Technical Product Owner- 12 month Fixed Term Contract

Barclays UK; Knutsford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in the UK is seeking a Technical Product Owner to guide product owners in API strategy and backlog management. The role focuses on software resilience and involves collaboration with various teams to enhance product quality and delivery. Ideal candidates will have experience in API technologies and possess strong analytical and communication skills. This position supports flexible working locations in Knutsford or Manchester.

Qualifications

• Experience with API product strategy and backlog management.
• Understanding of developer experience and technical API technologies.
• Ability to communicate technical features in business terms.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with product owners and technical teams on product development.
• Support product strategy and vision execution.
• Monitor product performance for optimization opportunities.

Skills

API Product Strategy and Vision

Backlog and lifecycle management

Developer Experience (DX) focus

Tools

REST

OpenAPI specs

Job description

An experience in Agile mindset is required, and there is a real opportunity to guide Product Owners in story writing, leading, and gaining exposure and recognition as a result of this.

The key focus is Open Banking, and the next phase is due to start; therefore, it is a great time to join. You will be looking at Software Resilience of the bank and will get involved in software switches and more modern solutions.

To be successful as a Technical Product Owner, you should have experience with:

Essential Skills

• API Product Strategy and Vision: Ability to define and communicate a clear API product vision that aligns with business objectives and user needs.
• Backlog and lifecycle management: Skilled in managing an API product backlog, writing user stories, prioritizing based on business values, and collaborating with engineering teams.
• Developer Experience (DX) focus: Understanding the importance of great documentation, onboarding, versioning, and support for API consumers to ensure successful adoption and rotation.

Some other highly valued skills may include:

Desirable Skills

• Technical understanding of API technologies: Knowledge of REST, OpenAPI specs, authentication methods.
• Stakeholder communication and relationship management: Ability to translate technical API features into business values and manage relationships with internal API consumers.
• Scaled Agile/Lean Product Management experience: Familiarity with SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), Lean Portfolio Management, or Lean product development to align API product delivery with broader organizational priorities.

You may be assessed on key critical skills relevant for success in the role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking, digital and technology skills, as well as job-specific technical skills.

Locations are either Knutsford or Manchester

Purpose of the role

To collaborate with product owners and other technical teams involved in the product development process and utilize their knowledge of the bank’s technologies to enact the vision defined in the product roadmap.

Accountabilities

• Provision of subject matter expertise to support collaboration between the product owner and the technical side of product development.
• Support the development and implementation of the product strategy and vision defined in the product roadmap and communicate them with relevant stakeholders and the development team.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gather and prioritize product requirements and features based on business value and feasibility that are well defined, measurable, and secure.
• Develop and implement assessments to ensure continuous testing and improvement of product quality and performance.
• Monitor product performance to identify opportunities for optimization that meet the bank's performance standards.
• Stay abreast of the latest industry technology trends and technologies to evaluate and adopt new approaches to improve product development and delivery.

Vice President Expectations

• Contribute or set strategy, drive requirements, and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/processes; deliver continuous improvements; and escalate breaches of policies/procedures.
• If managing a team, define jobs and responsibilities, plan for the department’s future needs and operations, counsel employees on performance, and contribute to employee pay decisions/changes. Lead specialists to influence operations, while balancing strategic and tactical priorities, and ensure budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements.
• If in a leadership role, demonstrate leadership behaviors such as listening, inspiring, aligning, and developing others to create a thriving environment.
• For individual contributors, act as a subject matter expert, guide technical direction, lead multi-year assignments, and mentor less experienced team members.
• Advise stakeholders, including senior management, on impact and alignment of initiatives.
• Manage risks through assessments, supporting governance and control agendas.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability in managing risks and controls related to your team’s work.
• Understand organizational functions to contribute to business goals.
• Collaborate with other areas to stay aligned with business activities and strategies.
• Create solutions through complex analytical thinking, research, and innovative problem solving.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with stakeholders to achieve business objectives using influencing and negotiating skills.

All colleagues are expected to demonstrate Barclays' values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, as well as the Barclays Mindset of Empower, Challenge, and Drive.