Data Product Owner

Job Name: Data Product Owner 

Job Reports To: Chief Information Officer 

Department: Information Technology

FLSA Status: Salaried exempt

Schedule: Remote & Two Days in Office / Flexible Work Schedule / 37.5 hours per week

Some work from home flexibility; however, this is not a full-time remote position and you must live in the Middle TN area and not out of state.

The NASBA Data Product Owner is a critical role, responsible for the end-to-end management of data products, from ideation to delivery. This role ensures that data products align with business objectives and deliver value to stakeholders.

The Importance of a Data Product Owner

The role of a Data Product Owner is multifaceted. They play a crucial role in driving data product development and its success. Understanding the role and best practices allows Data Product Owners to guide their organization to success. Leveraging resources like Virtual CTO Services can further enhance their capabilities, providing expert technology leadership and strategic guidance on-demand, thus optimizing IT infrastructure and aligning technology strategies with business goals.

Data Product Owner Key Duties

• Collaborate with prospective users and clients to understand and anticipate their needs and translate them into product requirements
• Define the vision for the team’s product and maintaining a cohesive vision throughout the process
• Create a product road map based on this vision
• Manage the product backlog and prioritize the tasks based on changing requirements
• Oversee all stages of product creation, including design and development
• Monitor and evaluate product progress at each stage of the process
• Work with the product team and end-users to deliver updates and status reports

Key Responsibilities

A. Data Strategy Development

Data Product Owner works with key stakeholders (NASBA, Boards, other) to define the data strategy for NASBA. They identify business objectives and assess data maturity. They also determine what data is necessary to achieve their goals. This involves understanding data sources, quality, and availability. The data strategy sets the foundation for successful data product development.

B. Product Vision and Roadmap

Once a data strategy is in place, the Data Product Owner translates it into a product vision. They identify the key features of a data product that will help achieve business objectives. This vision is then translated into a product roadmap. It outlines the steps required to bring the data product to life. The roadmap should be flexible to adapt to changing business needs and priorities.

C. Stakeholder Management

Data Product Owners work with a wide range of stakeholders. This includes executives, data scientists, engineers, and business users. They must communicate the value of data products to these stakeholders. They also collaborate with stakeholders to understand their needs and gather feedback. This ensures that data products meet the requirements of all stakeholders.

D. Project Management

Data Product Owner is responsible for overseeing the development of data products from start to finish. This includes project planning, resource allocation, and timeline management. They work closely with cross-functional teams. This is to deliver high-quality data products on time. They also ensure that projects stay within budget.

E. Data Governance and Compliance

Data governance and compliance are critical aspects of Data Product Ownership. Data Product Owners must ensure that data products adhere to regulatory requirements and organizational policies. They also establish controls to maintain data quality, security, and privacy. This is crucial in maintaining trust in the data products among stakeholders.

F. User Experience (UX) Design and Optimization

A Data Product Owner must focus on the user experience of data products. This involves designing interfaces and interactions that make data accessible and understandable for users. They work with UX designers to ensure that data products are intuitive and meet the needs of users. Optimizing UX is crucial for ensuring high user adoption and satisfaction.

G. Continuous Improvement and Iteration

Continuous improvement is key to the success of data products. Data Product Owners are responsible for monitoring the performance of data products. They also identify areas for enhancement. They employ agile methodologies to iterate on products. They incorporate user feedback and new data insights to drive improvements. This iterative process helps in keeping data products relevant.

H. Data Literacy and Training

Enhancing data literacy across the organization is an important responsibility for Data Product Owners. They develop training programs and workshops to educate stakeholders about data products, data governance, and best practices for data usage.

I. Best Practices

To excel in the role of a Data Product Owner, it is essential to follow some best practices. Here are a few tips to help you succeed:

J. Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams

As a Data Product Owner, you will work with a diverse group of stakeholders. It is crucial to establish strong working relationships with these teams to achieve successful outcomes. This involves effective communication. It also includes understanding their needs and collaborating on solutions.

