Strategic Technical Product Owner - AI, Data & Innovation

Hastings Direct; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hastings Direct is seeking a technically-minded Technical Product Owner to lead delivery of technology products within our CIO function. You will shape direction, prioritise outcomes and ensure solutions align with customer and business needs while collaborating with engineers, architects, stakeholders and delivery teams.

You will thrive in ambiguity, explore emerging technologies, and drive opportunities in automation, data and AI-enabled solutions to improve colleague and customer experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Product Owner, Technical Product Owner or similar technology leadership role.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and challenge senior leaders constructively.
• Demonstrable experience leading cross-functional teams and creating alignment across multiple business and technology functions.
• Experience, Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, with an interest in how automation, data and AI-enabled solutions can create business value.
• Strong commercial and strategic mindset, balancing customer value, risk, governance and delivery priorities.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and decision-making skills within complex organisational environments.

Responsibilities

• Own and prioritise the product backlog, ensuring focus on the highest-value opportunities and outcomes.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders across Technology and the wider business to identify opportunities, define product strategy and align delivery with enterprise objectives.
• Lead the evaluation and delivery of innovative technology solutions, including emerging capabilities that enhance operational efficiency and customer outcomes.
• Partner with engineering, architecture, security and risk teams to deliver scalable, secure and sustainable technology products.
• Balance value, risk, cost and delivery considerations, making informed trade-off decisions that support strategic business goals.
• Measure product success through adoption, business outcomes and realised benefits, driving continuous improvement and future innovation opportunities.

Skills

Product Ownership

Stakeholder Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Emerging Technologies

Commercial Mindset

Communication

Job description

Hastings Direct is seeking a technically-minded Technical Product Owner to lead delivery of technology products within our CIO function. You will shape direction, prioritise outcomes and ensure solutions align with customer and business needs while collaborating with engineers, architects, stakeholders and delivery teams.

You will thrive in ambiguity, explore emerging technologies, and drive opportunities in automation, data and AI-enabled solutions to improve colleague and customer experiences.