Product Owner

Hybrid working

Inside IR35

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

The role of a Product Owner is to be the outcome owner for a product group within the Digital Workplace Product portfolio. The role will be focused on ensuring the product delivers both business and customer value. Accountable for the value delivered and responsible for the entire product lifecycle, including design, delivery and operations. Empowered to make decisions and able to negotiate in making decisions around priority scope and requirements with impacted stakeholders.


KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

* The Product Owner (PO) role would be expected to manage a small Product team, as part of the wider Product portfolio of Digital Workplace tools
* The PO role would take direction from the Service Owner role in terms of strategy and would be responsible for directing the Product team in delivering outcomes in line with that strategy
* Define the vision of the product in collaboration with Senior PO and/or key stakeholders and socialise with the team
* Establish and maintain highly effective relationships with delivery teams, stakeholders at all levels and business to ensure that interfaces work correctly
* Evolve the product roadmap based on customer, product team, portfolio requirements and business feedback, linked to business outcomes
* Determine developments to the strategic roadmap based on business strategy changes
* Work with portfolio team to set funding and investment requirements
* Oversee product priorities, resource requirements, development stages working with leadership to attain further funding as required
* Anticipating customer needs, managing the product backlog and prioritising needs based on value delivered
* Act as primary liaison for business stakeholder and maintain business engagement to educate on the product's growth, strategic value and investment case
* Turning the product vision into an actionable backlog
* Provide business subject matter expertise and authority on product decisions
* Remove impediments to product progress and assist with work dependencies, risks and issues
* Act as the voice of the customer to the product team, constantly providing feedback on delivery
* Providing business readiness support - supports business leaders in preparation for implementation and change management in product rollout & enhancements
* Determine developments to the strategic roadmap based on business strategy changes
* Evaluating the product's progress against defined business outcomes
* Secures investment and resource to continue Product development and growth
* Proactive sharing of knowledge to drive technology learning, understanding and appreciation across the business
* Management of 3rd parties, acting as a routine contact point between organisation and supplier.
* Monitor contract performance, manage underperformance and escalate where necessary
* Ensure that IT/business strategy, policy and standards are adhered to, thus achieving commonality and ease of maintenance
* Analyse problems, action and progress issues as appropriate, ensuring follow through to resolution.
* Providing input into the governance process itself, including the methods and tools to be used
* Applying lessons learnt process and actively elicit relevant feedback
* Help protect from cyberattack and data loss by following standards and instructions and by reporting risks and incidents


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Business Knowledge
* Commercial acumen with business domain expertise
* Experience of working in a matrix organisation
* Ability to provide information in a logical and consistent manner
* Ability to thrive in a challenging environment and develop new skills
* Ability to provide information in a logical and consistent manner
* Understanding of Microsoft IT products, services and systems
* Ability to work in environments that are undergoing change, working in an iterative and adaptive manner
* Ability to thrive in a challenging environment and develop new skills

Essential Functional / Technical Skills
* Experience with having financial responsibilities and ability to demonstrate value from investments
* Proven track record of setting strategic direction for a set of initiatives and prioritisation
* Understanding and working experience of agile process and principles
* Experience with defining and prioritising a portfolio of work
* Ability to demonstrate a track record of delivery from a goal orientated perspective
* Ability to translate business strategy and requirements in technology context
* Ability to define and prioritise a portfolio of work
* Ability to apply portfolio management good practice and concepts in practice
* Ability to effectively apply financial management and planning skills in a product environment (including capex vs opex budgetary structures)
* Ability to negotiate requirements, timelines and other delivery metrics across product lifecycle
* Ability to identify and manage key stakeholders
* Application of the concepts of delivery risks and issues
* Ability to develop counter measures and contingency plans associated with significant delivery risk
* Shows a high level of planning aptitude
* High level knowledge of work management technology and tools

Personal Attributes / Competencies
* Articulate with outstanding written, interpersonal and analytical skills
* Able to articulate the why at all levels of the organisation
* Team leader, player and collaborator
* Ability to delegate appropriately and effectively
* Ability to effectively manage conflicting stakeholder needs
* Resilient, with the ability to work well under pressure
* Strong influencing skills and attention to detail


Outline the most important recommendations expected to be made for others to decide on
* Be the key interface between the business and technology. The role holder will require exceptional stakeholder management skills, by ensuring they are clear on customer needs and can effectively prioritise to ensure a continuous valuable flow from the team
* Plan, own and ensure the delivery of the product roadmap
* Collaborating closely with the Delivery Lead and the Architecture Lead to ensure the product roadmaps have a right balance of delivering business outcomes, technology enablement and operational requirements
* Lead and manage the operational aspects of the delivery team, ensuring risk, legal, security and other compliance requirements are met

ersg are an equal opportunities employer; we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all job applicants. We do not discriminate against applicants on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or religious background; all decisions are based on merit.