Underwriting Product Owner

Job Title: Underwriting Product Owner

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Family: Underwriting

Department: UW - Data & Quality

Location: Corporate Office (Fort Wayne, IN)

JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for maximizing the value delivered by corporate technology products, focusing specifically on Underwriting integrated solutions, by owning the product vision, managing the Underwriting product backlog, and ensuring alignment between business objectives, stakeholder needs, and Information
Technology’s (IT) development execution. Serves as the voice of the Underwriting customer, ensuring their voice and priorities are considered appropriately as a part of broader corporate technology initiatives, translating desired Underwriting strategy and requirements into prioritized work for delivery teams while maintaining consistency across applications and processes.

POSITION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Serve as the primary liaison between Underwriting business stakeholders, and IT development and support teams, to define, prioritize, and clarify Underwriting product requirements.
• Own and communicate Underwriting’s vision and goals for technology products and facilitate alignment with corporate project timelines and strategy.
• Participate in IT’s backlog creation, refinement, prioritization, and maintenance processes to ensure appropriate Underwriting input toward the delivery of maximum business value.
• Define and communicate Underwriting’s needs that can be translated into clear, well-defined user stories with acceptance criteria.
• Provide day-to-day Underwriting focused input to project teams and clarify functional requirements as development progresses.
• Collaborate closely with Corporate and IT Project Management, Architecture, Business Analysis, Quality Assurance, and Operations teams to support planning, execution, and delivery.
• Champion a user-centered design approach by advocating for Underwriting’s needs, usability, and workflow efficiency.
• Participate in IT sprint planning, backlog refinement, reviews, and retrospectives to ensure continuous improvement.
• Validate completed Underwriting work through acceptance testing and ensure delivered functionality meets business expectations.
• Monitor product performance, gather feedback, and identify opportunities for enhancement or optimization of existing Underwriting systems.
• Facilitate problem resolution between Information Technology and Underwriting, related to product functionality and priorities.
• Provide leadership and facilitation related to change management, identified issues, complex problems, or special projects to enhance coordination and efficiency across all areas of the department.
• Participate on and/or lead teams to research or solve departmentally identified issues, problems, or special projects.
• Complete other projects and duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Proven experience in product ownership, business analysis, or related role within a technology delivery environment.
• Ability to plan, manage, and administer complex projects.
• Strong understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and product lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands and make value-based decisions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• Strong collaboration and facilitation skills when working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Able to adapt to frequent changes in assignments, responsibilities, and tasks while still solving problems.
• Ability to analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Experience working effectively with internal teams, external partners, and leadership.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
List Degree Requirement, Years' Experience, and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field required.
• Five or more years of experience in product management, product ownership, business analysis, or a related discipline required.
• Experience within the insurance, financial services industry and/or information technology preferred.
• Agile or Product Owner certification (e.g., CSPO, SAFe PO/PM) preferred.
• Working toward industry-related professional designations is desirable.

Terms and Conditions

This description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Because the company’s niche is the church and related ministries market, and because effective service requires a thorough understanding of this market, persons in this position must be familiar with church operations and must conduct themselves in a manner that will neither alienate nor offend persons within this target niche.

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this position description in any way the company desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This position description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The
employment relationship remains “at-will”.