Product Owner - Research

Kuali is building products that help research administration teams operate more effectively. As a Product Owner - Research, you will own the Kuali Research product backlog and translate real customer and institutional needs into clear, actionable backlog items and outcomes. This role sits at the intersection of product strategy and delivery, working closely with Product Management, Engineering, Customer Success, and Design to bridge what users need with what teams build.

What you’ll do

• Own the Kuali Research product backlog, maintaining clarity, prioritization, and alignment with strategic goals.
• Turn customer feedback, institutional requirements, and the product vision into user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate daily with engineering and design to support timely, high-quality delivery.
• Work with Product Managers to refine roadmap priorities and validate outcomes against customer needs.
• Support release planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives to drive continuous improvement.
• Act as the voice of the customer inside the scrum team, ensuring solutions address real-world research administration challenges.
• Monitor product performance and partner on data-driven decisions to improve usability and adoption.

What you bring

• 3+ years of experience in product ownership, business analysis, or software delivery.
• Strong understanding of Agile/Scrum principles and backlog management.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to translate complex workflows into clear, actionable requirements.
• Passion for improving research administration processes and higher-education outcomes.

Tools you may use

Java, Node.js, React, Jira, Aha!

Bonus if you have

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience with SaaS products or enterprise software in higher education or research administration.
• Familiarity with HRIS, ERP, or grant management systems.
• Working knowledge of Jira, Aha!, or similar backlog tools.
• Comfort with data analysis and metrics-driven decision making.
• Demonstrated curiosity and initiative to learn new tools and practices.

Benefits and culture

• Remote-first work
• Top-of-the-line equipment of your choice to get your job done
• A truly exceptional benefits package including full premium coverage for employee and dependent medical and dental care
• 401(k) matching
• Employee stock option plan
• Paid Maternity/Parental leave
• All the paid time off you need (work it out with your manager)
• Encouragement and support in learning and improving your skill-sets
• Space to work on self-driven projects during quarterly hack weeks
• Employee resource groups and community events

Location: Remote (remote)
Salary: USD 96,000 - 115,000 per yearly
Experience: 3+ years