AI Product Owner

Optimal Growth Technologies; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology solutions provider is seeking an AI Product Owner to drive the vision and execution of AI-powered solutions. This role involves defining product strategy, managing backlogs, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure user-centric and compliant AI products. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in product management with a focus on AI/ML technologies, strong collaboration skills, and a track record of delivering impactful solutions in an agile setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in product management/ownership, with at least 2 years focused on AI or ML products.
• Strong understanding of AI concepts, data pipelines, and cloud platforms.
• Experience delivering digital/AI-enabled solutions in an agile environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the AI product vision and roadmap.
• Own, prioritize, and refine the AI product backlog.
• Work closely with engineering teams to shape AI/ML model development.
• Act as the primary liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Ensure AI products comply with data privacy and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Product ownership

AI/ML technologies

Data strategy

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Business, or related field

Product Owner or Agile certifications

Tools

Azure

AWS

GCP

Job description

AI Product Owner

Role Purpose

We are seeking a strategic and technically savvy AI Product Owner to drive the vision, roadmap, and execution of AI-powered solutions that deliver measurable business value. This role bridges business needs and technical development, ensuring AI products are user-centric, scalable, and aligned with organizational strategy.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in product ownership, AI/ML technologies, data strategy, and agile delivery, coupled with excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Product Vision & Strategy

• Define and communicate the AI product vision, roadmap, and value proposition.
• Collaborate with business leaders, data scientists, and engineers to align AI initiatives with organizational objectives.
• Identify AI opportunities by analyzing market trends, emerging technologies, and customer pain points.

Product Backlog & Delivery

• Own, prioritize, and refine the AI product backlog, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Translate complex business needs and technical concepts into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and requirements.
• Partner with agile teams to deliver incremental value through AI models, automation, and intelligent features.

AI Solution Design & Validation

• Work closely with data science and engineering teams to shape AI/ML model development, testing, and deployment.
• Ensure explainability, transparency, and ethical considerations in AI-driven solutions.
• Validate model performance against business KPIs and refine based on feedback.

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

• Act as the primary liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Gather feedback from end-users and stakeholders to continuously improve product features.
• Deliver regular updates and product demonstrations to leadership and stakeholders.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure AI products comply with data privacy, security, and regulatory requirements.
• Advocate for responsible AI use and contribute to governance frameworks and policies.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Business, or a related field (Masters preferred).
• Product Owner or Agile certifications (CSPO, SAFe POPM, etc.) advantageous.

Experience:

• 5+ years in product management/ownership, with at least 2 years focused on AI, data-driven, or ML products.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, data pipelines, and cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Proven track record of delivering digital/AI-enabled solutions in an agile environment.
• Experience working with data science, engineering, and UX/UI teams.

Technical & Professional Skills:

• Knowledge of AI/ML lifecycle, MLOps, and data governance principles.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with regulatory and ethical considerations in AI deployment.