Product Owner

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Overview of JNAM
Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson) offers products, tools, and support designed to help Americans plan for a retirement with purpose. Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (JNAM) is the investment manager responsible for selecting and monitoring the asset managers of the JNL Funds - a series of proprietary mutual funds that facilitates investment freedom for contract owners within the Jackson variable annuity platform. JNAM is also responsible for providing accounting and administrative services for the Funds. In addition, JNAM directly manages several risk-based multi-strategy fund-of-fund offerings available exclusively through Jackson products.
Working at JNAM
At JNAM, we pursue individuals who exhibit dedication and willingness to learn in a high performing culture. We encourage collaboration and give our associates and leaders the freedom to speak openly and share new ideas. Our values guide our internal conduct and help define meaningful internal and external relationships. We attract and retain talent who believe in our culture and take ownership in delivering results.
As one of Chicago's largest money managers, and a top 15 mutual fund complex in the US, working at JNAM provides the opportunity to work with complex investment offerings and well-known investment management firms. Our investment partners are selected and monitored through a rigorous due diligence process focused on performance, repeatability, operations, oversight, and fit.
We firmly believe in the "One Jackson" approach: working closely with our parent company and other affiliates to achieve financial goals, while also recognizing our strength lies in the people we employ and communities we serve.
We value our people:
• Fair pay, pay-for-performance, and competitive benefits
• Talent development
• D&I: Business Resource Associate Groups (BRAGs)
• Emotional well-being
• Financial wellness
We value our community:
• Charitable giving to communities
• Financial education
• Associate volunteerism and giving
Job Purpose
The Product Owner (PO) will have ownership over the prioritization of product backlog and serve as a member of the Agile team. In addition, a PO will need to have a high-level understanding of the business and business-related capabilities which will need to be executed in their product. In relation to the ownership of a product, they will be responsible for setting, prioritizing, and evaluating the work generated by a delivery team. This position develops, maintains and communicates a vision to the delivery team. The PO will need to represent their stakeholder's vision and work with business unit owners and other contributors to obtain rules and a general understanding of a process to execute on that vision. The PO works with key stakeholders across the organization to maintain the product road map, resetting priorities and acting as the subject matter expert. The PO must possess a unique blend of business and technical savvy; strong agile and process skills, and the drive to make the vision a reality.
The PO works with the delivery team to ensure that business, quality and functional goals are met. The PO is the key decision maker on priorities and design decisions and works to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned at each stage. The PO may also be required to undertake projects utilizing other methodologies such as waterfall or JAD.
Essential Job Responsibilities

• Defines and communicates the strategy, vision, and minimum viable product (MVP) to all levels of the organization, utilizing customized dashboards and delivery team roadmaps as needed.
• Motivates the delivery team with a clear and compelling goal.
• Provides an active role in mitigating impediments impacting successful team completion of Release/Sprint Goals.
• Defines product vision, road-map and growth opportunities.
• Facilitates user story development from strategy and requirements, approves user stories for the delivery team and accepts completed stories and features.
• Plans and prioritizes a backlog and development for the product.
• Documents and clarifies user story acceptance criteria for the delivery team to implement.
• Analyzes market trends, current performance of product (i.e. Utilization rates, throughputs, quality, SLAs, defects, complaints, etc.) utilizing trend knowledge during vision and design sessions.
• Inspects product progress, accepts/rejects work done, solves product design concerns, and defines/prioritizes product backlogs and/or defects.
• Manages product delivery, including manages scope and priorities, monitors service level agreements, responds to member feedback and resolves member escalations.
• Coordinates with other PO's on other initiatives to optimize, align, and reduce the risk of redundancies.
• Works with key stakeholders across the organization to maintain a coordinated product road map and resetting priorities when needed.
• Acts as 'Voice of the Customer', a subject matter expert, and partner with external vendors within the scope of their product roadmap.
• Partners with Portfolio Owners to ensure project/product budget expenditures are in alignment including required actions (i.e. change orders, etc.) if modifications are necessary.
• Collaborates/communicates with impacted business unit's key stakeholders to reveal planned deliveries and incorporate feedback/needs identified.
• Owns and facilitates the development of content related to product deliveries which will include such things as: training materials, and procedural updates related to product implementation which may include support from other parties outside of the delivery team.
• Partners and collaborates on prioritization at the program level.
• Owns governance of the business rules specific to product, partnering with business unit owners and other contributors. Ownership including state, federal, distributor, and Jackson specific rules at both the product and domain levels.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership and organizational ability.
• Ability to manage, lead, and collaborate effectively in a team environment to achieve desired results.
• Ability to communicate and support senior level management and stakeholder groups.
• Resourceful, innovative, self-motivated, and confident in high pressure situations.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, decision making, and problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively and apply solutions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to prioritize tasks and projects to meet deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to concisely aggregate data into reports and summaries.
• Strong attention to detail with a high-level of accuracy.
• Strong customer orientation with the ability to manage and exceed customer expectations.
• Ability to effectively accept, implement, and communicate change in an effective manner.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to build consensus, influencing across all levels in the organization.
• Ability to identify issues and know when to escalate and to whom.
• Knowledge of financial services or insurance industry operations.
• Ability to learn and maintain a comprehensive understanding of Jackson's business and technology.
• Understanding of Jackson's technology directions, trends and strategic impact of key business and IT initiatives.
• Experience working with various operating systems, platforms and environments.
• Proven ability to articulate a vision and facilitate conversation effectively with various levels of the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent experience. required.
• 5+ years of depth and breadth experience in the Product Area preferred.
• 3+ years of Leadership experience in leading people or coordinating teams or environments required.
• Experience in coordinating teams or environments preferred.
• Previous experience working in an Agile environment preferred.
• Financial services experience preferred.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.
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We don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. Jackson is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. The Company subscribes to and endorses federal and state laws and regulations relating to equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, legally-recognized disability, marital status, legally-protected medical condition, citizenship, ancestry, height, weight, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other factor not related to the needs of the job. The Company is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. Company facilities and campuses are tobacco-free environments.