K. Prioritize Business Objectives

Data Product Owner must always keep business objectives front and center. All decisions related to data products should align with these objectives. This ensures that data products deliver tangible value to the organization.

L. Stay Informed about Industry Trends

The field of data is constantly evolving. As a Data Product Owner, staying updated on the latest trends and technologies in the industry is crucial. They should also be updated on product information syndication as it helps define the data strategy. This helps in identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement.

M. Be Data-Driven

Data Product Owners must have a deep understanding of data and its capabilities. They should be able to interpret data insights. They must also use data to drive decisions and optimizations for data products. This ensures that data products remain effective and impactful.

N. Foster a Culture of Innovation

Innovation is key to the success of any data-driven initiative. A Data Product Owner should encourage a culture of creativity and experimentation within their team. This involves promoting an open-minded approach to problem-solving. By nurturing a culture of innovation, Data Product Owners can unlock new possibilities for data product development. This ensures their organization stays at the forefront of the industry.

O. Build a Scalable Data Infrastructure

A Data Product Owner must consider the scalability of data products and the underlying infrastructure. As data volumes grow, it is essential to have a robust infrastructure in place to support it. They should also anticipate future data needs and plan accordingly. This helps in avoiding roadblocks and delays in data product development.

P. Promote Ethical Data Practices

Data ethics is a critical consideration for any data product. As a Data Product Owner, it is important to promote ethical data practices within your organization. This includes ensuring proper consent and transparency in data usage. It also involves safeguarding sensitive data and promoting fair and unbiased use of data. Prioritizing ethical data practices helps in building trust. It also helps maintain the reputation of your organization.

Q. Embrace Agility and Flexibility

The ability to adapt and respond to change is essential for a Data Product Owner. Data products may need to evolve based on changing business needs or new data discoveries. Embracing agile methodologies allows for quick iterations and adjustments when needed. This enables data products to stay relevant and valuable.

Data Product Owner skills and qualifications

To carry out the role of a Data Product Owner successfully, a candidate should possess the following skills and qualifications:

• Working knowledge of product development architecture
• Proficiency in the use of analytic tools and strong analytical thinking 
• Ability to priortize effectively
• Excellent knowledge of user-centered design principles
• Excellent oral and written communication, including presentation skills
• Excellent knowledge of user-centered design principlesmle, including users, product development team members and management team members 
• Understanding of design quality standards

Data Product Owner experience requirements

Organizations often look for a minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a Product Owner or similar experience, such as Product Management or Product Development. They should have a good knowledge of software development and other relevant technologies as well as familiarity with agile processes. An experienced Product Owner needs to have proven hands-on experience managing all stages of the product life cycle.

Data Product Owner education and training requirements

The minimum education requirement for a Data Product Owner is typically a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or related fields, although this may vary depending on the nature of the role. Data Product Owners with master’s degree in Analytics is always preferred. 

Below is an overview of some of the benefits we offer to full-time employees.

· Medical/Dental/Vision

· Life Insurance

· Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

· Numerous Voluntary Policies

· Employee Assistance Program

· 401(k) Plan (NASBA contributes 5.7% of employee’s salary)

· Flexible work plan benefit $100 monthly allowance. Parking in One Nashville Place paid on days in the office.

· Holidays (13 days)

· Paid leave time (prorated based on hire date and earned on an accrual basis)

· Vacation Leave (15 days)

· Sick Leave (12 days)

· Personal  Days (3 days)

· Flex Spending Account (FSA)

· Dress for Your Day Casual Dress

· Some work from home flexibility; however, this is not a full-time remote position and you must live in the Middle TN area and not out of state.

NASBA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
 

Final offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and, where applicable, an education credential check, credit check, Global Watchlist and/or Government Watchlist.
 

Due to overwhelming interest in our organization, we are unable to accept faxed resumes or incoming calls regarding open positions. Only those matching the above job description will be contacted.