Product Owner - Information Technology

Midwest Technical Institute, Inc.; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

Life Insurance

Disability (Short/Long Term)

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Employee scholarship program

Job summary

Midwest Technical Institute, Inc. is seeking a Product Owner - Information Technology to bridge IT and business teams across Springfield and East Peoria campuses.

You will own the product roadmap, translate needs into system solutions, and drive improvements for student and campus tech ecosystems. You will collaborate with Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Success, and IT to deliver measurable outcomes, while maintaining data quality, security, and FERPA/GLBA compliance.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years as a Product Owner across multiple platforms.
• Experience translating business needs into system configurations and measurable improvements.
• Strong prioritization, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Able to communicate with technical teams and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own and prioritize product roadmaps and backlogs based on business impact.
• Partner with Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Success, Campus Leadership, and IT to translate needs into system solutions.
• Gather requirements and develop clear user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Improve workflows, automations, integrations, and reporting across campuses and brands.
• Coordinate UAT, releases, and system enhancements.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs to measure performance and outcomes.
• Support data quality, security, and compliance (FERPA, GLBA).
• Lead user training, change management, and release communications.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal IT to advance system capabilities.

Skills

Roadmap ownership

Backlog prioritization

Requirements gathering

User stories & acceptance criteria

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Multi-campus experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Education, or related field

Tools

LeadSquared

CRM integrations (SIS/LMS/marketing automation)

Job description

Build Futures. Change Lives. Grow Your Career.

We believe in the power of change. Every student who walks through our doors comes with dreams, goals, and the potential to create a better future for themselves. At MTI, our mission is to help turn that potential into real-world success.

And it all starts with our faculty and staff.

Position:Product Owner - Information Technology

Hybrid role with ability to commute to either the Springfield, IL or East Peoria, IL campus.

Turn business needs into technology that works.

Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) and Delta Technical College are seeking an experienced Product Owner to help drive the strategy, development, and continuous improvement of the technology systems that support our students and campuses.

In this highly collaborative role, you’ll serve as the bridge between IT and key business teams, translating operational needs into streamlined workflows, system enhancements, automations, integrations, and measurable results. You’ll own the product roadmap and prioritized backlog while helping ensure technology solutions are practical, scalable, and adopted across the organization.

• Own and prioritize product roadmaps and backlogs based on business impact.
• Partner with Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Success, Campus Leadership, and IT to identify needs and translate them into system solutions.
• Gather requirements and develop clear user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Improve and standardize workflows, automations, integrations, and reporting across multiple campuses and brands.
• Coordinate user acceptance testing (UAT), releases, and system enhancements.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs that measure performance and business outcomes.
• Support data quality, security, and compliance requirements, including FERPA and GLBA.
• Lead user training, change management, release communications, and adoption efforts.
• Partner with technology vendors and internal IT resources to resolve issues and advance system capabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Education, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience as a Product Owner, providing strategic ownership and leadership across multiple platforms and business processes while partnering with cross-functional business and technology teams to define priorities, drive alignment, and deliver business outcomes.
• Experience translating business requirements into system configurations and measurable improvements.
• Strong project prioritization, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and executive leadership.
• Experience working in a multi-location or multi-business environment.

Strongly Preferred: Experience with LeadSquared, higher education/career education, Agile/Scrum practices, and CRM integrations with SIS, LMS, telephony, or marketing automation platforms.

This isn’t a Product Owner role where you simply manage tickets. You’ll have the opportunity to shape how technology supports the organization, improve processes across multiple campuses, and directly influence the student journey from initial inquiry through enrollment and beyond.

If you enjoy connecting people, processes, data, and technology — and turning complex business needs into solutions that make a measurable difference — we’d like to hear from you.

Why Work at MTI?

Be part of something that truly matters.

Our students trade uncertainty for confidence, passion for a clear path, and determination for careers they love. As an employee at MTI, you play a direct role in that transformation.

Whether you’re teaching in the classroom or supporting behind the scenes, your work helps students move up in life — gaining skills, building confidence, and creating futures they once thought were out of reach.

Here, success isn’t measured only by outcomes. It’s measured by lives changed.

We invest in you—both professionally & personally

Our Total Rewards package encompasses not only your salary, but also support for your health and wellness, work/life balance, and financial future.

• Medical, dental and vision plans available after qualifying service window
• Life Insurance Options
• Short Term / Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program

Financial Future - Company Match up to 4% with our 401(k) plan

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

• Competitive PTO and vacation time available

Employee Scholarship - MTI employees can refer immediate family for a $1,000 scholarship to attend MTI

*Must be employed 90 days and have started prior to October 1st to be eligible for paid time off*Benefits may change during open enrollment.

MTI Faculty & Staff

More than teachers — they’re mentors, guides, and champions of change.

Our instructors are at the heart of everything we do. They bring real-world experience, industry knowledge, and a genuine passion for helping others succeed.

They don’t just teach skills — they inspire confidence, push students to chase their goals, and guide them toward achieving more than they ever imagined.

At MTI, instructors don’t just prepare students for jobs. They prepare them for life.

The team behind every success story.

Our dedicated staff both behind-the-scenes and face-to-face with students to support every step of their journey.

From admissions and financial aid to student services and career placement, our teams ensure each student has the tools, resources, and encouragement they need to succeed.

Every role matters. Every department makes an impact. And together, we create an environment where students and employees can thrive.

Our Culture

At MTI, it’s not just about the skills learned. It’s about transforming lives. Unlocking potential. And creating futures full of possibilities for students who never thought any of it was possible.

Our thousands of graduates are proof that when passion meets opportunity, success follows. During their time at MTI, we help them move up, build confidence, and achieve real, lasting success. We’ve had many graduates come back to MTI as instructors and use their experience to help teach the next generation.

The MTI team is united by a shared purpose: helping our students start rewarding careers.

Together, we’re not just changing careers — we’re changing lives.

• Positive Attitude - Be a source of positive energy that lifts up the people around you.
• Respect - Treat others with compassion, integrity, and courtesy and do not rush to judgment.
• Initiative - Seize the opportunities in front of you to create a better, more enriching learning environment.
• Dedication - Fully commit and give your maximum time and energy.
• Excellence - Strive for high quality in every action to create work that shines.
• P.R.I.D.E.: To be satisfied and fulfilled by your effort and accomplishment.

Your success is our students’ success.

The success of our students is our WHY — it’s the reason we do what we do.

When you join MTI, you become part of a team that believes in people, invests in growth, and works every day to make a meaningful difference.

If you’re looking for more than just a job, if you want a career with purpose…we want to meet you.