Product Owner/Business Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

Applied Systems, Inc., a worldwide leader in insurance technology, is currently searching for a Product Owner/Business Analyst to join our Product Management department in assessing opportunities for product innovation within our IVANS Insurance Solutions division. In this role, you will be responsible for maximizing the value of IVANS Core Products resulting from the work of IVANS’ Development Teams. This position ensures the achievement of strategic revenue objectives for IVANS servicing and connectivity products.

The IVANS Core Product Management Department is responsible for strategic analysis, product vision, and tactical execution of product releases for IVANS Servicing solutions. Strategic focus includes corporate and market awareness, business needs analysis and roadmap planning. Tactical execution includes release planning, user experience, and release delivery. Ultimately, product management is accountable for the adoption and business performance of all IVANS Servicing products in the market.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with the Agile scrum team that develops, maintains, and supports applications for insurance brokers, agents, carrier partners, and 3rd party integrations, the role will focus on:
• Understanding IVANS’ initiatives and owning the responsibility of communicating to the IVANS team, internal, and external stakeholders the value and use cases for the initiative.
• Ensuring consistent alignment with IVANS Product Management Team on minimum viable delivery and priority of key feature sets for the product initiative.
• Working with relevant external and internal stakeholders, prioritized work is brought to, negotiated with, and approved in concert with the work done on various scrum team(s).
• Considering the needs of all client constituents, both internal and external, with the goal of delivering software to clients of all sizes – small as well as global in nature. Understands, supports, and delivers on the corporate roadmap, vision, and goals
• Explaining the goals of the feature to the development team, and stakeholders through the use of commonly used storyboards and other tools made available.
• Creating and refining user stories in collaboration with IVANS Product Management Team. Breaking down user stories into smaller sets of stories as needed throughout the development process.
• Facilitating conversations with stakeholders regarding features in development, obtaining feedback, and making decisions on which feedback items should become part of the backlog and /or minimum viable. Adjusting user stories accordingly and closing the feedback loop with stakeholders.
• Advocate for end users and customers – the voice of the customer and the voice of market – to bring an understanding of the market and client’s workflow to the scrum team, for intuitive feature implementation which accounts for a positive user experience
• Creates, maintains, and continuously prioritizes product and/or release backlogs, and conducts backlog grooming/refinement sessions with respective scrum team
• Ensures product backlog themes are addressed in the release backlog according to priority order
• Works with peer Product Owners regarding cross-team dependencies. Prioritizes and schedules dependent work.
• Effectively communicates acceptance criteria to scrum team, to ensure feature development meets the business needs for the release.
• Participates in all relevant sprint meetings, including daily meetings, sprint planning, review, retrospective sessions, and backlog grooming.
• Performs other duties as assigned by immediate manager or management team.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in the areas of Information Science, Computer Science, or related disciplines.
• Professional experience or training as a Product Owner or Business Analyst in an Agile development environment.
• Professional experience or training in gathering requirements, creating documentation, and user stories.
• Working knowledge of agile development process.
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, manage, and prioritize multiple projects.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication (spoken and written) and influencing skills, with a proven ability to navigate a complex, cross-functional environment.
• Demonstrated ability to think both strategically and tactically.
• Ability to communicate at all business levels.
• Innovative team player who inspires innovation in others, through engagement and negotiation.
• Understands ROI of initiatives and features using it as a prioritization factor.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills to support the management and prioritization of product backlogs.
• Proven ability to make smart feature (customer experience) versus time-to-market trade-offs
• Knowledge of Agile Central/Rally desired but not required
• Experience or knowledge of developing and creating documentation for API Development.
• Travel required up to 25%

WHO WE ARE

• LEADING GLOBAL PROVIDER OF CLOUD-BASED INSURANCE SOFTWARE- Applied Systems develops the top two Insurance Agency/Broker Management software products in the world. In addition, we also provide innovative mobile apps, Data Analytics, Customer Self-Service, Insurer Connectivity & Rating, eServicing, Benefits Design, and CRM software products. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.
• CLOUD SOLUTIONS & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES- We offer cloud solutions, implementation and education services, 24x7 technical support, and consulting services that are built specifically for our clients.
• AWARD WINNING TECHNOLOGY- We have been voted the 2019 Best Cloud-Based Software Solutions Provider in the insurance industry (2019 Corporate Excellence Awards), the 2019 Digital Service Provider of the Year (Corporate Insider) and are ranked #56 in the Cloud Top 500 report for the largest cloud application vendors in the world (Apps That Run the World).
• GOOGLE’S INVESTMENT IN APPLIED- Google/CapitalG made a minority investment in Applied that will spur AI, machine learning, and digital marketing innovation in the global insurance industry.
• CLIENTS- We provide technology to over 160k users within insurance agencies, brokerages, and carriers throughout the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.
• EMPLOYEES- Applied currently has 1,700+ employees across the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.

COMPANY CULTURE & PERKS

• JOIN A GREAT TEAM- We believe that success comes from a dynamic working environment that offers professionals an opportunity to grow and succeed alongside extraordinary people. We encourage idea sharing, problem solving, and teamwork in our environment.
• RELAXED DRESS CODE- Applied allows for a relaxed dress code where jeans are permitted; we call this “Dress for your Day”!
• FUN PARTIES & PERKS- Fun perks are a staple at Applied, including holiday parties with games and contests, summer celebrations employee appreciation events, art contests, employee discount programs, free bagel and fruit on Tuesdays, and more!
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT- We are a growing company that offers career opportunities, and not just “another job”. Applied believes in growing our employees and promoting from within, offering many opportunities for professional advancement along the way!
• CAREER STABILITY & LONGEVITY- Our average employee tenure is 14 years!
• CULTURE OF RECOGNITION- Applied provides a culture of employee recognition with our Circle of Excellence program, and our internal social network recognition program.
• APPLIED CARES- We have a culture that embraces and promotes volunteerism. Applied encourages our employees to help local charities and communities through the ‘Applied Cares’ program

BENEFITS & REWARDS

• BENEFITS FROM DAY ONE- Applied offers Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Virtual Doctors’ Appointments, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, Critical Illness, Group Accident, and Wellness Incentives to ensure employees are covered from day one.
• FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND- In addition to wellness benefits, Applied offers traditional and Roth 401k options, with employer match. Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short and Long Term Disability, and Business Travel Accident insurance are also offered.
• WORKLIFE BALANCE- There is more to life than work: that is why Applied offers benefits to help balance your work and home life. We offer competitive paid vacation time, personal/sick time, paid holidays, paid parental leave, volunteer time off, and a free day off for your birthday!

TO LEARN MORE

• Please visit AppliedSystems.com.

Applied Systems welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.