Product Owner

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc., (SGA), is searching for a Product Owner for a right to hire assignment with one of our premier financial services clients in Rutherford, NJ .

Responsibilities :

• Manages a large multi-faceted project involving multiple functional streams, technology platforms and geographical locations
• Owns project goals leveraging expertise to inspire a sense of shared purpose within the project team.
• Organizes new challenges and drive business results.
• Works closely with the Customer, Technology, Operations and other Project Managers to define a project scope and objectives for project members.
• Prepares, maintains, and submits clear and concise activity/progress reports and time recording/management reports.
• Assesses project risk potentials and discover potential problems before they occur.
• Applies a proactive approach in routinely tracking the project participant progress against project goals.
• Defines, teaches, and enforces the use of good project management practices such as techniques in resolving complex, interdependent activities into tasks and sub-tasks that are documented, monitored and controlled.
• Identifies and where required amends the approach to the context and constraints of each project.
• Constantly improving their own and their teams' skills through lessons-learned reviews at project completion.
• Possess the knowledge, skills and experience to be able to recognize when problems surface or potential problems are looming.
• Articulates problems, bring the right people together to solve problems and know when the problem has been properly addressed and closed.
• Promotes partner involvement through effectively communicating project status upward and to the Business.
• Applies lessons learned from recent projects to future projects.
• Communicates to all concerned parties project milestones, status updates, as well as any existing or potential customer escalation issues.
• Proactively follows escalation and change control processes.
• Owns all management reports on a given engagement.
• Promotes good working relationships across a project, cultivating the people skills needed to develop trust and communication among all of a project's stakeholders: its sponsors, those who will make use of the project's results, those who command the resources needed, and the project team members.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding the firm, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
• Maintaining Book of Work and facilitating prioritization discussions with key business stakeholders
• Develop and publish content for Senior management reporting, presentations, town halls etc.
• Managing relationship with Business and taking ownership for providing regular project updates to key business and technology stakeholders
• Understanding Business priorities and working as a liaison between Business and Development teams
• Collating and communicating key project milestones, risks, and achievements.

Required Skills :

• Bachelor's degree/University degree or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in business analysis or systems analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in presenting and using planning tools
• Proven diplomatic and analytical skills
• Proven ability to manage complex and variable issues with substantial potential impact by weighing various action plans and balancing potentially conflicting needs.
• Advanced data analysis skills, leveraging tools such as Excel and Python to support enhanced data processing and insights.
• Extensive exposure to structured project management techniques, with familiarity in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Proven experience in managing and delivering complex technical projects.
• Proven experience in leveraging automation and AI enabled tools to improve productivity, reporting, and delivery discipline.
• Prior experience in Enterprise Risk Management and Limits & Thresholds Management.

Preferred Skills :

• Master's degree preferred

SGA is a technology and resource solutions provider driven to stand out. We are a women-owned business. Our mission: to solve big IT problems with a more personal, boutique approach. Each year, we match consultants like you to more than 1,000 engagements. When we say let's work better together, we mean it. You'll join a diverse team built on these core values: customer service, employee development, and quality and integrity in everything we do. Be yourself, love what you do and find your passion at work. Please find us at .

SGA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of Race, Color, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Religion, National Origin, Disability, Veteran Status, Age, Marital Status, Pregnancy, Genetic Information, or Other Legally Protected Status. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, and our services, programs, and activities. Please visit our company to request an accommodation or assistance regarding our policy