Product Owner_Life & Annuity_Remote

Beacon Hill; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services firm is seeking a Product Owner in Madison, WI. The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in product ownership, particularly in life insurance or annuities, with a strong background in Agile methodologies. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams to define product strategy and manage backlogs effectively. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience as Product Owner or business analyst in financial services.
• Hands-on experience in Agile product delivery (Scrum or SAFe).
• Strong analytical background to simplify complex topics.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product Managers to form actionable requirements.
• Define and prioritize projects for actuarial and calculation systems.
• Ensure solutions meet acceptance criteria during sprint execution.

Skills

Agile product delivery experience

Backlog management

Collaboration skills

Communication skills

Education

Certified Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification

Tools

Jira

MS Office Suite

Job description

Product Owner – Life or Annuity Experience Required

• Must have:
  • Experience working in agile delivery as a Product Owner
  • Experience with owning a backlog and prioritizing work based on value
  • Familiarity with working in Product Management model
• Preferred/Nice to have:
  • Experience in Annuity products or Life insurance products
  • Experience in Financial industry

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product Managers to translate product strategy into actionable backlogs and requirements.
• Define, refine, and prioritize epics, features, and user stories for actuarial and calculation engine systems.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for engineering and actuarial teams during sprint planning and execution.
• Ensure delivered solutions meet defined acceptance criteria, KPIs, and business outcomes.
• Partner with stakeholders across actuarial, engineering, and product teams to clarify requirements and resolve blockers.
• Support system migrations and new product launches (e.g., upcoming annuity contract migration and term product launch).
• Research industry best practices and contribute insights to improve execution and adoption.
• Provide clear, well-documented requirements and maintain alignment between business and technical teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Certified Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification preferred.
• Strong experience writing user stories, managing backlogs, and working with Agile teams.
• Knowledge of actuarial modeling systems, calculation engines, or financial product configuration.
• Familiarity with APIs, system architecture, and data flows within enterprise technology environments.
• Ability to partner with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, bridging business needs and engineering execution.
• Proficiency in Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Rally, Aha!) and strong skills in MS Office Suite.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and organizational skills.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 5-7 years of Product Owner or business analyst experience in financial services, ideally life insurance or annuities.
• Hands‑on experience in Agile product delivery (Scrum or SAFe).
• Demonstrated ability to work across actuarial, engineering, and product teams.
• Strong analytical background with ability to break down complex actuarial or financial concepts into clear backlog items.
• Detail‑oriented, execution‑focused, and comfortable working with ambiguity in large organizations.
• Interested in deepening expertise as a Product Owner rather than moving into immediate people leadership.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Beacon Hill is an equal opportunity employer and individuals with disabilities and/or protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

California residents: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.