the development team, but you can still use your project management skills to help the team stay on track. You can also use your project management skills to help the team set goals and track their progress.
Technical Expertise: It’s essential that you have a good understanding of technology and how it works so that you can make informed decisions about which technologies to use for your product.
Problem-solving skills: Senior Product Owners need to be able to solve problems and make decisions that benefit the company and the product. They need to be able to identify issues and find solutions that work for everyone involved. This can include finding ways to improve the product, to reduce costs and to meet the customer needs.
Decision-making and strategic thinking skills: Senior Product Owners make many decisions throughout the day, including those that affect the company’s goals and objectives. They need to be able to make informed decisions and deliver the most value, based on the day-to-day work and incorporating data-driven insights, that align with the company’s goals and objectives. They also need to be able to explain their reasoning for each decision they make.
Risk and Dependency management: a Senior PO needs to be able to anticipate, assess, and address potential challenges, uncertainties or dependencies effectively. It requires critical thinking, adaptability, and good communication to navigate risks and make informed decisions, all while minimizing negative impacts and maximizing opportunities.
Leadership and coaching: a Senior Product Owner needs to be able to coach junior Product Owners, to help them grow in a safe environment, supported by the best practices in the market.