Product Owner

• Join an organisation with an enviable reputation for trustworthiness, honest and outstanding customer service within the insurance industry


• An exciting time to be a part of our ambitious transformation programme


• Salary up to £60k p.a. + annual bonus of up to 25%

We are transforming our general insurance sales, policy administration and underwriting end to end processes and we are introducing a new platform based around Guidewire PolicyCenter, hosting a refreshed GI product range that will be delivered through Agile software development process. In our first releases we are focusing on our Home and High Net Worth Product range, with Motor release planning due to commence soon.

The Product Owner plays a critical role in project delivery in accordance with business strategy and timescales through ensuring the implementation of robust ways of work prioritisation, strong communication channels between teams, coherence within and across releases, quick and efficient decision making and conflict resolution.

As a Product Owner, your accountabilities will include but won’t be limited to:

• 
  Developing and applying an agreed prioritisation approach and creating, prioritising and maintaining the requirements backlog for the release


• Leading the development of recommendations for release scope and sprint plan, working with business and workstream leads as well as Systems Integrators & Solution Assurance partners to ensure that delivery is aligned to business strategy and achieves optimal business benefit


• Providing Agile development teams with a quick and effective escalation point to resolve ambiguity, conflict between business requirements and other blockers to progress so that time delays and burn cost are minimised


• Directing activity of business Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), creating a supportive environment where they are engaged, motivated and empowered to challenge and make decisions on behalf of their business area


• Ensuring that the agreed design and delivery remains aligned to the overall programme business case through review and approval of all key deliverables including requirements and solution design documents, testing strategy and approach and business sign-off of test completion


• Developing and maintaining close working relationships with other Product Owners and project workstreams to ensure the impact of scope and delivery decisions is shared, discussed and can be accounted for.


• Presenting and reporting on sprint progress and deliverables to ensure senior programme stakeholders are kept informed of key successes and any issues arising

We are seeking a dynamic and proactive professional with an excellent understanding of Agile development methodology and experience operating in an Agile development environment, ideally in a Product Owner capacity. Ideally you will have an awareness and understanding of General Insurance principles and the Guidewire product suite, but this is not essential and consideration will be given to individuals from other industries.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in the implementation of major change programmes, particularly those delivered using Agile ways of working and will be able to demonstrate an ability to contribute to projects on all levels. As a confident communicator, you will be able to convey messages clearly to a range of audiences and effectively influence both internal stakeholders and third-party suppliers to achieve shared delivery outcomes. You will be a strong negotiator with the skill to swiftly resolve conflict and you will have an ability to mentor and coach project team members so that they understand the requirements of Agile delivery and are encouraged and supported to fulfil their potential.

When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:

• 
  Salary of up to £60k p.a. depending on experience


• Annual bonus (up to 25% of salary)


• Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution


• 28 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme


• A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities


• Private medical insurance + options to add family members


• Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets


• £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership – subject to T&Cs


• Health and wellbeing plan - cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more


• Employee Volunteering - volunteer in the community for one day each year


• Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme


• Life Assurance cover of 4 x salary


• Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies.

We’re one of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies. For over 110 years we’ve put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Our people are just as important to us. We pride ourselves on being “a great place to work” and are one of only 39 companies across the globe, and the only organisation with headquarters in the UK, to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2022 award. We were also named in the LinkedIn Top 25 Companies List 2021 and the Glassdoor Best 50 Workplaces List 2023.

We offer a supportive culture where we empower and inspire our people to perform, offer them opportunities to grow, and recognise and reward their contribution. Our people are proud to work for a company that respects them and their communities, and they trust us to be financially sustainable, so we are successful now and in the future.