Article

The Product Owner Job Description: A Beginner’s Guide

October 25, 2024

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Emily May

Many of us have ideas about what a role may be like. But, when starting anything new, building your knowledge on the subject will prepare you for success. 

Before working toward a career in product ownership, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the realistic responsibilities of the role. 

This article breaks down the primary responsibilities outlined in a typical product owner job description.

What Is a Product Owner?

A product owner guides the decisions and strategies related to a product. This role works with customers and stakeholders to establish and communicate priorities that enable the development team to build and release features most in alignment with customer needs and goals. Product owners ensure that teams can focus on continuous delivery of maximum value. 

Further reading:

What Does a Product Owner Do?

Now that we have a description of the product owner position, let’s explore the day-to-day responsibilities of a product owner. If you’re considering a career in product ownership, a deep understanding of the job description can help you prepare. 

Product Owner Job Description Example

screenshot of product owner job posting on LinkedIn
screenshot of job posting on LinkedIn with information about Key Responsibilities

I found this job description on LinkedIn for the title of Business Product Owner at General Mills. Let’s take a closer look at some of the specific product owner responsibilities listed here. 

Product Performance Analysis

A product owner needs to identify key performance indicators and analyze them regularly. The results inform product decision-making to determine how to reach and exceed goals. Data analysis can impact how a team prioritizes features, identifies inefficiencies, and monitors customer satisfaction.

For example, let’s say a development team rolls out an authentication feature that requires an extra step to create an account. However, the product owner notices that there have been significantly fewer new accounts since the update. The product owner may use this data to remove the recent update or develop a new strategy to reduce friction during account creation. 

Stakeholder Communication

As the job description above mentions, product owners act as the “voice of the product.” A product owner must communicate regularly with stakeholders, including business partners and customers. 

Stakeholder communication includes check-ins with partners on product progress and maintaining customer feedback loops. Being comfortable with public speaking is valuable in this role. 

Backlog Management

person looking at computer and thinking about the product backlog

The product backlog is a product owner's domain. Managing the backlog includes adding new user stories to the backlog, refining user stories, and prioritizing stories for upcoming sprints. 

Product owners commonly manage the backlog based on the following factors:

  • Business priorities
  • Product milestones
  • Market changes
  • Customer feedback
  • New product features
  • Bug fixes

Team Leadership & Collaboration

A product owner leads the development team in maximizing value delivery. As with all leadership roles, strong communication and organization skills are vital. Product owners ensure their team remains on track with product goals and collaborates accordingly. 

It's essential that the product owner can clearly articulate the product vision and how it translates into pieces of work for the team. This leader needs to view the product from a big-picture and detailed lens to set and achieve collective milestones. 

Continuous Improvement

cartoon of a person looking at a dotting graph going up

Product owners use market research, feedback, new technology, and data to adapt the product strategy and deliver the most valuable product possible. Further, product owners apply what they have learned from previous challenges to inform their team's approach.

Product teams must make ongoing changes that align with current trends, evolving customer needs, and industry advancements to ensure user satisfaction and remain competitive. Without making necessary adaptations to the product, it can quickly fall behind with the rate of market changes.

What Are the Education Requirements for Product Owners?

Many product owner jobs require a bachelor’s degree and some applicable experience. Additionally, professionals seeking to grow into the role often earn a product owner certification to deepen their knowledge and improve their resume. 

For example, ICAgile’s Agile Product Ownership certification course teaches students how to:

  • Understand customer needs
  • Approach product planning, development, and prioritization
  • Align backlogs to the product goal
  • Create product roadmaps
  • Write user stories
  • Work with customers & stakeholders
  • Grow skills & behaviors for the role

When choosing a product owner certification to invest in, it is essential to earn a credential that is trusted and recognized industry-wide. Additionally, be aware of any renewal fees associated with the certification before registering. 

What Is The Average Product Owner Salary?

cartoon of two people shaking hands

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a product owner in the United States is $108,925. Several factors influence salary, including talent budget, benefits, market conditions, and years of experience. Before interviewing for a product owner role, research salaries specific to the company and the average salary range that aligns with your experience. This information will help you negotiate a competitive and fair compensation package. 

Conclusion

Are you an excellent communicator, strategic thinker, and passionate about delivering valuable products? If your natural talents align with the product owner’s skill set, the career path could be a rewarding next step in your journey. 

Our Agile Product Ownership certification course gives students the knowledge and confidence to step into the product owner role. Download the Agile Product Ownership learning outcomes PDF to learn how our product ownership class can help you grow as a product owner and leader. 

There are no renewal fees–you’re certified for life. 

We hope to meet you in class soon!

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TAGGED AS:
Product Ownership, Agile Product Ownership

About the author

Emily May | ICAgile, Marketing Specialist
Emily May is a Marketing Specialist at ICAgile, where she helps educate learners on their agile journey through content. With an eclectic background in communications supporting small business marketing efforts, she hopes to inspire readers to initiate more empathy, productivity, and creativity in the workplace for improved internal and external outcomes.

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