Product Owner

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. We pave the way for their lifelong learning journey ahead. And we want you to join us in shaping a future we can all be proud to share—in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, you’ll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we’re all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.

As the Senior Product Owner for the Center Management System, you'll orchestrate both the maintenance of our existing platform and the creation of a next-generation system critical for handling family enrollments, scheduling, and billing for over 200,000 children. This role demands collaboration with other Digital Product Owners, Operations, Finance, Data, and IT to fully grasp both present and future product needs, thereby crafting the future of our Center Management System. You'll be at the forefront, driving KinderCare’s growth and improving family experiences, all while ensuring the continuity of business operations in a dynamic, multi-brand, and multi-stakeholder environment.

Responsibilities:

• Handle and oversee the ongoing support and maintenance of the existing Center Management System to ensure the system continues to meet the needs of center operations and other key user groups.
• Lead the development of the next generation center management platform, collaborating with multi-functional teams to define requirements and features, roadmap, and delivery strategy.
• Work closely with Digital Product Owners, Operations, Finance, Data, and IT to understand current and future product needs.
• Lead intake process and synthesize requests across multiple collaborators and translate them into important asks for the development team.
• Handle priorities and ensure the highest value features are worked on first in an agile approach.
• Collaborate across the organization including architects, security, and others to ensure we are meeting our product objectives.
• Drive delivery with agile team, maintain the product backlog, including definition and validation of user stories and acceptance criteria.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in technology, business or related field
• Bring 3+ years of extensive experience in product/project management, including a significant tenure as a Product Owner, and a background in coordinating business systems covering billing, scheduling, claims processing, and payment processing.
• Bonus: experience working directly with childcare management systems and/or ERP systems
• Experience supporting a product through the entirety of its lifecycle.
• Experience on Agile teams, collaborating closely with scrum masters. In depth understanding of the principles and applications of agile software development.
• Demonstrate outstanding communication and partner management abilities, coupled with a high level of organization and skill in prioritizing tasks. Recognize and handle all moving parts, adapting to new information and objectives, while embodying a solution-focused approach, taking ownership, and encouraging a positive outlook.
• Savvy in technology with history of working with systems that use SQL, .net technology and AWS cloud

Our benefits meet you where you are. We’re here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:

• Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.
• Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
• Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
• Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, unlimited paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
• … and much more.

We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, we’re matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, you’ll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll come for the work, and stay for the people.

KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

Primary Location : Portland, Oregon, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Compensation package:

• Yearly bonus

Experience level:

• 4 years

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No nights
• No weekends

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience working with business systems related to billing, scheduling, claims processing, and payment processing? If so, please briefly describe your experience, including the systems you've used and the functions you've managed.

Experience:

• Product Owner: 4 years (Required)
• Agile: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: Remote