Product Owner

Job Posting Organization:
The World Bank Group is a global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. Established with 189 member countries and over 120 offices worldwide, the organization is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. The World Bank Group works with public and private sector partners to invest in groundbreaking projects, utilizing data, research, and technology to address urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Job Overview:
The Product Owner position at the World Bank Group is a critical role within the Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU). This unit is dedicated to delivering transformative information and technologies to support the organization's mission of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The Product Owner will be responsible for leading the design and delivery of AI-first solutions that meet user needs and business goals. This role requires a strong understanding of Agile product management, as the Product Owner will translate business needs into scalable AI products that drive measurable impact. The position involves collaboration with business partners to define product vision, create a product roadmap, manage the product backlog, and oversee all stages of product creation, including design and development. The Product Owner will also engage in data-driven decision-making, utilizing analytics to monitor and evaluate product progress, and will participate in scrum meetings and product sprints to ensure alignment with user feedback and requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Product Owner will engage with business stakeholders to fully understand their needs and challenges, translating them into viable product requirements and features. Responsibilities include creating a product vision and roadmap, maintaining and prioritizing the product backlog and user stories, driving product execution in collaboration with solution architects, developers, and designers, managing stakeholder relationships, delivering regular status updates, planning and executing updates and future releases, preparing effort and cost estimates, overseeing product development stages, leading user acceptance testing, assessing end-user impact and change management needs, developing measurable product KPIs, actively monitoring client needs and industry trends, and managing vendor engagements to support product delivery and compliance.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with at least 2 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. They should demonstrate expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), with solid knowledge of machine learning, natural language processing, and AI-driven solution development. Proven ability to translate complex business requirements into impactful AI-enabled product features is essential. Experience in developing and operationalizing product strategies and managing the full product lifecycle is required, along with familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and Agile planning tracking tools such as Azure DevOps. Recommended certifications in SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager are a plus. A proven track record of successfully developing and launching technology products in large-scale environments is necessary, as is experience managing vendor engagements and a solid understanding of IT development lifecycles and methodologies.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Candidates should have a strong foundation in both technical and business aspects of product management, particularly in the context of AI and technology solutions.

Experience:
The position requires at least 2 years of relevant experience in product management, particularly in roles that involve AI and technology solutions. Candidates should have a proven ability to manage the full product lifecycle, from conception through development and launch, and should be familiar with Agile methodologies and practices. Experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships is also essential.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the World Bank Group. Knowledge of Bulgarian is preferred, as it may facilitate better engagement with local stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of the role in the Sofia office.

Additional Notes:
This position is a local recruitment opportunity with a term duration of 2 years. The role is full-time and involves working within a multicultural environment, where collaboration and effective communication are key. The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan, medical, life and disability insurance, paid leave, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.