Product Owner Consultant

Illuminative Strategies Inc.; Springfield (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid certifications

Learning paths

Growth and advancement opportunities

On-the-job training

Structured mentorship

Job summary

Illuminative Strategies Inc. is seeking a dynamic Product Owner to lead the development and delivery of client-focused technology solutions built on optimized business processes.

This role features a strong emphasis on balancing business value with technical feasibility, and requires collaboration with Scrum teams, developers, and public-sector stakeholders. You will drive backlog priorities, participate in Agile ceremonies, and act as the voice of the customer to ensure solutions meet strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with strong academic record.
• Demonstrated experience in Agile environments as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or similar role.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate business requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for product vision, requirements, and backlog management.
• Collaborate with internal teams and client stakeholders to define product goals and translate business needs into clear, prioritized user stories.
• Work closely with solution architects, scrum leads, and developers to ensure alignment between technical solutions and business processes.
• Lead Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and user story review and validation.
• Validate deliverables against requirements and manage stakeholder feedback throughout the development lifecycle.
• Ensure features and solutions support end-user adoption and broader organizational change goals.
• Monitor and communicate product progress, risks, and dependencies to project leadership and client sponsors.
• Continuously gather data and feedback to improve solution functionality, usability, and value delivery.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder communication

Backlog management

Requirements gathering

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

Job description

Description

We are seeking dynamic and driven professionals passionate about solving complex operational and technology challenges to join our team as a Product Owner. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who thrive at the intersection of business and technology, with a strong focus on process optimization, client engagement, and solution delivery. Our work environment includes:

• Remote hybrid position with approximately eight weeks of travel per year (two weeks per quarter) based on client needs
• Company-paid certifications and learning paths
• Growth and advancement opportunities
• On-the-job training & structured mentorship
• Inclusive, dynamic, and supportive team culture

Description

We are seeking dynamic and driven professionals passionate about solving complex operational and technology challenges to join our team as a Product Owner. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who thrive at the intersection of business and technology, with a strong focus on process optimization, client engagement, and solution delivery. Our work environment includes:

• Remote hybrid position with approximately eight weeks of travel per year (two weeks per quarter) based on client needs
• Company-paid certifications and learning paths
• Growth and advancement opportunities
• On-the-job training & structured mentorship
• Inclusive, dynamic, and supportive team culture

Position Summary

As a Product Owner at ISI, you will lead the development and delivery of client-driven technology solutions built on top of optimized business processes. You will work with multidisciplinary teams—including Scrum team members, developers, public sector stakeholders, and other vendors/consultants —to translate business needs into actionable features and product requirements. You will act as the voice of the customer, managing backlogs, defining priorities, and ensuring solutions deliver value in alignment with a business’s strategic objectives.

This role requires a strong understanding of Agile methodologies, excellent stakeholder communication skills, and the ability to balance user needs with system functionality. You will play a key role in shaping the future of digital transformation efforts across multiple client engagements.

Job Duties / Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for product vision, requirements, and backlog management
• Collaborate with internal teams and client stakeholders to define product goals and translate business needs into clear, prioritized user stories
• Work closely with solution architects, scrum leads, and developers to ensure alignment between technical solutions and business processes
• Lead Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and user story review and validation.
• Validate deliverables against requirements and manage stakeholder feedback throughout the development lifecycle
• Ensure features and solutions support end-user adoption and broader organizational change goals
• Monitor and communicate product progress, risks, and dependencies to project leadership and client sponsors
• Continuously gather data and feedback to improve solution functionality, usability, and value delivery

Requirements

• U.S. work authorization valid through at least 2031
• Bachelor’s degree with strong academic record
• Demonstrated experience in Agile environments as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or similar role
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate business requirements
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and client expectations
• Proficiency with backlog management tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, or similar

Preferred

• Master's degree
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent Agile certification
• Experience delivering technology solutions in public sector environments
• Understanding of business process mapping and process improvement principles (Lean Six Sigma)
• Familiarity with system integration projects and user-centered design