Product Owner (Agile / Software Delivery / Backlog Management)
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Type: Full-time, Permanent
Overview
An established financial services business is looking to appoint a Product Owner to join its Investment Platform Applications team, supporting the ongoing development of its business applications.
This is a practical product ownership role focused on managing development requests, maintaining clear and prioritised backlogs, and keeping developers, Project Managers and business stakeholders aligned. You'll clarify what the business needs, turn requests into actionable development work and help ensure the team understands what needs delivering and why.
The position would suit an organised Product Owner who enjoys working closely with software developers, questioning unclear requirements and balancing competing priorities. Previous financial services experience would help with the transition, but it is not essential. Specialist data engineering or AI experience is not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Receive and review development requests, clarifying their purpose and expected outcomes
- Resolve gaps and ambiguity in requirements before work moves into development
- Translate business needs into clear work items, user stories and acceptance criteria
- Maintain an organised product backlog and accurate, current development boards
- Refine upcoming work with developers and stakeholders so requirements are understood
- Prioritise competing requests against business needs, dependencies and delivery capacity
- Coordinate with Project Managers to align development work with wider plans and commitments
- Identify and communicate blockers, dependencies and decisions affecting progress
- Review completed work against agreed requirements and coordinate stakeholder feedback
- Keep stakeholders informed about priorities, scope, sequencing and delivery progress
Requirements
- Experience as a Product Owner or in a related role with direct responsibility for a software development backlog
- Practical experience managing development requests, refining requirements and prioritising work
- Ability to write clear user stories and acceptance criteria
- Confidence maintaining development boards and keeping work items accurate and current
- Experience working closely with software developers and Project Managers
- Familiarity with Agile delivery and the software development lifecycle
- Strong stakeholder communication skills, including the confidence to question requests and challenge priorities constructively
- An organised approach to managing multiple requests, tracking actions and following through
- Experience within financial services, wealth management or investment platforms
- Experience supporting established business applications and their ongoing development
- Experience balancing stakeholder requests across operational needs and project commitments
What’s on Offer
- Product ownership responsibility within an established financial services business
- Direct involvement in prioritising and shaping investment platform development work
- Close collaboration with software developers, Project Managers and business stakeholders
- Opportunity to build investment platform knowledge without needing previous financial services experience
Candidates from closely related roles are welcome where they have direct experience owning a software development backlog.