Product Owner at Old Mutual South Africa

Job Description

• Responsible for defining and managing the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the product team, ensuring alignment with customer needs and business goals. This role involves driving the design, development, and maintenance of innovative product offerings, while also contributing to the management, innovation, and enhancement of existing products throughout their lifecycle. The Product Owner will work closely with stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and customers to deliver high-quality products that provide value and drive business success.

Key Responsibilities

Managing the Product Backlog:

• Create, prioritize, and maintain the product backlog, improvements, and bug fixes that need to be worked on.
• Ensure that the backlog items are clearly defined, well-prioritized, and aligned with the strategic goals of the product

Stakeholder Management:

• Maintain contact between key stakeholders and the development team 

Clarifying Requirements:

• Provide clear, detailed requirements for the development team, including user stories, acceptance criteria, and expected outcomes.
• Work closely with the team to clarify doubts and provide additional context when needed

Supporting the Development Team:

• During sprints, the PO is available to the development team to answer questions, review progress, and ensure that the team is delivering what is expected.
• Provide continuous feedback and support to ensure the team is building the right product 

Reviewing and Accepting Work:

• After each sprint or iteration, the PO reviews the work completed by the development team and determines whether it meets the acceptance criteria.
• They approve or reject features based on the defined requirements and whether they provide the intended value.

Monitoring Product Progress:

• The Product Owner keeps track of the product's progress and makes adjustments to the product backlog based on feedback, market changes, or new business priorities.
• Help ensure that the product stays aligned with the original vision while adapting to changing circumstances

Conducting Product Demos and Reviews:

• The PO may lead or participate in sprint reviews or product demos to show stakeholders what has been developed and gather feedback.
• This is essential for ensuring transparency and obtaining stakeholder input early and often 

Evaluating Market Trends and Competitors:

• The Product Owner must stay informed about industry trends, customer preferences, and competitor offerings to ensure the product remains competitive and aligned with market needs.
• They use this knowledge to help inform backlog priorities and product decisions

Ensuring Alignment with Business Goals:

• The PO must ensure that the product aligns with the overarching business objectives and strategy, driving product development in a way that maximizes value to the organization.
• They are responsible for understanding and balancing both the short-term and long-term business goals

Managing Risks and Dependencies:

• The Product Owner must identify and manages risks and dependencies related to product development.
• Must work with cross-functional teams to mitigate risks that may hinder the product’s progress or quality

Key Skills

• Strong Communication: The ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Decision-Making: The ability to make tough calls regarding priorities and trade-offs.
• Domain Knowledge: Understanding of the industry, market, and customer needs.
• Collaboration and Leadership: Working closely with teams, and guiding them towards the successful delivery of the product.
• Business Acumen: Understanding business goals and translating them into actionable features for the development team.

Competencies & Experience

• Proven experience in product management and agile methodologies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with tactical execution.
• Expertise in product lifecycle management, from concept to end-of-life.
• Analytical mindset, with the ability to make data-driven decisions and measure product success
• 5 years or more in a Product owner or Product manager role

Education

• BCom degree – Preferably in management or similar  

Skills

• Action Planning, Adaptive Thinking, Analytical Thinking, Business Requirements Analysis, Client Needs Analysis, Current State Assessment, Customer-Focused, Data Compilation, Developing Creative Solutions, Evaluating Information, Futures Thinking, Gaps Analysis, Presenting Solutions, Probing Questions, Project Resource Management

Competencies

• Action Oriented
• Business Insight
• Cultivates Innovation
• Drives Engagement
• Drives Results
• Ensures Accountability
• Manages Ambiguity
• Manages Complexity

Education

• NQF Level 7 - Degree, Advance Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent

Closing Date

• 14 May 2025 , 23:59