Technical Product Owner at Ignition Group

Key roles and responsibilities:

User Representation

• Develop a thorough understanding of user needs through research, data analysis, and direct customer interactions where applicable.
• Understand and articulate user needs, preferences, and expectations.
• Act as the voice of the customer during product development.

Gumtree Product Knowledge and Detail Understanding

• Acquire comprehensive knowledge of Gumtree’s products, features and functionalities.
• Dive into minute details to grasp the intricacies of the software.

Use Case Development

• Imagine how users will engage with the product.
• Develop robust use cases to guide design and development efforts.
• Ensure the context of “why” something is being done and “what” value it will bring, is always clear.

Use Case Evaluation and Business Value

• Evaluate use cases for their significance and alignment with business objectives.
• Ensure that each use case adds tangible value to the product.

User Story Creation

• Create precise user stories, supported by wireframes and prototypes where applicable.
• Specify functional and non-functional requirements.
• Ensure acceptance criteria is clear, and met before released.

Backlog Management

• Take ownership of the backlog for your given area, ensuring the features and user stories on the backlog are well prioritised according to product initiatives, business objectives, and sensible technical groupings of work where applicable. Ensure alignment with overall product strategy.
• Ensure BAU elements and bugs are not overlooked, but carefully prioritised.
• Prioritise user stories, features and epics, according to known methods, to further overall product objectives.

Development Readiness

• Ensure that development tickets are well groomed, have enough context on what is required, and contain clear user stories and acceptance criteria for the development team to commence work.
• Address any queries or clarifications from the development team.

Scrum Ceremonies Participation

• Attend and actively participate in all Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint review, sprint retrospective).

Technical Guidance

• Offer insights and clarifications to technical teams on requirements and acceptance criteria, and take the necessary action to unblock them when needed.
• Collaborate with developers to ensure a shared understanding.

Engineering Work Review

• Review and approve engineering work to ensure alignment with specified requirements.
• Verify that the delivered product meets the desired quality standards.

Defect Resolution Prioritisation

• Prioritise defect or bug resolution based on their impact and alignment with team commitments.
• Collaborate with the team to ensure timely and effective resolution.

Lead Project delivery

• Own the product initiatives you are assigned to end to end in terms of project delivery, including managing stakeholders as needed.
• Work closely with the internal/ external dev team to ensure deliverables are delivered timeously.
• Ensure all involved individuals are clear on the context and objectives of the work being undertaken.
• Communicate progress as well as risks to all stakeholders.
• Ensure developers are unblocked timeously and can continue with delivery.

Education and training:

• BSc in Computer Science, Engineering or other related technical field (preferred)
• Business Analyst, Engineering, or similar educational degree highly relevant.
• Product Ownership training essential.

Experience:

• 3–5 years' Experience as a Software Product Owner.
• Experience as a Software Developer (preferred).
• Strong observational skills and attention to detail.·
• Communicate confidently and appropriately to technical and non-technical colleagues, as well as external partners.
• Passionate about conceptualising and delivering high-quality software.
• Possesses strong technical expertise.