Technology Product Owner

Technology Product Owner role focused on planning and managing technology product projects using Agile.

Responsibilities

• Partner with assigned departments’ leadership and stakeholders to identify technology projects or products that deliver value to users, customers, and/or improve processes.
• Facilitate whiteboarding and planning sessions to define project scope, resourcing needs, and timelines.
• Run backlog planning meetings with stakeholders to ensure product requirements and user stories are thoroughly defined and documented before development.
• Evaluate product or project proposals to determine deliverables, milestones, and required activities and tasks.
• Manage technology project execution and backlog scheduling for assigned departments to maximize Agile team development productivity.
• Lead planning and standup meetings for assigned department projects or products.
• Create plans and staffing for project activities, iterations, or phases, including recruitment or assignment of project personnel.
• Monitor and drive product development and release progress.
• Develop and execute communication plans to support successful product and project implementations.
• Manage BETA testing teams and the BETA testing process to encourage end-user engagement and enthusiasm.
• Assess and escalate product bug resolutions.
• Coordinate with Technology Leadership and stakeholders to keep backlog task priorities aligned with corporate strategy.
• Collect feedback from users and stakeholders to define value-add features for inclusion.
• Measure product performance and business value delivered, and adjust as needed.
• Assess the product value stream to identify improvement opportunities.
• Work with the technology infrastructure team to define and deliver product-related requirements as needed.
• Assist Technology Leadership with product roadmap strategy to support technology innovation.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders on product development operations.
• Support data governance efforts.
• Champion Agile methodologies and support other departments as they adopt Agile.
• Stay current on Agile and scrum knowledge and skills.
• Work within and promote the organization’s vision, mission, and values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Three (3) years of product owner or project management experience required.
• One (1) year experience using Agile methodologies to manage a portfolio of products or projects preferred.
• One (1) year experience with Microsoft Dynamics (AX or D365) ERP software preferred.
• Proven skills in facilitation, negotiation, project management, team development, communication, data analysis, and change management.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, including presentations to stakeholders at all levels.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented change agent and effective business systems thinker.
• Ability to manage risk and ambiguity on a project.
• Technically competent with software tools including Microsoft Office 365, Azure DevOps, Jira, SharePoint, Trello, Power BI, Microsoft D365, Power Automate, and PowerApps.
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle: requirement gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• General knowledge of relational database concepts and data warehouse designs.
• Ability to prepare budget proposals.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, analyze complex processes, synthesize data and results, and drive toward insight and solutions.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with customers, vendors, employees, and the public.
• Ability to keep current with emerging trends, tools, and technologies in the software industry.
• Consistent attendance.
• English communication capability required: speak, read, comprehend, and write.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field required.

Technology

• Microsoft Office 365
• Azure DevOps
• Jira
• SharePoint
• Trello
• Power BI
• Microsoft D365
• Power Automate
• PowerApps
• Microsoft Dynamics (AX or D365) ERP
• Agile
• Scrum

Safety

• Actively cares for, promotes, manages, and advocates for safety at Western States; ensures safe environments for employees, vendors, and clients while adhering to applicable safety policies, procedures, and standards.
• Embraces a caring culture by following applicable safety policies and PPE expectations, and supporting stop work authority.

Customer Care Commitments

• Convey warmth and empathy by acknowledging customers and greeting everyone with an authentic smile.
• Actively listen by giving full attention, making eye contact, avoiding interruptions, and asking clarifying questions.
• Build trust by taking ownership, acting with urgency, and following through on commitments.
• Say thank you by expressing genuine appreciation for effort, feedback, and collaboration.

Physical Characteristics

• Ability to stand for long periods of time with walking, sitting, repetitive climbing stairs, reaching (including above-shoulder reaching), repetitive bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, leaning, and twisting.
• Ability to lift up to 45 lbs.

Location: Meridian, ID (onsite)