Product Owner

Brief Description

Are you looking to sink your teeth into a pivotal role within a growing Technology team? Are you excited by the tech space and want to join an innovative, market leading organization? Do you want to work for a fast-paced global company? If the answer to these questions is yes, then we want to hear from you!

Summary

The Product Owner is a critical role at Smart Communications and will have accountability for the development of key aspects of the SmartCOMM™ product offering. As Product Owner you will intimately understand the product as well and the broader industry in which our customers operate and Customer Communication Management. The successful candidate will have experience working with teams of motivated individuals within an Agile working environment. While a technical background is not essential, you should feel comfortable working on technical projects. Experience delivering software in a SaaS environment would be a distinct advantage. The role is pivotal to the long-term success of Smart Communications.

This document outlines the different tiers to Product ownership at Smart Communications. The roles are structured in tiers, with each level expanding in scope and complexity. Individuals at higher levels are expected to fully perform the responsibilities of the previous tiers while also taking on additional strategic, leadership, or cross-functional tasks.

About Smart Communications

Smart Communications is the trusted choice for regulated enterprises looking to modernize complex processes and connect with customers in the moments that matter most. Our Conversation Cloud™ platform powers frictionless, compliant, digital-first experiences through omnichannel communications, intelligent data capture, and secure digital archival. More than 650 enterprises worldwide—including Zurich Insurance, Priority Health, The Pacific Financial Group, and The Bancorp—rely on Smart Communications to reduce compliance risk, boost operational efficiency, lower costs, and fast-track digital transformation that fuels business growth and elevates the customer experience. With more than 30 pre-built connectors, Smart Communications’ cloud-native platform integrates effortlessly with the world’s most trusted enterprise systems including Salesforce, Guidewire, DuckCreek, OneSpan, and Pega, enabling more than 60 billion mission-critical customer conversations globally, and driving faster time to value.

The responsibilities of the role include:

The main activities of the role are to work closely with the Product Manager to:

• Write User Stories that enable the Engineering and User Experience teams to create world-class software that meets the business’ and customer’s goals.
• Define and manage the Product Backlog for the nominated product areas, constantly reprioritising it based on customer feedback, market changes and business priority.
• Act as the main day-to-day interface between Product Management and Engineering, User Experience and other internal stakeholders.
• Develop a deep understanding of the customer’s needs.
• Provide regular reporting including product scope, schedule and planning.
• Accept or reject the product development teams work results at each Sprint Review meeting.
• Apply a strong knowledge of Agile Software Development processes.
• Maintain a basic knowledge of software development.

Product Owner Tiers

Senior Product Owner

• Executes and drives the product vision and strategy,
• Mentors junior team members,
• Drives high-impact product decisions in alignment with overall business objectives,
• Works closely with senior leadership,
• Recognized as a core Product point of contact
• Can lead strategic projects on behalf of R&D

Product Owner

• Owns the product backlog, prioritizes features, defines acceptance criteria,
• Delivers customer enhancements
• Capable of managing cross functional projects
• Executes inbound, outbound and in-life product strategy
• Drives Initiatives through prioritisation scoring
• Executes Go-to-market activities including presales enablement and release collateral

Junior Product Owner

• Focuses on building product knowledge,
• Assists in managing the product backlog,
• Gathers and refines user stories,
• Supports the product development team by ensuring clear communication between stakeholders and developers
• Provides useful feedback to development through ceremonies, planning and standups
• Is proficient in issue creation and resolution steps

Performance Indicators

• Deliver against scheduled release plan.

What we’re looking for:

Must have skills/experience:

• Experience of CCM solutions.
• Ability to set and manage priorities judiciously.
• Experience in software Product Engineering.
• A demonstrable understanding of marketing in the software product development industry.
• Demonstrable knowledge of software development lifecycles and activities.
• A strong understanding of software Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum.
• A clear ability to work with a range of different personality types in a facilitative and mature manner.
• Strong relationship building skills including the ability to relate constructively to all levels of the organisation.
• Strong listening and written and oral communication skills.
• A proven ability to plan, undertake and finish activities to achieve high quality results.
• The desire to be part of, and to contribute to, a team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to keeping sensitive information confidential.
• Ability to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical addressees.
• Exceptionally self-motivated and directed.
• Experience with customer communication management domain would be advantageous.

We look for the following SMART values in everyone we hire at Smart Communications:

• Speak Openly - We are positive, creative, helpful, kind and we have fun. We listen and provide constructive feedback. Through meaningful conversations we encourage each other to be the best that we can be. We’re not complainers we’re problem solvers.
• Make a Difference - We focus on the things that matter and prioritize the things that have the greatest impact. We celebrate success and hold ourselves accountable for our choices. We don’t sit on the sidelines.
• Agile & Flexible - We are focused on evolving, improving and growing. We think differently and challenge the status quo with open minds. We ask ‘why?’ so that we can help remove complexity. We don’t allow hurdles to get in our way.
• Results-Focused - We get stuff done by being efficient, working at pace and paying attention to detail. We focus on finding solutions and fixing things. We don’t believe in being busy for the sake of being busy, we focus on productivity.
• Teamwork - We are stronger and better together. We collaborate, trust and support each other to deliver results for our company and our customers. We don’t want anyone to feel disengaged, we’re in this together!

What’s the deal?

We will provide you with the tools, equipment and support to give you the best possible chance of success and over-achieving your goals. Salary will depend on your experience and will be highly competitive. All our packages include an annual bonus based on the Company’s performance, so we are all incentivised to over-achieve!

In addition to a friendly, flexible and fun working environment, we provide a range of other benefits, including vision benefits, subsidised gym membership, 20 days holiday allowance plus and additional day off for your birthday!

Located in the heart of the city in both Sydney and Canberra, our offices are a friendly, tight-knit environment that house our APAC Sales, Marketing, Technology, Customer and Corporate teams. This role has a hybrid setup with occasional work from the office required.

So, if we interest you, please let us know by applying for this position and tell us all about yourself.

Please note: we only consider applicants with current legal right to work in the countries in which our positions are based. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status or gender identity.

To learn more about Smart Communications visit:

https://www.smartcommunications.com/

About Smart Communications

Smart Communications is a leading technology company focused on helping businesses engage in more meaningful customer conversations. Its Conversation Cloud™ platform uniquely delivers personalized, omnichannel conversations across the entire customer experience, empowering companies to succeed in today’s digital-focused, customer-driven world while also simplifying processes and operating more efficiently.

Smart Communications is headquartered in the UK and serves more than 650 customers from offices located across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Smart Communications’ Conversation Cloud platform includes the enterprise-scale customer communications management (CCM) power of SmartCOMM^TM, forms transformation capabilities made possible by SmartIQ^TM and the trade documentation expertise of SmartDX^TM. In 2021, the company acquired Assentis, a leading European software solutions provider specializing in customer communications management (CCM) with a focus on the financial services industry. To learn more, visit smartcommunications.com.