Product Owner

Location: Remote (U.S.)
Position Type: Contract / Consulting
Industry: Financial Services / Technology / Product Delivery / Agile Transformation

Our client is seeking an experienced Product Owner to lead product strategy, backlog management, and delivery execution for technology initiatives within the financial services sector. The role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams-including business stakeholders, developers, and designers-to ensure product outcomes align with strategic objectives.

This position offers exposure to enterprise-scale product development, agile delivery frameworks, and stakeholder management across complex organizations. The ideal candidate will combine business acumen with strong delivery discipline and a focus on continuous improvement.

Product Strategy & Vision:

• Define and communicate product vision, goals, and success metrics.

• Align product initiatives with organizational strategy and customer needs.

• Develop and maintain a forward-looking roadmap that supports business priorities.

Backlog & Delivery Management:

• Create and prioritize user stories, epics, and features based on value and feasibility.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to refine requirements and ensure clear acceptance criteria.

• Manage sprint planning, backlog grooming, and sprint reviews to ensure timely delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Act as the primary liaison between business, technology, and design teams.

• Conduct product demos, capture feedback, and manage expectations throughout delivery cycles.

• Translate complex technical or business concepts into actionable plans.

Quality & Release Assurance:

• Define and validate acceptance criteria to ensure deliverables meet business needs.

• Oversee release readiness, coordination, and post-launch evaluation.

• Promote continuous improvement through retrospectives and performance tracking.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with business analysts, scrum masters, and architects to ensure alignment on scope and timelines.

• Support end-to-end delivery of product features within agile frameworks.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business, or related field.

• 5 years of experience in product ownership or technology delivery roles, ideally within financial services or consulting.

• Strong understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies, with experience leading sprint-based teams.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, or MS Project.

• Knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and product design principles.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and documentation abilities.

Certifications:

• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification preferred.

Soft Skills:

• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

• Strategic thinker with attention to detail and delivery excellence.

• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Proven ability to balance technical, business, and user needs.

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