Product Owner (IT)
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Job Location:
Minneapolis, MN - USA
Monthly Salary:
$ 106500 - 159800
Posted on:
8 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
The Product Owner (IT) plays a critical role within SEIs technology organization serving as the bridge between business needs technology solutions and user experience. This role is responsible for owning the product roadmap and prioritizing the backlog to ensure initiatives are aligned with strategic goals and deliver measurable business value.
Working closely with cross functional teams stakeholders and leadership the Product Owner defines clear objectives for initiatives and sprints translates business requirements into actionable work and drives execution of the product vision. Through continuous collaboration and thoughtful prioritization the Product Owner ensures the delivery of solutions that create meaningful high quality user experiences.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Product Vision & Strategy Alignment
- Translate product vision and highlevel strategy into a clear actionable product backlog.
- Ensure backlog priorities align with business goals customer needs and technical considerations.
- Collaborate closely with stakeholders to align sprint work with the longterm product roadmap.
Backlog Ownership & Product Discovery
- Own maintain and continually refine the product backlog ensuring items are welldefined prioritized and ready for delivery.
- Write clear concise user stories with welldefined acceptance criteria.
- Break down epics and complex features into manageable sprintsized deliverables.
- Drive product discovery in collaboration with team leads and stakeholders using techniques such as story mapping to define scope sequence work into customer journeys and determine launch readiness for rapid learning.
Sprint Execution & Delivery Support
- Lead backlog refinement and actively participate in all Scrum ceremonies including sprint planning daily standups reviews and retrospectives.
- Provide daytoday guidance to developers and testers by clarifying requirements and resolving ambiguity.
- Accept or reject completed stories based on defined acceptance criteria and quality standards.
- Develop detailed feature requirements and collaborate with delivery teams on implementation planning.
Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication
- Gather and synthesize input from internal stakeholders to ensure alignment transparency and shared understanding.
- Communicate roadmap updates sprint progress risks and tradeoffs clearly and proactively.
Quality & Risk Management
- Ensure delivered features meet functional requirements quality standards and user expectations.
- Identify risks blockers and dependencies early partnering with crossfunctional teams to mitigate and resolve them efficiently.
CrossFunctional Coordination
- Lead and influence a crossfunctional delivery team of UX/UI designers developers and QA professionals without direct line management responsibility.
- Partner closely with UX/UI teams to review and provide feedback on wireframes prototypes and user flows.
- Collaborate with IT and architecture teams to assess technical feasibility dependencies and constraints.
- Train and support internal stakeholders on newly released features and functionality.
Job Skills
Product & Business Skills
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle management and valuedriven product delivery
- Ability to assess value develop use cases and prioritize epics themes and stories aligned to product strategy
- Expertise in discovery techniques and mapping exercises to identify optimal solutions
- Ability to translate business objectives and user needs into actionable requirements
- Familiarity with KPIs metrics and datadriven decisionmaking
Agile & Delivery Skills
- Deep knowledge of Agile and Scrum principles practices and ceremonies
- Ability to decompose large initiatives into incremental valuedriven deliverables
- Proven skills managing scope dependencies and iterative delivery
Technical & Analytical Skills
- Foundational understanding of software development concepts (APIs integrations data flows architecture)
- Ability to engage in technical discussions and understand tradeoffs and solution constraints
Communication & Collaboration Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to articulate complex concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences
- Strong facilitation skills for backlog refinement planning and review sessions
- Confidence in managing expectations and communicating risks scope and tradeoffs
- Proven ability to build strong relationships across IT and business teams
Leadership & Ownership
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability for outcomes
- Ability to work autonomously with a high degree of initiative
- Skilled at driving alignment across crossfunctional teams
- Adept at navigating differing perspectives and resolving conflict constructively
- Comfortable operating in a fastpaced dynamic and occasionally ambiguous environment
Customer & UX Skills
- Working knowledge of UX principles and user journey mapping
- Ability to interpret customer feedback and translate insights into action
Work Experience
- 5 years of hands-on experience as a Product Owner or in a similar productfocused role
- Experience supporting highscale or enterpriselevel products preferred
- Extensive experience writing user stories and defining acceptance criteria
- Handson experience grooming product backlogs and managing competing priorities
- Experience collaborating with UX/UI designers on workflows prototypes and feature scoping
Education
- Bachelors degree from an accredited institution required (or equivalent professional experience in IT or related fields)
Certifications (Preferred)
- CSPO PSPO SAFe POPM PMIACP or ICPAPO certifications
Other:
Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane car or accordance with ADA policies reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%) senior leaders (10 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 10%).
Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so this would include being mobile within the office including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
If offsite or hybrid role must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy reliable internet access phone ability to video conference etc.) at a remote location.
This role may require lifting however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.
Able to access information using a computer.
Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.
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SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per addition to medical dental vision life and disability plans SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives parental leave paid time off certain paid holidays tax saving accounts (FSA HSA) 401(k) retirement benefit Employee Stock Purchase Plan tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay if applicable.
Careers - Our Benefits Strategic Education Inc
SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI we offer a competitive salary. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills experience business needs geographical location and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.
If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process please contact our Human Resources Department at .
About Company
The Jansen Newman Institute (JNI) is part of Torrens University. We offer courses in the areas of counselling, psychotherapy and community services. Visit us to learn more.
