Product Owner - Project Hire

At Disney, we’re storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. The Walt Disney Company is an extraordinary entertainment and technological leader. Walt’s passion was to continuously envision new ways to move audiences around the world—a passion that remains our touchstone in an enterprise that stretches from theme parks, resorts and a cruise line to sports, news, movies and a variety of other businesses. Uniting each endeavor is a commitment to creating and delivering unforgettable experiences — and we’re constantly looking for new ways to enhance these exciting experiences!

The Enterprise Technology mission is to deliver technology solutions that align to business strategies while enabling enterprise efficiency and promoting cross-company collaborative innovation. The Enterprise Technology organization drives competitive advantage by enhancing our consumer experiences, enabling business growth, and advancing operational excellence. 

The Business Technology Platforms group is part of the Core Systems & Platforms organization. We are responsible for the products and platforms that support TWDC's corporate business functions (Corporate Real Estate, Global Security, Enterprise Social Responsibility, Investor Relations, Legal, Supply Chain, etc.) and enterprise service management platforms (Appian, Salesforce, & ServiceNow). We provide strategic technology solutions in support of empowering the business, workforce, and technology communities through digital transformation.

The Product Owner (PO) is a core role in an agile team. You will have the opportunity to ensure that the team maintains a prioritizing Team Backlog made up of defined User Stories that enables the team to effectively and efficiently delivery the commitments to their customers, on time, on budget and on function. 

As a Product Owner you'll have the chance to improve the value produced by the team by ensuring Stories meet the user’s needs with clearly defined acceptance criteria that encompass comprehensive testing and validation and align with the Definition of Done. Also, demonstrate customer centricity and service orientation, by building collaborative relationships across the enterprise and ensuring the delivery of quality product that delivers the desired business outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Identify key customer(s) and customer groups and build customer relationships to develop effective product feedback loops for integration to the agile delivery cycle.

• Partner with stakeholders and team to develop product/project/program strategy and roadmap for integration to Enterprise Technology business planning cycles and cross-functional development management.

• Responsible for defining the priorities of agile team, managing the team backlog, and prioritizing the user stories, defects, and enablers.

• Acts as subject matter expert with internal stakeholders and the assigned product or product areas.

• Ensure alignment of the team backlog with the strategic priorities of product strategy and roadmap and the program backlog.

• Collaborate with technology and end-user communities to understand business process and elicit, define, and ensure vital information is documented for the agile team to deliver the intended business outcomes

• Ensure the development of well-defined user stories and acceptance criteria based on established requirements

• Partner with quality engineering to develop test strategy and write test cases across in alignment with the established Quality Management Office testing standards and practice

• Collaborate with quality engineering resources to implement tests, analyze results, and resolve defects

• Evaluate the delivered stories against the definition of done and the established acceptance criteria

• Collaborate with business partners on implementation, including training, organizational change, and communications

• Partner with the Program Management Office on product/project budgets and forecasting processes

• Remediate difficult problems and sophisticated inquiries related to the development backlog and requirements to ensure successful agile team outcomes; on time, on budget and on function

• Act as a peer group leader to and help coach and mentor staff on product delivery standards and processes.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years' of experience as a product owner or related role, managing a sophisticated product within an enterprise.

• Strong technology background and applicable technology skills

• Experience as a product owner, driving the outcomes for a single product or complex feature

• Able to translate complex ideas into understandable requirements, value statements, and business outcomes

• Strong communication, writing, and executive presentation skills

• Experience with agile product owner certifications (CSPO, SAFe PO/PM, etc.)

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

Key Attributes:

• Thinks strategically.

• Stays current on business trends and technological advances.

• Uses knowledge of the company’s products and services to meet customer needs and financial targets.

• Identifies key business opportunities and challenges.

• Examines issues from a broad perspective, considering impact beyond immediate scope.

• Builds relationships.

• Acts as the voice of the customer by understanding their business strategies and aligning business needs with the product strategy and roadmap.

• Interacts well with people who have different backgrounds and work styles.

• Resolves conflicts effectively.

• Manages the diverse needs of stakeholders.

• Communicates Effectively.

• Conveys relevant information in a candid and timely manner.

• Listens and asks questions to ensure understanding

• Tailors messages appropriately to the audience

• Effectively persuades others to support ideas and plans

• Drives Results

• Leverages the agile methodologies to ensure team meets its commitments

• Uses technology to facilitate better results

• Analyzes problems and takes action to resolve

• Achieves high levels of customer satisfaction

• Is metrics and data driven

• Holds self and others accountable to high standards

• Inspires Creativity and Innovation

• Conceives creative ideas to solve problems or meet objectives

• Demonstrates a positive attitude with contagious enthusiasm

• Challenges the status quo

• Transfers ideas and success across boundaries 

• Facilitates the exchange of ideas and creation of new ones

• Sets vision and creates enduring excitement about what is possible

• Champions Change

• Remains productive despite uncertainly

• Demonstrates flexibility in response to changes

• Supports new initiatives

• Builds Teams

• Supports productivity and morale of the team

• Strengthens others through mentoring and feedback

• Exhibits Professional Excellence

• Treats others with respect

• Earns the trust of colleagues, partners and customers

• Maintains composure under pressure

• Strives for self-improvement

• Learns from personal and organizational experiences

• Sets a good example for others

This is a 30 month Project Hire position with no guarantee of permanent placement. Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA $123,902.00 to $166,210.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.