Product Owner - Chat Software

At PRC-Saltillo, our mission to provide voices to children, teens, and adults who are unable to communicate effectively with their natural voices. Each year, we provide voices to thousands of individuals through our specialized communication devices, software, and apps. We serve those with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, ALS, aphasia, and a variety of other medical conditions. Our products not only provide the ability to speak, but open opportunities for education, employment and fuller participation in life.

Position has the option to work remotely.

Please apply at https://www.prc-saltillo.com/careers.

Position Summary: The Product Owner works with Product Managers and stakeholders to help define and translate the product vision into a prioritized and manageable backlog. The Product Owner maximizes the value of the product and the work of the development teams by understanding the business goals and objectives, client and customer needs, and facilitating communication and collaboration between the development teams and the product stakeholders. Although focus will primarily be within the software realm of the products, there may be occasional work within hardware and vocabulary as necessary.

Activities, Duties, Responsibilities:

• Manages the product backlog by:
  • Clearly expressing backlog items
  • Prioritizing items in the backlog to best achieve goals and missions
  • Optimizing the value of the development team’s efforts
  • Ensuring backlog visibility, transparency, and clarity to guide the development team’s priorities
  • Ensures the development team understands items in the backlog to the level needed to develop efficiently and accurately
• Leads the development effort by conveying product vision to the team and outlining work in the product backlog.
• Drives the project by communicating directly with the team to help the team self-organize and make informed development and prioritization decisions.
• Negotiates work with the team at the beginning of each development cycle.
• Minimizes blockers and respects the team’s established velocity and commitments for that sprint.
• Understands the Product Manager’s product vision, the stakeholder expectations, and value to the company.
• Attempts to keep the current Sprint stable and not change the amount of work given mid-sprint.
• Responsible for coordinating necessary stakeholders to ensure a variety of voices are heard.
• Utilizes company-wide tools to collect and prioritize feedback from internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicates the outcomes of product development decisions, along with the rationale for making the decisions, to stakeholders.
• Responsible for keeping internal and external stakeholders apprised of the status of their ideas and feedback and be available to answer questions as needed.
• Regular communication with the Product Manager and other Product Owners to ensure that stakeholder feedback is incorporated into new product design.
• Work closely with the training and implementation team to ensure that feedback about product usability/ design is incorporated into product training and AAC implementation.
• Works directly with the Product Manager to communicate feedback across the organization as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree is required, with preferred Master’s degree level education in an AAC-related field or other discipline that compliments strong organizational, problem solving, decision making and leadership skills.
• Experience leading complex projects, groups, or processes is preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience with AAC or related industry is preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience with AAC stakeholders, including end users, therapists, teachers, etc. is preferred.
• Prefer experience within the Agile software development methodology.
• Experience with software and product systems design in some capacity is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Understanding of iOS app development/ deployment process.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to simplify complex information.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint.
• Must have the confidence to make tough decisions that are most likely to achieve customer and stakeholder expectations.