Product Owner (Hybrid - In Office 10 days/Month)

We are adding a Product Owner to our team!  This is a hybrid position requiring individuals to work in office 10 days per month; or as needed for business needs.  

Who We Are:

Since 1909, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) has been one of America’s most successful and highly rated independent life insurance companies. We specialize in a suite of innovative products for life’s journey, giving people the financial stability, careful guidance and peace of mind to lead a life filled with confidence, dignity and grace.

NGL's Core Values – integrity, dependability, collaboration, compassion and growth are a foundation of our company and help to build on the interactions we have with our policyholders, partners, funeral homes and each other. We believe in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is encouraged to live their best, most authentic self. We offer Employee Resource Groups for employees to get involved, learn, network, and offer professional and personal development opportunities.

With over 100 years of experience, our passion is to serve people. Learn more. 

Work Environment: NGL offers a flexible work environment where employees can work fully remote, hybrid or onsite at our Madison, Wis. office. We support virtual working arrangements in certain states outside of WI.

A Day in the Life:

The Product Owner plays a key role in improving value for one to three products. This position works closely with Stakeholders across the organization to help define products, understand users, and plan new features that improve the value our technology products provide. Successful Product Owners achieve this by building strong relationships with Stakeholders and others within the organization, clearly articulating what the product is and how it provides value, and using empirical data to improve the value from the product.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Product Vision and Strategy
  • Define and communicate the product vision goals and road map.
  • Prioritize features and user stories based on business value and stakeholder feedback.
• Stakeholder Management
  • Gather and analyze feedback from stakeholders including customers users and the development team.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities.
• Product Backlog Management
  • Own and maintain the product backlog ensuring it is prioritized and refined regularly.
  • Define user stories acceptance criteria and success metrics for each backlog item.
• Release Planning and Coordination
  • Plan and coordinate releases including defining release scope and coordinating with the development team.
  • Communicate release plans and updates to stakeholders.
• Team Collaboration
  • Collaborate closely with the development team providing clarifications and feedback on requirements.
  • Participate in scrum events including Sprint planning daily stand ups and Sprint reviews.
• Market and Product Analysis
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and threats.
  • Use market insights to inform product strategy and prioritize features.
• Quality Assurance
  • Define acceptance criteria and validate that delivered features meet the specified requirements.
  • Collaborate with the development team to address inequality issues or defects.
• Metrics and Reporting
  • Define and track key performance indicators to measure the success of the product.
  • Provide regular updates on product progress and performance to stakeholders.

Essential to Your Success:

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities·  
  • In-depth knowledge of Agile principles and practices
  • Highly organized and detailed-oriented, Self-driven.
  • Make complex concepts accessible
  • Ability to utilize data to drive decisions
  • Demonstrated understanding of customer needs and preferences to deliver value-added products
  • Proven ability to negotiate to achieve mutually beneficial agreements and successful outcomes
    
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate and mentor in a group and individual setting
  • Committed to continuous learning and improvement, seeking opportunities to expand knowledge and skills in product management and Agile practices
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, designers, testers, and stakeholders
  • Ability to influence others without authority
  • Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity and adjust in a fluid business environment
  • Skilled at conducting research, usability testing and analysis to gather insights
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Education Requirements:

• Preferred: 4 Year /Bachelor Degree
  • Bachelor of Business degree or relevant work experience can be substituted
• Preferred: Other
  • PSPO or other professional product owner designation preferred

Years of Experience:

• A minimum of three years of Scrum Product Owner experience.
• User experience/research background preferred.
• Life insurance/financial services background desirable.

What We Offer:

At NGL, we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes competitive base pay and benefits designed to offer solutions to help meet your unique life needs.

Benefits:

• 20 days of Paid Time Off growing to 25 days after 5 years
• 11 Paid Holidays (10 company holidays and 1 personal holiday of your choice)
• Health care, dental and vision plans
• Up to $1,500 (Family) or $1,000 (Single) annually towards a Health Savings Account 
• Annual bonus based on company performance
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) match up to 9%
• Paid Sabbatical after 8 years
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Program
• And much more!

NGL is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

NGL is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected].