What are the responsibilities and job description for the Product Owner position at EquiTrust?
About Us:
EquiTrust Life Insurance Company is a national carrier of competitive, client-friendly annuity products sold through a variety of distribution channels, including more than 20,000 independent agents and independent marketing organizations (IMOs). Since 2003, we have provided exceptional customer service to our clients by operating with integrity and passion. Our efforts are supported by a dedicated workforce who execute their responsibilities through teamwork and an entrepreneurial spirit. EquiTrust sells products nationwide and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with operations in West Des Moines,
How You’ll Contribute:
As a Product Owner, you’ll help modernize processes, systems, and services that support EquiTrust’s Policy Administration teams. Working closely with the Product Manager, IT, Customer Experience, and other business partners, you’ll translate business needs into priorities and solutions that improve customer and agent experiences. We’re looking for someone who brings curiosity, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to solving problems and supporting change.
What You’ll Do:
- Partner with the Product Manager to align work with business priorities and contribute to product direction and roadmap planning.
- Use stakeholder feedback, data, and process reviews to identify improvement opportunities and define measures of success.
- Evaluate potential solutions based on business value, feasibility, effort, and risk.
- Own and prioritize the product backlog, partnering with analysts and delivery teams to develop clear requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
- Provide business direction during delivery, resolve questions, and communicate progress, dependencies, risks, and decisions.
- Validate completed work against business needs and support testing, implementation, training, and adoption.
- Monitor results and feedback to refine solutions and future priorities.
- Build collaborative relationships across departments and contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment.
What You’ll Bring:
Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
Experience:
- At least three years of experience in product management, business analysis, or customer experience/service operations required.
- Five years of relevant experience in a technology-enabled service environment preferred.
- Insurance or financial services experience preferred.
- Product Management or Agile certification, such as CSPO, Pragmatic, or SAFe.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to prioritize work, manage a product backlog, and balance business needs with available resources.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use customer feedback, performance measures, and workflow data to guide decisions.
- Ability to translate business needs into clear requirements and actionable plans.
- Clear communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and explain recommendations to varied audiences.
- Ability to evaluate technologies, vendors, and solution options.
- Understanding of testing, implementation, change management, and adoption practices.
- A customer-focused approach that considers customer and agent experiences, operational efficiency, and compliance requirements.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives, adapt to changing priorities, and incorporate feedback.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Work primarily involves computer use, reviewing information, and communicating with others throughout the workday.
- Occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, pushing or pulling, and lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds.
- Infrequent business travel, less than 5% of the time.
Total Rewards:
In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive an annual discretionary incentive bonus and access to a competitive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental & Vision coverage:
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Paid time off: Vacation, Sick, Holiday, and more
- Paid Parental Leave for both Mothers and Fathers
- Hybrid/Remote Work Options
- Early Friday Closure
EquiTrust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. Applicants have rights under federal and state employment laws. To learn more, visit EquiTrust Careers.
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