Director, Agile Product Owner

Compensation Overview

The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.

What Is the Opportunity?

Travelers is seeking a Director, Agile Product Owner to join our organization to lead a team to deliver capabilities/solutions in an agile way. In this position you will act as a voice of the end-user to guide day-to-day work of a cross-functional team, focusing on achievement of defined outcomes versus defining how the work is completed.

What Will You Do?

• Define, prioritize and ensure a ready backlog of work for a cross-functional product team, accept final product output, focusing on achievement of defined outcomes versus defining how the work is completed.
• Effectively manage a backlog of deliverables and capabilities as well as 'test and learn'/experimentation targeted at defining/refining future deliverables, measuring performance and adjusting the overall roadmap of deliverables as needed.
• Translate business strategies and needs into execution ready work for an Agile product team; define team goals and strategy, ensuring alignment with circle and value stream vision;
• Articulate team goals and strategy effectively to key stakeholders, Circle Leads, and team members.
• Act as voice of the end-user; have a deep understanding of and anticipate and proactively seek customer feedback ensuring needs and requirements are clearly defined; ensure team work product meets defined acceptance criteria.
• Own team backlog, including prioritization and refinement; Make trade-off decisions to maximize value.
• Optimize the flow of value by setting objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for solutions.
• Inform and participate in business readiness; understand the impact of change, translate the approach to manage adoption and mitigate resistance.
• Provide feedback on work-in-progress, clarify requirements and contribute to removing roadblocks or impediments; Look for opportunities for continuous team and process improvement.
• Partner with key leaders and peers across to determine resources required to achieve defined business outcomes.
• Share best practices across teams to ensure alignment and consistency in ways of working within a value stream.
• Foster an innovative, inclusive and diverse team environment, promoting positive team culture, encouraging collaboration and self-organization.
• May manage Agile Product Owners.

What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of experience in Agile product management.
• Two years of work experience within the discipline being supported (e.g.: Claim, Risk Control, Technology, Project Management, Production, Application Development, etc.).
• Three years of experience articulating and translating business strategy, product vision, and analysis for a product.
• Agile Mindset: Embody Agile core values of openness, courage, respect, focus, and commitment.
• Infuse Agile principles, practices and methodologies to achieve team success.
• Product Mindset: Focus on defining a product value proposition that aligns with and supports the circle/value stream objectives and which is the north star for the team.
• Influence: Ability to influence behaviors of leaders at all levels and without traditional hierarchy.
• Servant Leadership: Foster an environment where individuals thrive as empowered and equal members of a team.
• Communication: Ability to communicate thoughts, concepts, practices effectively at all levels, adjusting as needed to a target audience.
• Collaboration: Expertise working with others in a cross-functional multi-team environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Demonstrate a commitment to continually improve, share learning with others and encourage team development.

Must Have

• Three years of work experience in related field.
• Three years of experience motivating/influencing teams.