Product Owner Level I, Insurance Operations

Western & Southern Financial Group; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life

401(k) savings plan

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

On-site fitness center

Employee discount

Job summary

Western & Southern Financial Group is seeking a Product Owner I in Insurance Operations to translate business needs into backlog items and user stories. You will partner with operations leaders, Product Managers and IT to prioritize work and validate delivered solutions in an agile environment.

You will participate in ceremonies, define requirements, document acceptance criteria and support backlog prioritization to drive operational efficiency and scalable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Gathers and documents business requirements, user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Supports delivery of assigned features, enhancements and operational technology solutions.
• Partners with Product Manager, business teams and IT to prioritize backlog items and resolve dependencies.
• Participates in sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, demos and reviews.
• Conducts user acceptance testing and validates that solutions meet business requirements.

Responsibilities

• Gathers and documents business requirements, user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Supports delivery of assigned features, enhancements and operational technology solutions.
• Partners with Product Manager, business teams and IT to prioritize backlog items and resolve dependencies.
• Participates in sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, demos and reviews.
• Conducts user acceptance testing and validates that solutions meet business requirements.
• Analyzes processes to identify opportunities for automation, efficiency and quality improvement.
• Tracks issues, risks and dependencies to support project execution and production readiness.
• Supports post-release measurement, including adoption, operational impact and ROI.
• Communicates project updates and next steps across business and technology teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Agile delivery

Product ownership basics

AI/RPA interest

Office tools

Tools

JIRA

Azure DevOps

Microsoft Office

Job description

Join Western & Southern – Somewhere You Want to Be

At Western & Southern, is somewhere to grow, lead, win and do good for others. Our supportive culture, continuous learning opportunities and connection to our local communities make our company the ideal place for a career. For more than 135 years, our long-term success is fueled by a deep commitment to customer service and our community.

Ranked #29 on the American Opportunity Index (AOI), Western & Southern is among the top 100 companies for career growth. We are dedicated to empowering our associates and helping them maximize their talents. We take pride in our award-winning talent development team and our recognition as a Top 10 Military Friendly Employer and Top Spouse Employer.

Hear what our associates say about their experience at W&S!

Our Culture: Excellence and Collaboration

Western & Southern is built on a culture of integrity, top-notch performance, teamwork and collaboration. We’re committed to hiring and developing professionals who strive for excellence, demonstrate strong ethics and make fact-based decisions. Our associates are empowered to chase their career dreams while being supported every step of the way.

A Day in the Life of a Product Owner, Level 1

As Product Owner I in Insurance Operations, you will support technology-enabled initiatives that improve operational efficiency, quality and scalability. This role helps represent business needs across workflow systems, administrative platforms, automation tools, Intelligent Document Processing, Robotic Process Automation and AI-powered solutions.

You will work closely with operations leaders, end users, Product Managers and IT partners to define requirements, document user stories, support backlog prioritization, participate in Agile ceremonies and validate delivered solutions. This role serves as a liaison between business and technical teams to help move initiatives from concept through implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Gathers and documents business requirements, user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Supports delivery of assigned features, enhancements and operational technology solutions.
• Partners with Product Manager, business teams and IT to prioritize backlog items and resolve dependencies.
• Participates in sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, demos and reviews.
• Conducts user acceptance testing and validates that solutions meet business requirements.
• Analyzes processes to identify opportunities for automation, efficiency and quality improvement.
• Tracks issues, risks and dependencies to support project execution and production readiness.
• Supports post-release measurement, including adoption, operational impact and ROI.
• Communicates project updates and next steps across business and technology teams.

Desired Competencies and Skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and process improvement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across business, technology and quality assurance teams.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Foundational understanding of product ownership, Agile delivery or business analysis.
• Interest in workflow systems, automation, Intelligent Document Processing, RPA or AI-enabled tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with JIRA, Azure DevOps or similar tools preferred.
• Life insurance, annuity operations, claims, policy administration or new business experience preferred.

Premier Benefits to Support YOU

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) savings plan with pension options.
• Paid time off increasing with tenure.
• Tuition reimbursement and individualized career development plans.
• Parental leave and maternity leave with a 4-week transition back to work.
• Access to on-site amenities like a fitness center, cafeteria and more.
• Extensive employee discount program.

Western & Southern is not just a place to work—it’s somewhere to grow, lead, win and make a difference in your career and community. Learn more at www.westernsouthern.com/careers/home-office-careers.