Product Owner

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is an international financial institution established in 199

• Its mission is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in countries from Central Europe to Central Asia. The EBRD operates in over 30 countries and employs a diverse workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. The organization focuses on sustainable development, equality, and digital transformation, aiming to make a real difference in the lives of people in the regions it invests in.

Job Overview:
The Product Owner will play a crucial role in leading the evolution of the Enterprise Cloud Platform at EBRD. This position requires a strategic thinker who can translate business goals into actionable backlogs, ensuring that Agile squads can deliver high-impact platform capabilities. The Product Owner will be responsible for owning the product vision, prioritizing features that enhance developer onboarding and automated infrastructure provisioning, and collaborating with various domains to ensure technical soundness and business readiness for every release. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of enterprise technology, focusing on building platforms that support modern software delivery and drive strategic transformation. The successful candidate will thrive on solving complex problems and influencing technical direction while delivering outcomes that significantly impact the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Product Owner will support the creation of a comprehensive, value-driven roadmap, ensuring prioritization aligns with business objectives. They will collaborate with the Lead Product Owner and key stakeholders to validate the vision for specific value streams. The role involves managing dependencies between value streams, developing business change management practices, and ensuring seamless coordination across teams. The Product Owner will work closely with squads to prioritize and organize work, ensuring realistic release plans with clear acceptance criteria. They will facilitate user research, refine user stories, and ensure that squads have direct access to users and stakeholders. Additionally, the Product Owner will mediate conflicts related to user requirements and support squads in aligning their work with the roadmap. They will prepare for go-live activities, monitor product performance post-launch, and proactively foresee future user requirements. Representing the product and team in various forums and communities of practice is also a key responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of Agile frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban, with the ability to apply Agile principles in practical contexts. Familiarity with the product lifecycle, including backlog management and user story creation, is essential. Knowledge of business change management practices, strong verbal and written communication skills, and experience in making data-driven decisions are also required. The ideal candidate should have experience in managing product backlogs, focusing on user needs, and working in Agile environments. They should have some experience interacting with business stakeholders and understanding their needs, as well as experience in cross-functional teams to deliver product features or services.

Educational Background:
A relevant degree in fields such as Business, Computer Science, or Engineering is required, or equivalent practical experience in product development or Agile delivery in a technical role. Certifications such as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or Agile Product Owner certifications are beneficial, along with other relevant qualifications in change management or product management.

Experience:
Candidates should have a strong background in Agile environments, with experience in product ownership activities such as backlog management and defining user stories. They should have experience working closely with business stakeholders to deliver value and some experience supporting or contributing to project delivery, including tracking progress and managing risks within an Agile framework.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and knowledge of additional languages is considered a plus, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 3 years. The EBRD promotes a hybrid and flexible working environment, expecting employees to collaborate in person at least three days a week. The organization values diversity and inclusion, encouraging all qualified candidates from EBRD member countries to apply, regardless of their background. The EBRD does not provide detailed feedback to candidates who are not shortlisted due to the high volume of applications.