Agile Product Owner, Employee Benefits

The Hartford•Hartford, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future. A new role can expand your knowledge and your network, and help you learn more about our business. If you think this opportunity is a fit for your career you should apply. If you are not sure you can have a conversation with your manager. The Hartford is seeking an experienced Agile Product Owner to support the Sales, Quoting and Underwriting Value Stream within the Employee Benefits Transformation Office. The Agile Product Owner (APO) is a critical role responsible for maximizing the value delivered by 1–2 Agile teams. Acting as the voice of the customer, the APO ensures that team priorities align with business objectives and the overall product vision. This role works across multiple business teams and product value streams, with a primary focus on delivering business value within the Sales, Quoting and Underwriting value stream. As a key partner to the Agile Product Manager, the APO collaborates daily with business leaders, subject matter experts, and technical teams to define, prioritize, and refine the product backlog. Success in this role also requires clear, consistent communication across all levels—from stakeholders to delivery teams—ensuring alignment and transparency throughout the product lifecycle. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high-performing team, apply existing expertise, and develop new skills in a dynamic environment. To excel, the APO must demonstrate strong ownership, curiosity, and a passion for customer experience, combined with a data-driven approach to decision-making. The APO should be a proactive thought leader who can balance multiple priorities, foster collaboration across stakeholders, and drive outcomes that deliver measurable business value. This position reports to the Agile Product Manager for the program, and prior experience as an Agile Product Owner or Business Analyst within a Scrum team is strongly preferred.

Requirements

Minimum of 3+ years of experience as a Product Owner or Business Analyst within a Scrum team preferred.
Experience with Agile methodologies and frameworks such as SAFe, Scrum, Kanban, XP.
Proficiency with Agile lifecycle management tools (e.g., Rally, JIRA).
Strong collaboration and influence skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders effectively.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences.
Ability to analyze data, identify insights, and create hypotheses for testing.
Demonstrated preference for working collaboratively in a team environment.
Self-motivated, able to manage multiple high-priority demands, and deliver results at pace.
Proven track record of execution readiness and adherence to definition of done.
Willingness to travel 10%–25% as needed.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Employee Benefits business, Life & Voluntary Products preferred.
Experience with ADKAR or other change management frameworks preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead product execution for 1–2 Agile teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives and product vision.
Engage with business and technology stakeholders to identify product opportunities and implications.
Represent the voice of the customer to the Agile team(s) and ensure customer-centric delivery.
Partner with the Agile Product Manager to provide perspective on portfolio and value stream vision and roadmap.
Articulate the product vision and roadmap to the Agile team(s) and guide them in determining sprint goals.
Manage the product backlog: break down epics into features, features into stories, and prioritize to maximize business value.
Aid the Agile Product Manager in feature road mapping and strategic planning.
Ensure the Agile team(s) understand backlog items and their business value.
Write user stories with clear acceptance criteria and validate completed stories against the definition of done and quality expectations.
Validate that delivered solutions meet the product vision and incorporate feedback from sprint demos into the backlog.
Partner with Scrum Masters, Architects, Tech Leads, and business stakeholders to ensure solutions deliver the intended business outcomes.
Maintain a deep understanding of the voice of the customer, industry trends, and competitor insights.
Drive business readiness and change management activities to support successful adoption.
Monitor and communicate execution progress, including risks and impediments, to stakeholders.
Analyze delivery metrics to identify trends and opportunities for continuous improvement.
Own communication across all levels—from stakeholders to Agile teams—ensuring consistency, transparency, and alignment throughout the product lifecycle.