Product Owner, Data & Technology

The Product Owner, Data & Technology at Austin Pets Alive! owns the full product lifecycle and systems backlog for the Data & Technology Division. This hands-on role turns strategic and operational needs into an executable plan, supports implementation and training, and maintains feedback loops with internal departments.

Role Focus

In partnership with the Data & Tech team and the Senior Director of Data Strategy, the Product Owner translates APA!’s 3-year data and technology roadmap into a sequenced product backlog. The role manages day-to-day prioritization across project delivery including data pipelines, dashboards, integrations, and platform initiatives, while serving as the connective link between strategic priorities, end-user needs, and daily execution across contractors and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Support and strengthen a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment.
• Work with volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring collaboration and shared ownership rather than siloed work.
• Assist with volunteer recruitment and onboarding by welcoming new volunteers and helping them orient to the program.
• Help retain volunteers through encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work.
• Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to the supervisor or volunteer manager.
• Recognize volunteer contributions with appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts to reinforce a positive culture.
• Set volunteers up for success by explaining tasks clearly, providing hands-on guidance, and offering real-time support.
• Partner with the Senior Director to translate APA!’s 3-year data and technology roadmap into an executable, sequenced product backlog aligned to operational priorities.
• Own day-to-day prioritization and sequencing for the Data & Technology Division’s project portfolio and technical initiatives, in partnership with the Data & Tech team.
• Connect strategic priorities, end-user priorities, and execution by coordinating with the contractor and volunteer bench.
• Stay hands-on during implementation, working alongside teams building and using solutions to identify gaps early.
• Build standing feedback loops with each department that uses Division tools, ensuring real usage and pain points shape what gets built next.
• Support internal specification for the Shelter Operating System and APA!’s data and systems replication framework with the Data & Tech team.
• Lead change management related to data compliance and usage across the organization.
• Support sequencing of data integration work tied to APA!’s growing organization.
• Support data integrity and governance standards for delivered systems, in partnership with the Senior Director’s data cleanliness and governance work.
• Own the product backlog for Division systems, tools, and internal platforms, translating stakeholder input into clear next steps.
• Maintain a living product roadmap that reflects priorities, dependencies, and constraints, and communicate updates to the Senior Director and stakeholders.
• Translate requirements from Operations teams, Programs, and executive leadership into concrete specifications for the Data Analyst and Data Engineer.
• Oversee contractors and volunteers as needed across product development initiatives to ensure specs and timelines are met.
• Maintain relationships with relevant software vendors.
• Stay current on industry best practices to support up-to-date data and technology use in a rapidly growing field.
• Work directly with the Data Analyst, Data Engineer, and contractors during build and rollout, including testing, troubleshooting, and closing the gap between specifications and delivered features.
• Partner with on-the-ground teams across the full product life cycle, including staff training, data collection QA and standardization, and real-time troubleshooting.
• Participate in configuration, QA and user acceptance testing, and rollout logistics for new tools and workflows.
• Be present for go-lives and early adoption periods to surface friction quickly and route fixes back into the backlog.
• Run a regular feedback cadence with departments using Division tools, including shelter operations, medical, behavior, development, community programs, and others.
• Turn department feedback into prioritized backlog items and close the loop with departments on what changed and why.
• Serve as the on-the-ground point of contact for staff and volunteers reporting tool issues or workflow friction.
• Define and track success metrics for delivered systems and features, reporting progress to the Senior Director on a regular cadence.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and blockers early, escalating to the Senior Director with clear options.
• Coordinate with external vendors, partner organizations, and contractors involved in systems integration or platform work.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation of systems, workflows, and decisions.
• Work collaboratively with APA!’s Education Department to keep relevant SOPs, courses, and training materials aligned with current tool usage.
• Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by the manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 1+ years of experience in a product owner, product manager, business analyst, systems/program lead, or related role responsible for defining and prioritizing technical work.
• 1+ years of experience in animal shelter operations as staff or in a volunteer capacity.
• Demonstrated adaptability and experience managing change across multiple systems and teams, including building buy-in on new processes and workflows.
• Demonstrated experience translating ambiguous organizational needs into clear requirements or specifications for a technical team.
• Comfort working hands-on through implementation, including configuration, testing, product training, and live troubleshooting with stakeholders.
• Experience running structured feedback loops or user research with non-technical stakeholders and translating input into backlog priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in change management, training, customer service, and building buy-in on new processes and workflows.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including interpreting rules, procedures, and instructional materials with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities across a small, resource-constrained team.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with strong organization and detail orientation.
• Comfort with common project or work-tracking tools (for example, monday.com or similar).
• Familiarity with data platforms, CRMs, or shelter/animal welfare management systems.
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new processes and software quickly.
• Ability to travel for special projects as needed up to 15% of the time.
• Commitment to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion, and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart.
• Commitment to APA!’s customer experience expectations.
• Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers, helping individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission.
• Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support.
• Comfort working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members.
• Self-starter with strong time management and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, maintaining a calm and professional presence.
• Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality.
• Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed.
• Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience.
• Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather.
• Must be able to comfortably interact with cats and dogs of various health levels, including cats that may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, and intestinal parasites.
• Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away.
• Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away, including distinguishing dog vocalizations both soft and loud.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Physical ability to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, stoop, bend, stretch, squat, kneel, grasp, grip, reach above and below shoulder level, and lift or carry up to 30 pounds and push or pull up to 50 pounds for event and supply setup.
• If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential functions absent undue hardship.

Preferred Abilities

• Working knowledge of agile/scrum or kanban delivery practices, with comfort adapting them to a small, resource-constrained team.
• 2+ years of experience in a nonprofit, animal welfare, healthcare, or other mission-driven organization.
• Experience with, or demonstrated strong aptitude for, data integration or multi-tenant systems work.
• Product owner or Scrum certification (for example, CSPO, PSPO) is a plus but not required.
• Lean Six Sigma certification at any level is a plus but not required.

Technologies

• monday.com
• QA/user-acceptance testing

Benefits

• Subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage.
• Subsidized and voluntary life insurance.
• Voluntary dental, vision, and short-term disability options.
• Voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans.
• Up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan.
• Supplemental benefits.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Additional life coverage.
• 10 paid holidays.
• 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment.
• Additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment.
• Professional development opportunities.

Work Environment

• Animal shelter office environment with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals.
• Uses own transportation to travel and transport.
• Work is normally performed inside; some outside work is required.
• Regular in-person and virtual meeting time with department teams across the organization.
• Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants, and high levels of noise.
• Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people.
• Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs.

Time Commitment

• Full-time, exempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
• Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change.
• Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Working Relationships

• Reports directly to the Senior Director of Data Strategy.
• Works closely with the Data Analyst and Data Engineer, and coordinates with the Division’s contractor and volunteer bench.
• Partners cross-functionally with Operations teams, Programs, Development, and executive leadership, maintaining regular direct working relationships with each department using Division tools.

Location and Schedule

Primary location: Austin, TX 78703 (onsite).

• APA! Main - Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
• Hwy 290 Medical Clinic - 4942 W Hwy 290 Austin, TX 78735
• Tarrytown Corporate Office, 2414 Exposition Blvd, Suite B-100, Austin, TX 78703

May travel to offsite locations as needed for special projects.

Compensation

Salary: USD 58,000 - 65,000 per year.

Minimum experience: 1+ years.