Product Owner

Ascend Learning is a national leader in data driven, online educational solutions for learners, educators and employers in high-growth, licensure-driven professions spanning healthcare, fitness and wellness, skilled trades, insurance and financial services. We are passionate about accelerating learning while impacting job readiness, employment success and employee retention with the belief that our work changes lives.

Our culture is intentionally results-driven and selfless with a relentless focus on our customers. We believe in trust, transparency, freedom and responsibility with a commitment to meritocracy, inclusion and diversity of thought. Continual investment in our over 1500 employees is also a core principle realized through ongoing professional development and providing opportunities to grow, develop and lead. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and remote workers in cities across the U.S..

The position of NHA Product Owner works cross-functionally on all stages of the product lifecycle: participating in solution identification, collaborating with teams to identify requirements, and focused on the execution of design, build, testing, and launch. This Product Owner will work with various stakeholders to outline concepts, document requirements, and represent the users and business during build, testing, and implementation of solutions. These solutions will be a combination of new products and enhancements to existing products. This role will partner closely with the Product Managers to ensure alignment with NHA’s strategy, as well as with the development teams on feasibility of the solution.

Job Responsibilities:

• Drive the successful delivery of multiple complex initiatives within budget and scope as a solution-oriented Product Owner.
• Actively participate in the ideation process by generating and documenting detailed requirements, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria for product and process enhancements.
• Represent the business and advocate for customers’ perspectives throughout the product realization cycle, acting as a direct liaison with multiple delivery teams.
• Effectively partner with multiple teams throughout project lifecycle, working asynchronously with onshore & offshore teams.
• Collaborate with Product Managers to manage, prioritize, and assess the impact of work items such as new features and defect resolutions.
• Assist in project-level planning related to schedule, scope, and resource allocation, actively participating in SAFe (Scaled Agile) ceremonies including standups, retrospectives, and sprint demos, fostering effective collaboration with agile teams.
• Lead functional testing activities by reviewing and accepting or declining development outputs, conducting UAT sessions, and ensuring outputs meet the specified acceptance criteria.
• Partner with business process owners to develop metrics for managing and tracking benefits, adoption, and operational risks.
• Drive continuous improvements and efficiencies in product health, operational practices, tools, and processes, ensuring ongoing enhancement of the overall product ecosystem.

Experience :

• Product Ownership Experience: Demonstrated success in leading and managing products throughout their lifecycle, including defining and writing product requirements & acceptance criteria, prioritizing backlogs, and delivering high-quality products.
• Agile/Scrum Expertise: Strong knowledge and experience in Agile development methodologies, particularly with Scaled Agile, including familiarity with user stories, sprint and/or PI planning, backlog prioritization & refinement, and sprint reviews. Product Owner Certification desired.
• Stakeholder Management and Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders, gather and prioritize requirements, manage expectations, and build strong relationships.
• Analytical and Adaptive Skills: Possess a strong analytical mindset, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to make data-driven decisions. Demonstrate leadership qualities, adapts to change, and continuously learns and improves based on feedback and market insights.
• Leadership and Influencing Skills: As a key decision-maker, exhibit leadership qualities, inspire the team, and align stakeholders towards a common goal. The ability to influence and negotiate, even in complex situations, is highly valuable.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Driven to continuously learn, adapt to evolving market trends, and stay updated with industry best practices. Proactively adopt new technologies, methodologies, and tools to enhance effectiveness.
• Prefer 3 years as a Product Owner or similar role, and experience with EdTech, LMS applications, content management, platform product ownership, 3rd party integrations, QE/testing

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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