What Does a Product Owner Do?
Product Owners are members of the leadership team who manage the entire product development process within an organization. They’ll research and determine the clients’ needs to determine which features to include on products and will pitch ideas for product features to stakeholders. Product Owners will then continue to act as the primary contact between the scrum teams, product development departments and stakeholders.
They’ll collaborate closely with both the scrum and product development departments to ensure the products meet specific objectives as outlined by stakeholders and clients. After product completion, the Product Owner will conduct a final review and submit their approval before releasing the product to clients.
Product Owner Skills and Qualifications
To carry out the role of a Product Owner successfully, a candidate should possess the following skills and qualifications:
- In-depth knowledge of Scrum and Agile Software Development Methodology
- Working knowledge of product development architecture
- Proficiency in the use of analytic tools
- Ability to prioritize effectively
- Excellent knowledge of user-centered design principles
- Excellent oral and written communication
- Ability to work with large teams
- Understanding of design quality standards
Product Owner Salary Expectations
On average, a Product Owner earns $108,747 per year in the United States. In addition, they make an average cash bonus of $8,000 annually. These are Indeed estimates based on information collected from former and current Product Owners. This figure varies based on geographical location, years of experience, the industry and the type of work contract—part-time or full-time.
Product Owner Education and Training Requirements
To work as a Product Owner, you would typically require at least a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or other related fields. Some background or training in product management will also be useful. Having certifications will equally be a plus. Relevant courses include the Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), a course that provides two levels of certification, proving that you have an understanding of the Scrum Framework. Another one is the Certified SAFe Product Owner, a two-day training that teaches the basic principles of Scrum.
Product Owner Experience Requirements
An experienced Product Owner should have worked for a minimum of one year in the role, or in a similar one, such as Product Management. They should have a good knowledge of software development and other relevant web technologies. They should also be familiar with agile processes. An experienced Product Owner needs to have proven hands-on experience managing all stages of the product life cycle. They should be able to stick to timelines and measure progress during development.
Job Description Samples for Similar Positions
If you liked this job description sample and are interested in similar positions, you can check out the following: