Senior Product Owner, WPP Open

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities.

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 talented people dedicated to doing extraordinary work for our clients. We operate in over 100 countries, with corporate headquarters in New York, London and Singapore.

WPP is a world leader in marketing services, with deep AI, data and technology capabilities, global presence and unrivalled creative talent. Our clients include many of the biggest companies and advertisers in the world, including approximately 300 of the Fortune Global 500.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

About WPP Open:

WPP Open is at the forefront of transforming how WPP delivers value to its clients. We are building a unified product ecosystem that empowers our agencies and clients with cutting-edge tools and data-driven insights. Our product organization is driven by a clear vision, strategic execution, and a commitment to continuous innovation.

Why we are hiring:

We are seeking a Senior Product Owner to join our WPP Open product team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in owning a specific product area, defining its lower-level strategy within the overarching WPP Open strategy, translating that strategy into actionable product backlogs, managing complex feature sets, and mentoring junior team members. You will work closely with Product Leads, engineering teams, and various stakeholders to deliver high-impact product outcomes that directly contribute to WPP Open's success.

What you'll do:

• Backlog Management & Ownership: Own and manage complex or high-impact product backlogs for your designated product area, ensuring they are meticulously prioritized, well-defined, and directly support your defined product area strategy and the overall WPP Open product roadmap and strategic themes.
• Product Area Ownership & Strategy Definition: Take full ownership of a designated product area, defining its detailed product strategy, roadmap, and key initiatives. Ensure this lower-level strategy aligns seamlessly with the broader WPP Open product vision and strategic themes set by the Product Lead and has buy in from cross-functional stakeholders.
• Requirement Definition: Translate high-level product strategy and user needs into clear, concise, and actionable epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria that lead to clear, testable outcomes.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering teams, UX/UI designers, and other product stakeholders throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from concept to release.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior managers, Product Leads, and end-users, to gather feedback, shape the roadmap, and ensure alignment.
• Mentorship & Guidance: Begin mentoring or guiding junior Product Owners or Product Analysts, sharing best practices and contributing to their professional development.
• Problem Solving: Analyze and resolve complex product-related problems, considering broader implications and introducing new approaches to improve efficiency and delivery.
• Decision Making: Demonstrate strong prioritization and decision-making skills, especially under ambiguity, for your product area, to ensure the most valuable features are delivered and the product area's strategic goals are met.
• Communication & Presentation: Confidently present product progress, plans, and insights to senior stakeholders, ensuring clarity in complex discussions with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribution to Vision: Actively contribute to the overall WPP Open product vision and roadmap, while independently shaping and owning the detailed vision and strategy for your specific product area. Ensure your product area's backlog consistently aligns with both your defined strategy and the broader strategic themes and business objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvements within the product development lifecycle and contribute to the evolution of WPP Open's product practices.

What you'll need:

• Experience in product management or a similar product ownership role.
• Proven ability to strategically own and manage a product area, including defining its lower-level strategy and complex or high-impact product backlogs with minimal supervision
• Strong understanding and practical experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban). Agile certification (e.g., CSPO) is desirable.
• Ability to independently define and translate product area strategy into actionable backlog work with little help, demonstrating a deep understanding of technical considerations and constraints.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership or mentoring roles, with a desire to guide and develop team members.
• Ability to analyse and resolve complex problems, considering broader implications and introducing new approaches to improve efficiency.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences (technical and non-technical).
• Proven ability to proactively engage with senior managers and external vendors, resolve conflicts independently, and contribute to shaping the product roadmap.
• A strong track record of successfully delivering features from concept to release in multiple sprints, with a focus on achieving clear, testable outcomes.

Why WPP Open?

At WPP Open, you'll be part of a pioneering team building the future of marketing and advertising. We offer a collaborative and innovative environment where your contributions will have a tangible impact. You'll have the opportunity to work on challenging projects, grow your skills, and shape the product landscape for one of the world's leading creative transformation companies.

Join us and help us build the future of WPP!

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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