Technology Product Owner - PLM
Department: Information Technology
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Gainesville, FL
Reporting To: VP, Business Systems & IT Services
Description
The Technology Product Owner will drive global standardization across platform-based technology solutions as assigned by the leader for IT Business Systems and Services. The Technology Product Owner role will also be responsible for working with business leaders, end users, and IT resources to scope and define, develop, test, deploy, and support standardized platform-based technology solutions across multiple sites.
The Technology Product Owner will work closely with the Solution Architect who owns the architecture, design and integration of the assigned technology solution aimed at delivering against the approved business and functional requirements. Both the Technology Product Owner and the Solution Architect will collaborate closely to develop the Product Roadmap and product development execution plans. The Technology Product Owner possesses an in-depth knowledge of goals and desired objectives of the corresponding business processes.
Key Responsibilities
Requirements Definition

• Engage with business partners to define epics and user stories.
• Prioritize user stories by business value.
• Analyze requirements from a business and systems perspective by interpreting business goals and objectives.
• Shape and prioritize product backlog based on business value utilizing business expertise and understanding of customer needs; and translate requirements into user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Balance business value with technical feasibility while prioritizing stories and features, optimizing cost, and improving delivery efficiency.
• Act as the "Voice of the Customer" within the team to ensure they "build the right thing".
• Ensure the backlog is healthy: Stay 2-3 sprints ahead and ensure each feature has a clear definition of what done looks like; ensure each feature level deliverable is aligned to a definition of readiness to enter a sprint.

Solution Design

• Lead in the overall translation of business requirements into technical solutions in collaboration with the Solution Architect.
• Lead how requirements may be implemented from a functional standpoint and drive/improve user experience and business value creation.
• Drive selection of solution options with the Solution Architect to assess technical elements of the solution prior to user testing.
• Lead proof-of-concepts to prove technology benefits, assess cost-to-benefit, efficiency, and technical viability of solutions to business problems/opportunities.
• Ensure solutions are designed and deployed in accordance with standard Exactech IT practices and business and IT strategic direction.
• Identify business-driven integration and configuration needs as well as understand application landscape to ensure the solution meets organizational needs.
• Partner with the Solution Architect on integration design based on business needs and best practices, and recommend appropriate connection types, while evaluating impacts.

Product Delivery

• Facilitate release planning, sprint planning and demos with stakeholders.
• Accountable for managing the integrated build with the Solution Architect to ensure that the end-to-end build of a particular component of a solution is compliant and works as designed.
• Oversee planning and execution of technical testing by the IT team; support Business Process Owner(s) to plan and execute User Acceptance Testing.
• Apply compliance requirements within scope of responsibility.
• Ensure software development lifecycle (SDLC) documentation is complete and system configuration and compliance activities are up to date as required.
• Drive reporting and analytics to provide visibility to IT team performance and monitor sprint metrics and user results.
• Provide progress and status reporting.

Operational Leadership

• Shape the Technology Product vision and roadmap with input from business stakeholders and in collaboration with the Solution Architect; Steer the IT team in delivering products and features oriented around business impact and value.
• Use clear goals to communicate the roadmap and vision at the beginning of every release and sprint so that the team understands and is equipped to realize it.
• Interact with other cross-functional business and IT teams required for design, development, and deployment.
• Drive engagement with third parties to support delivery of the objectives as needed.
• Plan and manage roadmap/project resourcing (i.e. new role, change in role).
• Drive continuous improvement across the product lifecycle and future product releases.
• Communicates status outside the team.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Education:

• Four-year college diploma or university degree in either computer systems design, computer science, information technology, engineering, business management and/or ten years equivalent work experience.
• Product Owner and Scrum Master certification desired.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years' work experience in manufacturing/operations solutioning and business analysis for a global manufacturing/engineering company.
• Minimum of 5 years' work experience in hands-on technical leadership, project management, process development/improvement and resource management.
• Deep subject matter expertise and technical expertise in the assigned solution stack, especially with identifying, evaluating, and developing systems and procedures that are cost effective, standardized, and meet both business and user requirements.
• Thorough understanding and practical application of agile software development methodologies, values, and procedures.
• Thorough understanding and experience applying the software development lifecycle (SDLC) in product development (full lifecycle experience required).
• In-depth knowledge of testing practices and techniques.

Functional/Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Excellent, all-around communicator.
• Ability to continuously prioritize and multitask efficiently.
• Advanced negotiation skills.
• Proven leadership ability.
• Decisive. Ability to influence decisions with critical thinking based upon experience and grasp of the strategic intent of the project.
• Self-motivated and capable of managing multiple priorities and tasks as delegated.
• Strong vision and product management skills
• Understanding of organization's development platform and languages.
• Ability to understand and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Keenness and speed in understanding and deciding on a business situation/need.
• Team-player with the ability to work in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work with diverse personality types.
• Ability to coach the team to reach their highest potential.
• Creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time-critical problems.
• Collaborative in driving decisions.
• Ability to deal with multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.