Sr. Product Owner, Emerging AI & Automation Products

About the role

This position serves as a business expert responsible for the end-to-end ideation, design, launch, optimization, and support of emerging, mission-critical products focused on AI, automation, and intelligent operations. The role leads cross-functional efforts to identify, shape, and scale new capabilities that transform core business processes and student-facing experiences. It balances high-visibility business engagement with a practical understanding of how AI and automation capabilities are applied within real-world processes.

The Product Owner must translate business problems into AI-enabled requirements, prototypes, and solutions, working closely with technical partners to deliver value at scale. The role operates in a highly dynamic environment where product scope is not fully predefined, requiring strong problem framing, opportunity identification, and iterative product development. The Product Owner partners across the enterprise to bring to life solutions such as virtual agents, AI-enabled processes, and intelligent workflow automation that improve outcomes across enrollment, operations, and student experience while managing the roadmap, cross-functional leadership, and end-to-end product accountability.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product lifecycle for a portfolio of emerging AI and automation products, from concept through launch, continuous improvement, and issues triage and resolution.
• Identify and define new product opportunities by assessing business pain points, operational inefficiencies, and student experience gaps.
• Develop, own, and continuously refine product roadmaps in an environment where product scope and priorities evolve over time.
• Translate business needs into epics, features, and user stories; manage and prioritize backlog.
• Partner with technical teams to shape AI/automation solutions while remaining accountable for business outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Enrollment, Advising, Operations, Marketing, Analytics, and IT to design, run, and optimize integrated solutions.
• Drive adoption and value realization of AI-enabled capabilities such as:
  • Virtual agents (e.g., lead qualification, chatbot experiences)
  • Intelligent workflow automation
  • AI-driven knowledge management
• Ensure solutions are grounded in measurable outcomes (e.g., conversion, productivity, experience, persistence).
• Analyze data and performance metrics to evaluate product success and inform iteration.
• Design and execute experiments (A/B tests, pilots) to validate product hypotheses and refine solutions.
• Stay current on emerging AI and automation trends, tools, and best practices, translating them into practical business applications.
• Support broader strategic initiatives by introducing innovative, scalable solutions that improve both learner and operational outcomes.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience.
• Minimum of 4-6 years in product ownership, product management, or equivalent experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience driving initiatives involving AI, automation, or advanced analytics in business operations. This may include implementing AI-enabled tools, automation of workflows, or intelligent customer/learner experiences. Experience does not need to be in IT or software development but must include meaningful involvement in delivering AI/automation solutions (beyond basic tool adoption).
• Bachelor’s degree required from a regionally accredited institution.
• Preferred (but not required): Coursework, certification, or formal training in AI, data, analytics, or automation, or equivalent practical experience applying these capabilities in business contexts.
• Ability to travel occasionally should a business need arise (typically not common for this role).
• Ability to work onsite in a Corporate or Campus location may be required based on role, including mobility within the office (e.g., movement between floors using elevators or stairs).
• If offsite or hybrid, must have access to work in settings that enable meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.).
• Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem-solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicate with co-workers.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant.
• Able to access information using a computer.

Skills

• Strong ability to translate business problems into structured product opportunities and roadmaps.
• Demonstrated understanding of AI and automation use cases in business processes (e.g., conversational AI, workflow automation, decision support).
• Ability to bridge business and technical teams without requiring deep engineering expertise.
• Experience working in Agile environments, including backlog management, story development, prioritization, and sprint planning.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive decision-making.
• Customer-first mindset; experience with human-centered design, service design, or Lean transformation is preferred.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building products where requirements are not fully defined upfront.
• High degree of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Ability to learn and apply new technologies quickly, particularly in the AI/automation space.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package of benefits for employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week, including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans
  • Well-being incentives
  • Parental leave
  • Paid time off and certain paid holidays
  • Tax-saving accounts (FSA, HSA)
  • 401(k) retirement benefit
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition assistance
  • Entertainment and retail discounts
• Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Pay

The expected salary range for this position is $106,500 - $159,800. The actual base pay offered may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity.