Director, Agile Product Owner

Role Overview

• Define, prioritize and ensure a ready backlog of work for a cross-functional product team, accept final product output, focusing on achievement of defined outcomes versus defining how the work is completed. This includes the ability to engage meaningfully with technical teams on platform, data, or integration considerations that shape backlog decisions.
• Effectively manage a backlog of deliverables and capabilities as well as 'test and learn'/experimentation targeted at defining/refining future deliverables, measuring performance and adjusting the overall roadmap of deliverables as needed.
• Translate business strategies and needs into execution ready work for an Agile product team; define team goals and strategy, ensuring alignment with circle and value stream vision; Articulate team goals and strategy effectively to key stakeholders, Circle Leads, and team members.
• ​Leverage technical understanding to bridge conversations between stakeholders and engineering teams.
• Act as voice of the end-user; have a deep understanding of and anticipate and proactively seek customer feedback ensuring needs and requirements are clearly defined; ensure team work product meets defined acceptance criteria.
• Ability to facilitate discussions on technical solutions with informed questions, ensuring they meet both user and system quality standards.
• Own team backlog, including prioritization and refinement; Make trade-off decisions to maximize value.
• Optimize the flow of value by setting objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for solutions.
• Define meaningful metrics for technically complex products, including system performance, reliability, or data quality indicators where applicable.
• Inform and participate in business readiness; understand the impact of change, translate the approach to manage adoption and mitigate resistance.
• Provide feedback on work-in-progress, clarify requirements and contribute to removing roadblocks or impediments; Look for opportunities for continuous team and process improvement.
• Partner with key leaders and peers across to determine resources required to achieve defined business outcomes.
• Share best practices across teams to ensure alignment and consistency in ways of working within a value stream.
• Foster an innovative, inclusive and diverse team environment, promoting positive team culture, encouraging collaboration and self-organization.
• May manage Agile Product Owners. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of experience in Agile product management.
• Two years of work experience within the discipline being supported (e.g.: Claim, Risk Control, Technology, Project Management, Production, Application Development, etc.).
• Three years of experience articulating and translating business strategy, product vision, and analysis for a product.
• Agile Mindset: Embody Agile core values of openness, courage, respect, focus, and commitment.
• Infuse Agile principles, practices and methodologies to achieve team success.
• Product Mindset: Focus on defining a product value proposition that aligns with and supports the circle/value stream objectives and which is the north star for the team.
• Influence: Ability to influence behaviors of leaders at all levels and without traditional hierarchy.
• Servant Leadership: Foster an environment where individuals thrive as empowered and equal members of a team.
• Communication: Ability to communicate thoughts, concepts, practices effectively at all levels, adjusting as needed to a target audience.
• Collaboration: Expertise working with others in a cross-functional multi-team environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Demonstrate a commitment to continually improve, share learning with others and encourage team development.

Benefits

• Health Insurance : Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
• Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
• Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
• Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
• Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.