Technology Product Owner - GIS

Job Summary

This position is a direct report to the IT Operational Technology Group Product Manager. The Technology Product Owner – GIS manages a team of 4 analysts, as well as multiple contractors assigned to specific projects (as needed). The group is responsible for all activities related to maintaining and updating the company ESRI Geographic Information system.

Works with business, technology, delivery teams and other key stakeholders to identify and refine opportunities, products and processes; develop and convey product vision, define backlog and deliver and sustain end-to-end customer experience.

Oversees product/project compliance with cost, schedule, and budget. Analyzes performance dashboards and scorecards to quantify and measure outcomes and identify persistent problems.

Works with team members and stakeholders to uncover business needs and value drivers and to identify and capture business problems and requirements and to document a desired future state that meets business needs and enterprise objectives.

Monitors infrastructure in Business Domain and ensures that all appropriate upgrades, patches, etc. are made on a timely basis. Manages quality assurance rollouts and performs functional and security analysis to assess the robustness of projects recently launched.

Job Responsibilities

• Manages the day to day activities of the GIS group. As such, is responsible to manage performance, create a positive work environment, problem solving with the team, identify, track and monitor training and development, recruiting and onboarding open positions and translating a setting priorities.

• Managers the product and project work teams within the business unit. Drives and executes daily activities and projects, work with team members and stakeholders to uncover business needs and value drivers and to identify and capture business problems and requirements.

• Develops and manages the cost model for portfolio and identifies appropriate cost levers for improvement. Develop and analyze performance dashboards and scorecards to quantify and measure outcomes and identify shortfalls, remedies and opportunities to management. Provides feedback on application design and operational features. Oversees product/project compliance with cost, schedule, and budget. Analyzes performance dashboards and scorecards to quantify and measure outcomes and identify persistent problems

• Monitors infrastructure in Business Domain and ensures that all appropriate upgrades, patches, etc. are made on a timely basis. Manages quality assurance rollouts and performs functional and security analysis to assess the robustness of projects recently launched.

• Works with governance bodies to review and approve strategies, categories and overall structure. Orchestrates technology capabilities, from strategy through requirements, required to enable business capabilities identified as strategic to business success.

• Conceptualizes and initiates Product strategy. Develops the product backlog and actionable user stories for an individual product. Develops reporting/ dashboards to provide portfolio visibility to business management. Evaluates and assesses risk as part of the lifecycle analysis of product. Accountable for receiving approval from stakeholders on portfolio strategy and plan. Ensure operations of these technology solutions are consistent with service and business performance objectives; take necessary steps to deploy remedies where needed with internal and external partners. Works with governance bodies to review and approve strategies, categories and overall structure.

• Oversees product roadmap and ensures it is the codification of the product vision and in the language of the business. Develops and manages the cost model for individual products and identify appropriate cost levers for improvement. Orchestrates Product hand-off to information technology for development and operations/support. Collaborates with Finance to define cost allocation, cost recovery and pricing plan within the overall context of show back, chargeback or pricing model for a product.

• Partners with information technology and business leadership and other key stakeholders to define opportunities and to identify and prioritize products based on predefined criteria (return on investment, productivity, compliance).

• Leads product management efforts related to the business’s strategic capabilities. Oversees their Product Teams. Works with Business Analysts to uncover business needs and value drivers. Accountable for receiving approval from stakeholders on portfolio strategy and plan.

• Works with Group Product Manager to plan for product execution, including organizing activities required to achieve Product goals, creating and maintaining a product plan/ roadmap, and garnering engagement from necessary parties. Works with Business Analysts to identify and capture business problems and non-functional requirements, and document a desired future state that meets business and enterprise objectives.

Job Specific Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Systems, or a BS with a concentration or minor in Applied Geographic Information Science, or Geography

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience within the information technology field or an industry with reliance on technical expertise

• Knowledge working with ESRI GIS, ArcFM Editing and Microstation

• Knowledge of Geo-spatial databases and working with Oracle and MS SQL

• Sound expertise in project/program and portfolio management

• Sound expertise in technology resource management, job positions, career paths, recruiting, and compensation

• Proven experience in managing program budgets and technology cost centers in large corporate environments to ensure corporate targets are met

• Technology procurement & technology financial operations experience ensuring vendor contracts support business and corporate needs

• Proficient in working with business area’s to understand needs/requirements with ability provide innovative solutions

• Technically knowledgeable with the ability to assess solutions for current and future needs across organizations.

• Proven experience in long term planning including building roadmaps and program planning

• Proven experience with leading teams on the implementation and enhancements

• Track record as an innovator and agent leading organizations and people through change

• Proven experience in long term planning including building roadmaps and program planning

• Strong leadership and influence skills

• Ability to present to all levels of management & executive leadership and proactively communicate technical topics in a clear, succinct, and relevant way

• Excellent teamwork, facilitation, relationship building, and negotiation skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree, e.g. Master’s in Business Administration, Master’s in Geographic Information Systems or Master’s with a concentration or minor in Applied Geographic Information Science, or Geography

• Migrating data from ESRI Geometric Network database to ESRI Utility Network database

• Certification in Change Management and/or Test Management certifications

• GISP / GISCI / various ESRI certifications

• Experience with CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) and/or managing projects

• Over 3 years of experience managing team of 4+ staff or external contractors

Minimum Years of Experience

8 years of experience