Product Owner & Scrum Master

About Smart Education LLC:

Smart Education LLC is a leading UAE-based educational distributor specializing in providing high-quality learning and teaching materials for US K12, Tertiary, and Vocational education, as well as English Language Teaching and Learning resources. Founded by experienced educators from the Middle East, UK, and US, we are committed to delivering regionally specific content that aligns with international standards.

About the Role:

Maximizing the value of a product by effectively managing the product backlog and collaborating with stakeholders, development teams, and customers. The PO serves as the primary connection between the business needs and the technical delivery team, ensuring the product aligns with organizational goals and user expectations, lead Agile practices and drive high-performing teams to deliver exceptional products. In this role, you will act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, facilitate Scrum events, and coach teams to adopt Agile principles effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Vision and Strategy

• Define and communicate the product vision and strategy.
• Align product goals with the overall organizational objectives.
• Continuously monitor market trends and customer feedback to refine the product vision.

2. Backlog Management

• Develop and maintain a prioritized product backlog.
• Write clear and actionable user stories with acceptance criteria.
• Regularly refine the backlog to reflect changes in business priorities or requirements.

3. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between stakeholders (customers, business leaders, and end-users) and the development team.
• Gather and translate business needs into product features.
• Manage and communicate stakeholder expectations.

4. Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the development team to ensure understanding of product requirements.
• Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and sprint reviews.
• Provide immediate feedback to the team to ensure alignment with product goals.

5. Roadmap Development

• Develop and manage the product roadmap, ensuring it reflects strategic goals and timelines.
• Balance technical debt with feature development.

6. Performance Metrics and Evaluation

• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success.
• Analyze data and user feedback to guide product decisions.
• Monitor the product's performance and drive iterative improvements.

7. Compliance and Documentation

• Ensure the product meets all relevant compliance and regulatory standards.
• Document product features, changes, and updates clearly for stakeholders and team members.

8. Innovation and Adaptability

• Stay informed about industry trends and technological advancements.
• Propose innovative ideas to enhance product functionality and competitiveness.

9. Manage project scope and timelines effectively, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

10. Act as the primary point of contact for external communications with stakeholders and customers.

11. Guide and coach Scrum Teams in Agile practices to deliver high-quality products.

12. Foster a high-performing team environment through coaching and development techniques.

13. Promote adherence to Scrum theory, principles, and guidelines while driving team self-organization.

14. Facilitate Scrum ceremonies, including Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Retrospective.

15. Collaborate with teams to resolve impediments and optimize Scrum implementation across the organization.

16. Support the advancement and adoption of Agile practices within the organization.

Experience and Expertise:

• 5+ years of experience as a Business Analyst / Product Owner / Scrum Master with a proven track record of successful project delivery.
• Strong understanding and hands-on experience with software development processes and methodologies.
• Expertise in Scrum techniques and artifacts, including user stories, backlog refinement, and sprint planning.
• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies (e.g. Scrum, Kanban).
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.