Business Product Owner (Project Management)

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture

Ascend Learning is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

For over 37 years, National Academy of Sports Medicine® (NASM®) has set the standard in fitness and wellness education with best-in-class evidence-based programs. We have educated over 1.4 million fitness professionals in over 100 countries, creating a global space for optimal well-being and fitness. From personal training to nutrition coaching, wellness to sports performance, NASM trainers and specialists work at every level to help all clients set and reach their own unique goals.

WHAT YOU'LL DO  

A Business Product Owner (BPO) translates customer needs into actionable requirements, focused on the execution of design, build, testing, and launch of new or enhanced solutions serving those interested in health, fitness, and/or wellness careers. This role will work cross-functionally to lead the successful delivery of the strategic product vision. Business Product Owner partners closely with the Product Manager to ensure alignment with strategy and lead the tactical execution plan to bring products to market. This role also partners closely with technical product manager, product marketing manager and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment and proper breakdown of business requirements into execution and delivery. 

WHERE YOU'LL WORK  

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Gilbert, AZ office location.

 

HOW YOU'LL SPEND YOUR TIME 

• Translate product market requirements into actionable business requirements, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria for development and content.
• Participate in the product and solution discovery process to understand customer needs and market requirements. Partner with UX to visualize concepts and drive business requirement documentation.  
• Serve as direct representative of the business with delivery teams, representing and reinforcing the customers' perspective. Work cross-functionally with product, technology, content, and other functions to drive successful execution of product.
• Build strong relationships with customers, partners, and internal team members.
• Drive projects from inception to delivery, from managing kick-off activities, internal meetings, and statement of work creation; to project plan documentation and communication with vendors and partners.

• Prioritize requirements and collaborate across functions and project stakeholders to develop schedules, establish milestones, and execute the delivery process so that distributed resources can work as an effective, objective driven and collaborative team.
• Actively monitor all phases of product development, communicating and collaborating with key stakeholders to keep them informed on project activities, progress against defined milestones and deadlines, and resolve roadblocks to ensure successful on-time delivery.

• Support go-to-market/launch communication and training plans, working with marketing, sales, operations/service, and development teams to ensure readiness and launch success. 
• Help manage vendor relationships, contract negotiations, new vendor selection processes, renewal solutions, maintenance and support.

• Provide oversight and management of work backlogs, the prioritization process and work scheduling and monitoring.

• Oversee the execution of minor product enhancement upgrades and other business-as-usual (BAU) activities to sustain in-market product health, including new features, defect fixes, stability and security needs, product backlog etc. 
• Support tracking/managing of product-related expenditures against budget.

 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED 

• Bachelor's degree in related fields such as Business, Marketing, Education, or Healthcare combined with relevant work experience is required.   
• 3+ years combined experience in product management, product owner, or project management roles, (project management alone is insufficient).  
• SaaS and/or tech-enabled services product management experience is strongly preferred.   
• Educational product management experience is preferred.  
• Proven ability to gather and translate market requirements into actionable business requirements and viable product solutions ensuring that the vision for “how a product needs to perform for a customer” is embodied in the design of the product.  
• Proven experience gathering requirements for product launches. Hands-on experience in managing all stages of the product development lifecycle.  
• Experience working in an agile environment preferred.  
• Experience using one or more product management and development tracking tools (JIRA preferred)  
• Additional training or certifications in areas such as product management, strategic planning, leadership, or project management may enhance the candidate's qualifications.  
• Superb written and verbal communication skills characterized by technical acumen, clarity, and brevity, to effectively communicate with client executives and their respective teams.
• Strong project management skills, including ability to manage deadlines, prioritize product requirements, and identify issues and mitigate/manage risks.  
• Strong attention to detail with analytical, data-driven decision making, problem resolution, and prioritization skills
• Ownership mentality with self-assuredness and confidence when communicating with partners, vendors, and internal stake holders
• Ability to rapidly adapt and respond to changes in environment and priorities.
• Ability to manage numerous complex projects simultaneously.
• Technical aptitude to partner effectively with Technology stakeholders.  
• Ability to travel up to 15% client, conferences and meetings.
• Pragmatic and/or Agile Product Owner Training preferred. 

BENEFITS 

• Flexible and generous paid time off  
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance  
• 401(k) employer matching program 
• Parental leave 
• Wellness resources 
• Charitable matching program 
• Hybrid work  
• On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington) 
• Community outreach groups 
• Tuition reimbursement 

Fostering A Sense of Belonging

We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued and be their authentic selves. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

About Ascend Learning

As a tech-enabled services company, Ascend Learning is a national leader in developing and delivering data-driven online educational content, software, assessments, analytics, and simulations serving institutions, students and employers across healthcare, fitness and wellness, public and workplace safety, skilled trades, insurance, financial services, cybersecurity, and higher education. We're committed to accelerating the learning pathways that can move people into careers where they have the knowledge and skills to have an impact and help change lives in the communities they serve. Headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America's 2023 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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