Product Owner

Overview We are looking for a Product Owner to drive execution discipline, backlog clarity, and delivery predictability within our product development lifecycle. This role is pivotal in translating strategic product direction into structured, buildable work that empowers development teams to execute with speed, confidence, and quality. As a delivery-focused individual contributor, the Product Owner is responsible for maintaining a sprint-ready backlog, writing clear and actionable user stories, and minimizing delivery risk by eliminating ambiguity before work begins. You will partner closely with engineering, QA, and UX to ensure alignment, reduce rework, and ensure the smooth flow of value from ideation to release. This position is an excellent fit for individuals who thrive in highly organized, iterative environments and are motivated by facilitating team success through clarity and structure. Over time, this role offers a growth path toward Product Manager responsibilities for those who demonstrate strategic leadership and outcome ownership. Responsibilities Delivery & Backlog OwnershipOwn and maintain a continuously prioritized and sprint-ready backlog. Write structured user stories with clear, testable acceptance criteria (INVEST principles). Enforce standards for Definition of Ready and Definition of Done. Break large initiatives into smaller, independently deliverable units of work. Ensure alignment between backlog priorities and business value. Sprint & Team EnablementLead backlog refinement sessions to ensure clarity and readiness before development begins. Support sprint planning, offering context and clarifications in real-time. Act as a liaison between stakeholders and developers, minimizing context-switching and mid-sprint disruptions. Collaborate daily with Engineering, QA, and UX to ensure delivery continuity. Execution Quality & PredictabilityImprove sprint velocity stability and reduce work re-entry due to unclear requirements. Validate that deliverables meet acceptance criteria before release. Support release readiness and assist in the creation of user-facing and internal documentation. Stakeholder CoordinationTranslate complex stakeholder needs into prioritized backlog items. Effectively communicate scope tradeoffs, sequencing decisions, and delivery risks. Document decisions and assumptions to ensure shared understanding. Escalate ambiguity, delivery blockers, or conflicting priorities with urgency. Requirements Education Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification highly desirable. Experience Previous experience in a Product Owner or equivalent delivery-focused product role. Experience in Agile environments (Scrum preferred), supporting cross-functional software teams. Background working in SaaS environments or on digital software products is a plus. Knowledge Deep understanding of Agile principles, Scrum cadence, and backlog governance. Strong knowledge of Definition of Ready/Done and the role of user stories in reducing delivery risk. Foundational understanding of software architecture, APIs, integrations, and system dependencies. Familiarity with QA workflows, test acceptance validation, and product usability principles. Ability to translate stakeholder input into clear, technical product requirements. Skills & Abilities Exceptional backlog organization and user story writing skills. Ability to balance scope, risk, value, and sequencing under time pressure. Strong facilitation, verbal communication, and written documentation skills. Proven ability to maintain team alignment, prevent requirement churn, and reduce rework. Adept at cross-functional collaboration and operating without formal authority. Calm, disciplined execution in high-velocity, iterative delivery environments. #J-18808-Ljbffr