Job Summary
Bachelor's degree in Business, Product Ownership, Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience; related graduate degree or advanced certification preferred.5–7+ years in product ownership, product management, or related roles supporting software products and digital platforms.Demonstrated experience translating customer, stakeholder, and business needs into requirements, roadmap priorities, backlog decisions, and measurable outcomes.Strong customer-facing experience incorporating Voice of Customer into product direction.Experience in computer-based testing, certification, licensure, education technology, or other regulated/high-stakes environments preferred.Experience with web-based, enterprise, platform, or data-driven products preferred.Working knowledge of modern product operating model practices (e.g., SVPG/Marty Cagan) — continuous product discovery, empowered product teams, and outcome-based roadmaps — with the ability to coach and mentor product managers in these practices.Deep understanding of product discovery, roadmap development, backlog prioritization, release planning, agile delivery, and tradeoff analysis balancing customer value, business impact, technical feasibility, and operational considerations.
Key Responsibilities
Product Owner who can independently own and shape product direction for assigned product areas within Pearson Professional Assessments. This individual must demonstrate strong organizational, analytical, and conceptual thinking skills, outstanding written and verbal communication, and the ability to influence cross-functional partners without formal people-management responsibility.The Product Owner will be expected to gain sufficient understanding of the assigned solution space, customer and stakeholder context, market dynamics, and operational realities to deliver the following engagement outcomes:Product ownership and backlog management: Own and maintain the product backlog for assigned areas; prioritize enhancements and new capabilities using Voice of Customer, stakeholder input, market insight, and business context; define clear product goals, epics, user stories, requirements, and intended outcomes; partner with engineering, design, business analysts, and leadership on tradeoffs, refinement, and release planning; participate in agile planning, backlog refinement, reviews, and retrospectives.Product planning, discovery, and customer engagement: Lead product discovery and Voice of Customer activities; develop and communicate product roadmaps aligned to business and technology strategy; help define product vision and future-state direction; produce product documentation (e.g., MRDs, PRDs, and related artifacts) as appropriate; coordinate cross-product planning; partner with CX/design on personas and usability; collaborate with business development or solutions teams to translate client needs into scalable product opportunities; represent product direction to internal and external stakeholders and, where appropriate, industry forums.Mentoring and team support: Serve as a knowledgeable product partner to engineering and operational teams; communicate product direction and upcoming changes; mentor peers and strengthen product management practices so that internal stakeholders can sustain backlog ownership, discovery, and roadmap activities after the engagement.
Skill Requirements
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with cross functional teams and stakeholders.
3. Ability to prioritize and manage conflicting priorities in a fast paced environment.
4. Proficiency in project management tools such as jira, microsoft project, or similar tools.
5. Knowledge of product management principles and practices.
6. Strong leadership skills to motivate and guide teams towards successful project outcomes.
Other Requirements
Meetings and discussions with Pearson stakeholders under this engagement should primarily occur between 8am and 4pm US Central Time. The design and plan for meetings and collaborative activities should also consider the following:Participants will reside in different regions and time zones, particularly the United States and United Kingdom. Virtual meeting facilitation techniques and best practices should therefore be applied.Use of accessible technologies and multilingual support approaches may be needed to support diverse communication and engagement needs.The Product Owner will also be expected to:Collaborate closely with Engineering, Design, Program, operations, and customer-facing teams to foster an empowered product team and deliver scalable, high-quality solutions aligned to business strategy.Collaborate closely with product and business leadership to align roadmap priorities, quantify value, and evaluate tradeoffs.Collaborate closely with the designated Project Manager to ensure risks and issues are identified and understood, and delivery timeframes are met.Work independently on complex product issues, exercise sound judgment, and recommend improvements to products, processes, and ways of working.Clearly communicate product direction, requirements, decisions, and roadmap priorities to technical and non-technical stakeholders verbally and through documentation.Effectively use communication and collaboration tools including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and diagramming tools such as Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart.