Product Owner

Job description

A Product Owner is the proxy for the customer to one or more Software Engineering teams. Through ownership of the Product Backlog (scope and prioritization) and care for the whole of the product(s), (features, non-functional behaviour, quality, and technical debt), they are responsible for maximizing the value of the product(s) through software engineering work. Building effective relationships with management and stakeholders, in different countries, timezones and cultures, is key to success in this role, as is a high degree of technical expertise to comprehend the complex nature of our products.

Requirement Gathering and Analysis – responsible for:

§   Learning the product, to ensure proper understanding of context, features and functions

§   Producing clear, high-quality, specific, and unambiguous, functional and nonfunctional requirements for changes of various complexities

§   Providing a high-quality detailed analysis with the customer journey in mind, working through requirements in an agile manner, considering for fitness of purpose, adherence to business objectives, and consistency, challenging positively where appropriate.

§   Defining specific and measurable Acceptance Criteria

§   The acceptance of those requirements by Software Engineering teams for execution

§   Collecting feedback and defining requirements from all the involved stakeholders via scheduled and non-scheduled mechanisms

§   Reviewing and confirming that designed features/functions ultimately meet the specified intent, requirements, business and end-user needs where applicable.

§   Assessing reported defects, non-functional requirements, and other technical debt, triaging severity and prioritizing resolution alongside feature work, to ensure not only that the product always meets established Quality Criteria, but that quality continuously improves.

§   Generating documents and other artifacts describing current and future product features and functions, using approved processes

Prioritization and Planning – responsible for:

§   Setting priorities in collaboration with key stakeholders against planned objectives, and supporting sprint planning and other preparatory activities, ensuring that the product needs and vision are maintained.

§   Tracking progression over time to ensure client, business, and technical goals are met

§   Coordinating development and defect resolution across multiple teams, programmes and locations, and identifying dependencies between teams

§   Continuously seeking ways to improve processes to increase efficiency and performance.

Working Practices and Relationships:

The individual would work with different sets of stakeholders, both technical and business, from Software Engineering Teams to Project/Programme Management, Product Management and Delivery to assist with strategic planning and gain early knowledge of future scope and goals. They would regularly:

§   Engage with Software Engineering teams and related stakeholders as part of an Agile team, ensuring that Software Engineers understand requirements.

§   Work with Software Engineering teams to discover underlying design gaps and/or technical gaps against associated risks e.g. security, performance, usability, etc.

§   Maintain a clear view on progress and articulating it to stakeholders, alongside issues and risks

§   Confidently facilitate meetings, present and demonstrate software at different levels.

§   Advocate for Agile practices to achieve increasingly Agile working.

Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, create marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and software. We also assist millions of people to realize their financial goals and help them save time and money.

We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agribusiness, insurance, and many more industry segments.

We invest in people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data. As a FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 22,500 people across 32 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.

Qualifications

•  Experience working in a Product role within a Software / Technology context, possessing strong technical expertise and the ability to confidently work with customers and other stakeholders to establish story acceptance criteria.  Experience of working closely and collaboratively with clients or similar stakeholders to ensure their needs are met, that they receive relevant and timely updates, and managing the product backlog.  Experience of working in an Agile environment, ideally in software product development, using one or more of the primary Agile methodologies (Scrum/KanBan/XP etc).  Fast learner – can quickly get up to speed with vast complex solutions and knows how to acquire knowledge, able to adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment, resilient and self-confident.  Strong networking, collaboration and influencing skills (role requires a hands-on approach to ensure successful delivery).  Excellent written and verbal communication skills (essential to be able to communicate with stakeholders from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds) and strong listening skills.  Able to demonstrate a strong understanding of business processes and translate that understanding into technical requirements.  Being logical and passionate yet patient lends itself to success in this role.  Proven track record in the domain would be an advantage / industry or academic certifications relevant to the domain, technology, or discipline of Product Ownership would be an advantage.

Our uniqueness is that we celebrate yours. Experian's culture and people are important differentiators. We take our people agenda very seriously and focus on what matters; DEI, work/life balance, development, authenticity, collaboration, wellness, reward & recognition, volunteering... the list goes on. Experian's people first approach is award-winning; World's Best Workplaces™ 2024 (Fortune Top 25), Great Place To Work™ in 24 countries, and Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2024 to name a few. Check out Experian Life on social or our Careers Site to understand why.

Experian is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Innovation is an important part of Experian's DNA and practices, and our diverse workforce drives our success. Everyone can succeed at Experian and bring their whole self to work, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, colour, sexuality, physical ability or age. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know at the earliest opportunity.

Experian Careers - Creating a better tomorrow together

Find out what its like to work for Experian by clicking here