Agile Product Owner I

As an Agile Product Owner, you will be the voice of the customer, guiding your team through define-build-test cycles to ensure features align with business objectives and user needs. This role involves close collaboration with stakeholders and the Agile Release Train to prioritize and deliver impactful solutions. You will manage product backlogs, define and prioritize features for MVPs, engage with users to uncover pain points, and implement requirements using user-centered design approaches. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with an Agile mindset, comfortable managing priorities in fast-paced environments, and skilled at balancing business value with technical feasibility.

Must Have

• Accept user stories as done throughout iterations
• Collaborate with product owners to define and prioritize features for MVPs
• Engage with customers and users regularly to uncover pain points
• Implement functional and non-functional requirements through acceptance criteria
• Apply user-centered design approaches using personas and journey maps
• Manage product backlog, processes, and release plan for multiple features
• Coordinate interdependencies in real time with the scrum team
• Prioritize and sequence user stories to maximize business value
• 4–6+ years of experience in Agile product ownership or related roles
• In-depth conceptual and practical knowledge of solution delivery
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Familiarity with research techniques like usability testing, ethnography, and sales assessment

Perks & Benefits

• Support and flexibility to achieve professional and personal goals
• Skill-building opportunities
• Leadership development opportunities
• Philanthropic opportunities
• Opportunities to build communities
• Diverse colleagues with high ethical standards
• Contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources

As an Agile Product Owner, you’ll be the voice of the customer and the champion of delivering value. You’ll guide your team through multiple define-build-test cycles, ensuring features align with business objectives and user needs. Your role is all about collaboration—working closely with stakeholders, product owners, and the Agile Release Train to prioritize and deliver impactful solutions.

You Are

• A strategic thinker with an Agile mindset and collaborative spirit
• Comfortable managing priorities and making decisions in fast-paced environments
• Passionate about understanding user needs and creating exceptional experiences
• Skilled at balancing business value with technical feasibility
• A clear communicator who thrives in cross-functional teams

You Will

• Accept user stories as done throughout iterations with multiple define-build-test cycles
• Collaborate with product owners to define and prioritize features for MVPs
• Engage with customers and users regularly to uncover pain points and underserved needs
• Implement functional and non-functional requirements through acceptance criteria
• Apply user-centered design approaches using personas and journey maps
• Manage your product backlog, processes, and release plan for multiple features
• Coordinate interdependencies in real time with the scrum team
• Prioritize and sequence user stories to maximize business value while maintaining sustainable pace

You Have

• 4–6+ years of experience in Agile product ownership or related roles
• In-depth conceptual and practical knowledge of solution delivery
• Basic understanding of related job families and cross-functional processes
• Experience solving complex problems and acting as a resource for less experienced colleagues
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Familiarity with research techniques like usability testing, ethnography, and sales assessment

Location

This role is onsite in Bethlehem, Hudson Yards or Pittsfield MA

Salary Range:

$79,310.00 - $130,295.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits._

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact applicant_accommodation@glic.com.

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.

About Guardian

Every day, Guardian helps our 29 million customers realize their dreams through a range of insurance and financial products and services. Our Purpose, to inspire well-being, guides our dedication to the colleagues, consumers, and communities we serve. We know that people count, and we go above and beyond to prepare them for the life they want to live, focusing on their overall well-being — mind, body, and wallet. As one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we put our customers first. Behind every bright future is a GuardianTM. Learn more about Guardian at guardianlife.com.