Commercial Product Owner (EXIN)

Software Improvement Group; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Improvement Group (SIG) is seeking a Commercial Product Owner for EXIN certifications, based in Utrecht with a hybrid work model. You will manage the certification product lifecycle, align with market needs and drive commercial performance.

You'll collaborate with marketing and sales to define positioning, pricing, and go-to-market plans, track revenue and enrollment, and lead product launches. English proficiency is essential; Dutch skills are a plus.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years as Product Owner/PM or related role, backlog ownership and guiding delivery.
• Structured product thinking to define scope, priorities, and trade-offs.
• Data-literate; use metrics and market evidence to inform decisions before build.
• Commercial awareness with some go-to-market experience.
• Interest in AI and digital trends with willingness to learn.
• Innovative mindset; identify opportunities and build a strong case.
• Strong planning, organization, adaptability and initiative.
• Ability to collaborate with marketing, product and sales teams.
• Excellent English; Dutch or other languages are a plus.
• Knowledge of IT education sector or professional certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of certification products and drive commercial performance.
• Oversee product lifecycle from business case through launch, iteration, and end-of-life; manage roadmap and backlog.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales on positioning, pricing, and GTM strategies.
• Write product requirements and guide exam development teams.
• Track revenue, enrollment, and quality metrics.
• Lead or participate in project teams to launch new products.
• Maintain relationships with portfolio partners and external stakeholders.
• Propose new product opportunities based on market analysis.

Skills

Product ownership

Structured thinking

Data-driven

Go-to-market

AI market awareness

Collaboration

Problem solving

English proficiency

Job description

Who We Are

For over 40 years, EXIN has been an independent global examination institute dedicated to certifying professionals in the digital domain. With nearly 3 million certified individuals across more than 165 countries, we offer comprehensive end-to-end certification solutions designed to bridge skills gaps and empower the modern workforce in a constantly evolving job market.

Who We Are

For over 40 years, EXIN has been an independent global examination institute dedicated to certifying professionals in the digital domain. With nearly 3 million certified individuals across more than 165 countries, we offer comprehensive end-to-end certification solutions designed to bridge skills gaps and empower the modern workforce in a constantly evolving job market.

As a proud member of the Software Improvement Group (SIG), we assist organizations in navigating digital transformation swiftly and responsibly. While SIG focuses on assessing and certifying IT processes and technologies, EXIN concentrates on the people aspect, effectively linking People, Processes, and Technology.

The rapid advancement of AI has fundamentally transformed the labor market, creating an urgent demand for a new kind of workforce. EXIN is at the forefront of this change, actively developing high-demand certifications that meet the evolving needs of the AI and digital landscape.

At the same time, we ensure that all critical and highly relevant digital transformation certifications remain central to our offerings. Our portfolio covers essential skill areas, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, Agile Scrum, Information Security, Data Protection, Service Integration and Management (SIAM), and Business Analysis.

As part of our ambitious international growth strategy, we are seeking a Commercial Product Owner. This individual will be responsible for innovating our certification portfolio and managing the lifecycle of exam certification products.

This role is based in Utrecht, Netherlands, and follows a hybrid work model. While working from home is part of the norm, candidates must also be able to regularly attend the office in Utrecht.

Where you come in

In this role, you will manage the day-to-day operations of the products, helping to drive commercial performance. This position requires a blend of a technical Product Owner's skills with the commercial insight of a market-focused professional:

• Manage the entire certification product lifecycle, from business case and concept through to launch, iteration, and end-of-life. This includes overseeing the product roadmap, planning, and backlog.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales colleagues to define product positioning, target audience, scope, and pricing. Ensure that there is a strong market-to-product fit and build the commercial case for each new certification.
• Work with marketing colleagues to craft product value propositions that resonate with target customers, clearly identifying standout benefits and differentiators.
• Analyze market signals, trends, competitor actions, and customer feedback to inform product decisions and recommendations.
• Write product requirements and designs, guiding the exam development team to ensure that the final product aligns with market demands.
• Collaborate with marketing colleagues to create launch plans, sales enablement materials, and go-to-market strategies that drive product adoption.
• Track revenue, enrollment, and quality metrics for your products.
• Lead or participate in project teams to develop and launch new products.
• Identify underperforming products early and propose corrective actions to enhance their commercial performance.
• Maintain relationships with portfolio partners and serve as the primary operational contact for external product stakeholders.
• Contribute innovative proposals for new products based on thorough market analysis.

How We Work

The Commercial Product Owner is the key individual at EXIN responsible for our certification products. In this diverse role, the Commercial Product Owner coordinates activities related to the lifecycle of certifications within the EXIN portfolio. This involves close collaboration with exam development, marketing, and sales teams throughout all stages of the process. The Commercial Product Owner not only designs new certification products but also works to maximize the commercial value of EXIN's certification programs, balancing the interests of various stakeholder groups. Additionally, they monitor emerging market developments and assess their implications for EXIN's products.The Commercial Product Owner reports to the Marketing Director.

What's in it for you?

Join us in our mission to help professionals become certified for the future. At EXIN, you will assist individuals in validating and enhancing their digital skills as they navigate workforce transformation. If you believe that independent assessment of skills is essential for preparing a future-ready workforce and want to be part of the certification institution leading this initiative,

We offer a role with a wide variety of responsibilities, providing you with the opportunity to sharpen your existing skills and develop new ones through continuous learning and access to unique knowledge. You will work alongside a diverse, motivated group of colleagues who make the workplace enjoyable. Our flexible work schedules and flat organizational structure promote initiative and encourage you to share your ideas.

Job Requirements

We are seeking a candidate who is comfortable with building a product brief, contributing to the commercial justification for it, and managing the resulting product throughout its lifecycle.

• This is a mid-level position requiring 2 to 5 years of proven experience as a Product Owner or Product Manager, or in a related role. The ideal candidate should be adept at owning a backlog, writing requirements, and guiding delivery teams.
• Candidates should possess structured product thinking skills, enabling them to quickly define project scope, set priorities, and make trade-off decisions based on market insights.
• A data-literate individual is essential, capable of using performance metrics and market evidence to inform product decisions prior to the build phase.
• The candidate should exhibit commercial and business awareness, with some initial experience in positioning and go-to-market strategies, along with a willingness to learn and grow in these areas.
• A basic understanding of demand generation, digital trends - particularly around AI - and a commitment to continuous learning in this domain is important.
• We are looking for someone with an innovative mindset who can identify opportunities and collaboratively build a strong case for development.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, along with adaptability and self-initiative, are crucial.
• The ability to cultivate and maintain relationships across diverse stakeholder groups is a must.
• The candidate should be able to collaborate effectively with marketing, product, and sales teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills are essential.
• Excellent English language proficiency is required, with Dutch and/or other languages being advantageous.
• Knowledge of the IT education sector and/or professional certification is a plus.

About Us

Software Improvement Group (SIG) empowers organizations to govern the software that the business runs on. Through complete portfolio analysis and tailored strategic advice, SIG helps companies embrace AI with control, improve software quality and security by focusing strategic efforts across people, process, and technology.

Sigrid®-its software portfolio governance platform-analyzes over 400 billion lines of code across more than 30,000 systems and 300+ technologies, offering evidence-based insights to help organizations prioritize and manage their most critical IT initiatives.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Amsterdam, SIG has offices in New York, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Frankfurt. The company complies with leading ISO/IEC standards, including 27001 and 17025, and co-developed ISO/IEC 5338 - the new global standard for AI lifecycle management.

Combining expert consulting with over 25 years of industry-leading research, SIG is the global authority on continuous software portfolio governance.