Product Owner

Job Description:

🔹 Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Product Owner to drive the transformation of annuity administration systems as part of a strategic modernization initiative. This role requires a deep understanding of annuity product lifecycles, strong collaboration with cross-functional teams, and the ability to understand and interpret SQL/PLSQL-based system behavior to ensure accurate requirement translation and delivery. The ideal candidate is business-savvy, technically literate, and comfortable leading agile teams through platform modernization efforts.

🔹 Key Responsibilities:
🔸 Product Ownership & Backlog Management
Own and manage the product backlog for annuity system modernization workstreams

Define, prioritize, and refine epics, features, and user stories in collaboration with business and IT stakeholders

Ensure user stories are well-articulated with clear acceptance criteria and business context

Serve as the voice of the customer and subject matter expert for annuity operations

🔸 Technical Collaboration
Collaborate with development and QA teams to ensure functional alignment and story readiness

Understand SQL/PLSQL logic within the legacy system to help validate business rules and support requirement clarity

Participate in solution design sessions, sprint planning, and backlog grooming

Review queries and data outputs to validate business logic and assist in debugging

🔸 Domain-Specific Responsibilities
Represent annuity-specific business processes such as:

Policy onboarding

Contract maintenance and rider management

Interest crediting, annuitization, and withdrawals

Commission processing and agency management

Regulatory and compliance rules (e.g., RMDs, 72(t))

Work with stakeholders from product, operations, actuarial, compliance, and distribution

🔹 Required Skills & Qualifications:
8+ years of experience as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or similar role in the annuity or retirement products domain

Strong understanding of annuity product types: Fixed, Variable, Indexed, and their associated riders

Ability to read and interpret SQL/PLSQL logic to understand backend rules and data behaviors

Hands-on experience working in Agile/Scrum environments

Proven track record of delivering complex system changes with cross-functional collaboration


🔹 Soft Skills:
Strong communicator with ability to translate between business and technical language

Detail-oriented and organized with a focus on delivering business value

Confident in leading discussions, driving clarity, and making trade-off decisions

Location:

This position can be based in any of the following locations:

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