Senior Product Owner

Cox Automotive is looking for a Senior Product Owner to join the vAuto team based in Austin, TX.
The Senior Product Owner will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive approach to deliver one or more products, capabilities, services, or enhancements in accordance with the product roadmap.
The Senior Product Owner works with Product Managers, Business Leaders, and 1-2 cross-functional Scrum team to deliver the product to the Client. Manages the overall effort to deliver products, capabilities, services and enhancements using the strategic vision as well as established key performance indicators. Understands the functionality and determines the release sequence. Prioritizes and maintains the product backlog and performs just-in-time story elaboration with the development team.
Planning:

• Prioritizes and manages backlog and implementation, ensures product execution meets strategy and requirements.
• Refines features into user stories and story acceptance criteria.
• Partners with Product Managers to understand and influence product strategy and roadmaps.

Development:

• Supports 1-2 scrum teams to build, enhance and manage one or more products, capabilities or services.
• Facilitates / collaborates with developers, QA, and Scrum Master(s) to help ensure the implementation team's progress and success.

Sales and Client Engagement:

• Engages with Clients as a Subject Matter Expert to understand performance and needs of the Client for in-market products and performance requirements.
• Partners with sales, sales operations, client solutions, and client marketing teams to communicate product performance and value for in-market products.

Evaluation:

• Assesses product performance against KPIs and makes adjustments/ corrections to improve performance.
• Regularly communicates performance of the product/experience to stakeholders and the organization.
• Aggregates and conceives ideas for enhancing product performance and achieving product success/KPIs.

Analytical Thinking:

• Ability to apply effective analytical techniques and tools. Analyzes issues, determines root cause, and creates/compares alternative solutions that are in the best interest of the business.
• Approaches situations by defining the issue, determining its significance, and identifying the forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand. Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of data and draws conclusions.

Project Administration & Management:

• Ability to use methods, practices, and tools for managing projects. Utilizes project management tools for estimation, dependency identification, conflict identification, task assignments, documentation, and reporting. Documents project meetings, including status reports on deliverables and next steps.
• Skilled in developing cost-benefit analyses, tracking, and reviewing actual versus planned costs. Ensures project-related problems are surfaced, documented, and reported to appropriate team members, and have ownership for resolution.

Requirements Analysis:

• Elicit, analyze and document business requirements. Engages with the customers, users, and other stakeholders to gather requirements. Utilizes appropriate methods, tools, and techniques for requirements analysis. Challenges, and manages conflicts and expectations associated with requirements analysis.

System and Technology Integration:

• Advanced knowledge of system features and the ability to integrate and communicate among applications, databases, and platforms. Works with existing interfaces as well as integration and migration plans within own area and across aligned/associated areas.
• Explores major issues and considerations for successful system integration. Plays an active role in current and planned integration efforts.

Technology Savvy:

• Advanced knowledge of technology and its ability to improve work processes and results (e.g., enhance productivity, efficiency, collaboration, quality, or customer satisfaction). Uses technology to solve work-related problems and create new business opportunities.
• Pursues opportunities to develop knowledge and experiments with emerging technology solutions that can help accomplish work goals. Serves as a resource to help others understand and anticipate the impact of technology on current processes, products, and services.

Foundational skills:

• Acts with Integrity - Acts in accordance with own values, standards, and beliefs even when under pressure. Adheres to ethical and professional standards, regulations, and organizational policies. Shares information about oneself with others, acknowledging strengths as well as vulnerabilities.
• Builds Partnerships - Proactively builds, nurtures, and maintains business-focused, long-term working relationships with partners inside and outside of the organization. Demonstrates flexibility when forming and adjusting partnerships to achieve broader goals. Shows willingness to work across boundaries to achieve outcomes addressing business, customer and partner goals and expectations.
• Drives Innovation - Advanced in exploring alternative ways to view and solve problems to achieve results. Tries unique ways of doing things and tests promising ideas. Takes risks in the interest of finding a better way.
• Focuses on Execution - Advanced in establishing challenging goals that are designed to deliver exceptional business results. Tracks and broadcasts progress and accomplishments. Works tenaciously to overcome obstacles and meet or exceed goals
• Strives for Excellence - Advanced in establishing criteria and/or work procedures to achieve a high level of quality, productivity, and service. Dedicates required time and energy to assignments or tasks to ensure that no aspect of the work is neglected. Accepts responsibility for outcomes (positive or negative) and admits mistakes, refocusing efforts when appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 4 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 2+ years' experience; a Ph.D. and up to 1 year of experience; or 8 years' experience in a related field
• Requires and applies a broad knowledge of business, product performance and industry principles, practices, and procedures.
• Working knowledge for SAFe Agile Methodology preferred
• Experience in working cross-functionally with a variety of different domains, including Engineering, Finance, and Business Development.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, that can be applied across a diverse set of audiences.
• High-level understanding of engineering architecture with experience working with engineering teams to deliver products.
• Experience in design, development and implementation of product plans.
• Experience in full product lifecycle methodologies.
• Experience in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
• Familiarity with CRM applications is preferred

Core Competencies Critical to success in this role:
Autonomy
Works under general direction. Uses discretion in identifying and responding to complex issues and assignments. Receives specific direction, accepts guidance and has work reviewed at agreed milestones. Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.
Influence/People Leadership
Interacts with and influences colleagues. Has working level contact with customers, suppliers and partners. May supervise others or make decisions which impact the work assigned to individuals or phases of projects. Understands and collaborates on the analysis of user/customer needs and represents this in their work.
Innovation & Complexity
Performs a range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments. Applies methodical approach to issue definition and resolution.
Business Skills
Demonstrates effective communication skills. Plans, schedules and monitors own work (and that of others where applicable) competently within limited deadlines and according to relevant legislation, standards and procedures. Contributes fully to the work of teams. Appreciates how own role relates to other roles and to the business of the employer or client. Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to issue resolution. Takes the initiative in identifying and negotiating appropriate personal development opportunities."
USD 97,100.00 - 161,800.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $97,100.00 - $161,800.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, parental leave, and COVID-19 vaccination leave.
About Cox Automotive
At Cox Automotive, people of every background are driven by their passion for mobility, innovation and community. We transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars, accelerating the industry with global powerhouse brands like Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim and more. What's more, we do it all with an emphasis on employee growth and happiness. Drive your future forward and join Cox Automotive today!
About Cox
Cox empowers employees to build a better future and has been doing so for over 120 years. With exciting investments and innovations across transportation, communications, cleantech and healthcare, our family of businesses - which includes Cox Automotive and Cox Communications - is forging a better future for us all. Ready to make your mark? Join us today!
Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page .
Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.
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