SAFe Product Owner jobsoverglobe Washington

Randstad is seeking a SAFe Product Owner for a long-term contract position based in Washington, D.C. This role is central to a transformative initiative aimed at delivering automation and innovation within a crucial transportation sector. The successful candidate will act as the primary voice of the customer, bridging the gap between complex business needs and the development of digital solutions that empower frontline employees and enhance the customer experience. Operating within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), you will be responsible for defining, prioritizing, and validating work for a cross-functional agile team to ensure the consistent delivery of high-value solutions.

This position is ideal for a strategic thinker with a robust background in data, logistics, or operations, who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

The Organization and Mission Context

Our client is a key player in a vital transportation ecosystem. The focus of this engagement is to leverage technology to solve complex operational challenges, improve efficiency, and create a more resilient and user-friendly system for both employees and the public. You will not be building software in a vacuum; you will be contributing to digital tools that have a tangible, daily impact on a critical national infrastructure.

Your work will involve collaborating with teams dedicated to modernizing legacy systems, introducing data-driven decision-making, and creating seamless experiences for thousands of users. This is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a system that millions depend on.

Detailed Role Responsibilities

As the SAFe Product Owner, you will be the linchpin connecting business strategy with agile execution. Your core responsibilities will encompass the entire product development lifecycle.

Key Accountabilities:

• Product Vision and Strategy Translation:

  • Develop and articulate a clear product vision and roadmap for your team, ensuring it is fully aligned with over-arching business objectives and the broader Solution Train vision.

  • Translate high-level strategic themes from Product Management into actionable features and user stories for the agile team.

• Backlog Management and Prioritization:

  • Serve as the single authority for the Team Backlog, including its creation, refinement, and prioritization.

  • Employ a data-driven approach to prioritize features and user stories based on a clear understanding of business value, customer feedback, technical feasibility, and dependencies.

  • Ensure the backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all, showing what the team will work on next.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

  • Act as the primary point of contact for the product, maintaining clear and consistent communication with a diverse set of stakeholders, including business leaders, subject matter experts, and customers.

  • Conduct and facilitate key ceremonies such as Backlog Refinement and PI Planning sessions.

  • Ensure a shared understanding of the product vision and the rationale behind prioritization decisions.

• Requirements Elaboration and Acceptance:

  • Collaborate with Product Management, UX/UI designers, and system architects to decompose features into detailed, well-defined user stories with clear acceptance criteria.

  • Answer questions from developers and testers to ensure a shared understanding of the requirements and definition of “done.”

  • Accept completed user stories, ensuring they meet the acceptance criteria and deliver the intended business value.

• Program Execution and PI Readiness:

  • Actively participate in Program Increment (PI) Planning, presenting the vision and top features to the Agile Team.

  • Define and communicate PI Objectives for the team and be an active participant in the Inspect and Adapt workshop.

  • Coordinate with other Product Owners and teams to manage dependencies and ensure the delivery of cohesive, value-driven features.

• Value Delivery and Metrics:

  • Define, track, and analyze key success metrics to measure the value delivered by the team.

  • Use data and feedback to identify areas for improvement and inform strategic pivots in the product roadmap.

Candidate Qualifications and Required Experience

We are looking for a candidate who possesses a blend of formal certification, practical experience, and core competencies essential for success in a large-scale SAFe environment.

Mandatory Certifications and Education:

• SAFe 6.0 Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) Certification is a non-negotiable requirement.

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., Business, Computer Science, Engineering) or an equivalent combination of relevant work experience and education.

Professional Experience Requirements:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in an Agile Product Owner role.

• At least 3 years of hands-on experience working within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in a large, complex organization.

• Proven background in industries such as data analytics, logistics, supply chain, or operations is highly preferred and will be given significant weight.

• Demonstrable experience with the end-to-end product lifecycle, from concept to launch and iteration.

Technical Proficiency:

• High proficiency with agile project management and collaboration tools, specifically the Atlassian suite (Jira Software and Confluence).

• Experience with Jira Align is a significant advantage for managing program-level epics and dependencies.

• Comfortable working with data and analytics platforms to inform decision-making.

Core Competencies and Behavioral Attributes:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and connect team-level work to program and portfolio strategic themes.

• Decisive Prioritization: A proven ability to make tough prioritization calls based on value, data, and strategic alignment.

• Leadership and Facilitation: Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead without authority, facilitate discussions, and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders.

• Communication Excellence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Problem-Solving Acumen: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on delivering practical, effective solutions.

The Randstad Advantage: What We Offer

This contract role through Randstad offers more than just a project assignment; it provides a pathway to career growth and professional development.

• Competitive Compensation: A highly competitive hourly rate commensurate with experience and the critical nature of this role.

• Long-Term Engagement: A stable, long-term contract with a high potential for extension, offering continuity and the opportunity to see a vision through to fruition.

• Mission-Driven Impact: The chance to work on a high-visibility project that has a direct and meaningful impact on a crucial public transportation system.

• Professional Environment: Engagement with a team of highly skilled professionals, offering a collaborative and challenging environment that fosters continuous learning.

• Benefits Package: Access to Randstad’s comprehensive benefits program for contract employees, which includes health, dental, and vision insurance options, and a 401(k) plan.

Application Process

The application process is designed to efficiently identify candidates with the right blend of skills, experience, and mindset.

1. Initial Application: Submit your updated resume and a cover letter through the Randstad portal. In your cover letter, please briefly highlight your specific experience with SAFe in a large organization and within the data/logistics/operations domain.

2. Screening Interview: A preliminary phone screening with a Randstad recruiter to discuss your background and the role requirements.

3. Technical & Behavioral Interview: A virtual or in-person interview with the client’s hiring team, focusing on your SAFe knowledge, product ownership methodologies, and situational decision-making.

4. Final Interview: A final round interview to meet with key stakeholders and delve deeper into strategic alignment and cultural fit.