Product Owner #5435

Product Owner #5435

Department: Chief Information Officer
Work Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
Pay Band: SAA-9 - $90159-$135232
Remote Work Status: Remote / FLSA Status: Exempt
Posting Date Range: 5/17/2023-5/31/2023
This vacancy announcement closes at 7pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

Link to apply: https://saa.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/135?c=saa 

 Job Description
The U.S. Senate, Sergeant at Arms (SAA), Chief Information Office (CIO), Process Management and Innovation (PMI) department is looking to hire one (1) Product Owner for software applications. Qualification details are in the ‘Required Minimum Qualifications’ section below. PMI’s Systems Design, Development, and Implementation (SDDI) team develops and maintains 50+ custom software applications built to support business operations of offices (e.g., members, committees, leadership) inside the U.S. Senate. The team includes approximately 20 total staff comprised of software engineers, user experience designers, Senior Product Owner and quality assurance analysts who work together using Agile methods to develop software. Currently, in addition to a full time Senior Product Owner, these staff also provide product ownership (PO) and PO coaching on projects and we are looking to hire a Product Owner to focus full‐time on this work. Other staff will continue to PO and coach as needed on projects, and this staffer will alleviate some of that workload. Successful candidates will have a keen interest in business applications, sharing and learning new skills and improving existing skills by working with experienced development teams and by taking advantage of generous training opportunities. The successful candidate has a learning mindset, is open to receiving constructive feedback, and generous with offering it, learns from mistakes/failures, and commits to making improvements. The current technology stack used by SDDI is Python, Django, Vue.js, and PostgreSQL. Applications are deployed to a containerized environment. The Vuetify Design Framework is currently used to build the front‐end of new solutions. The team is expanding their solutions currently to also include native mobile applications. Legacy systems are also maintained, including those written in Python and Django. Product backlogs are maintained and tracked using GitLab. The Product Owner (PO) is a professional position with hands-on technical experience as a developer, designer, QA tester, or similar job. Work involves defining the scope of a software project, collaborating with stakeholders, users, and the technical team to define project phases/releases, and defining a backlog (as user stories and acceptance criteria) that represent features that may ensure the successful adoption by target audiences. Work in this classification is distinguished from the Senior Product Owner by the scope, complexity, criticality of assignments, level of expertise, and project management responsibilities. The PO is accountable to stakeholders, the technical team, business owners for successful adoption of the product. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the System Design Development and Implementation Branch Manager.

Examples of Work
Works as a product owner or product owner coach on projects. Manages and prioritizes the product backlog based on value to the customer. Writes user stories and acceptance criteria based on business needs. Tests features built; involves customers in testing; gathers feedback; documents issues; works with the technical team to resolve issues. Helps customers explore new business processes that meet their collective needs to create better processes by conducting business analysis. Establishes and maintains relationships across Senate offices to support the establishment of customer Advisory Groups and technical teams.

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum 3 years of experience specifically in agile (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) software design, development, and business analysis, including documenting user stories and acceptance criteria. 
1 year of experience as a designer, developer, QA tester or other technical software‐development job.
1 year of experience automating business processes.
In lieu of a degree, 4+ years of experience with Product, Business, Technical, or related fields.
Ability to listen actively and capture user stories and acceptance criteria for requirements.
Experience working in Agile teams to identify the most valuable product (MVP) and reevaluation
priorities routinely.
Ability to work as part of two teams at the same time.
Ability to select and apply various business analysis techniques to understand customer problems and ways they can be modified.
Training and experience in facilitation, mediation, negotiation, or similar. 

Work requires a bachelor’s degree in business, product design, technical (computer science, software engineering, information technology), or any equivalent combination of education and experience. At least 3 years of experience specifically in agile software design, development, and business analysis, including documenting user stories and acceptance criteria.

• Ability to apply and explain software engineering principles and technology solutions and their opportunities and limitations. 
• Ability to select and apply various business analysis techniques to understand customer problems and ways they can be modified.  
• Ability and experience in agile development facilitation, negotiation, or similar. 
• Ability and experience in agile development or Product Owner coaching, mentoring, or similar.
• Proven experience with facilitating discussion in small groups to reach agreement, e.g., negotiating, key performance indicators (KPI) establishment, coaching, mentoring. 
• Knowledge of technical trends and emerging technologies. 
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
• Ability to work as part of multiple project teams at the same time.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

Work is performed in a remote environment with no exceptional physical demands.

Desired Additional Qualifications (Not Required)
Certified Product Owner, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Facilitator, PMI‐ACP
Experience designing or developing web‐based software applications for businesses and being a product owner for business applications.
Ability to apply and explain software engineering principles and technology solutions and their opportunities and limitations.
Training and experience in coaching, mentoring, or similar.
Knowledge of technical trends and emerging technologies.

Licenses, Certification and Other Requirements
This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain an applicable U.S. Government secret security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens in order for the SAA to submit an application for a security clearance. For education requirements please see Minimum Qualifications.

Conditions of Employment
To be employed by a Senate employing office in a paid position in the continental United States an individual must:
1. Be a U.S. citizen;
2. Be lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B);
3. Be (i) admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158 and (ii) have filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
4. Owe allegiance to the U.S. (i.e., qualify as a non-citizen U.S. national under federal law).

Employment is contingent on background / security investigation results.  

BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE

The SAA provides a highly competitive benefits package for all SAA staff. Our benefits extend beyond health care coverage to help provide employees with student loan reimbursement, professional development, transportation subsidy, TSP/retirement savings, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and more! For more information regarding SAA’s benefits, please visit https://sen.gov/OPPW.

ACCOMMODATIONS

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the SAA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAA and need special assistance or an accommodation to complete the application process, please submit your request to employment@saa.senate.gov email with “Accommodation” in the subject line.

VOLUNTARY SELF-IDENTIFICATION FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE

If you are identifying as veterans' preference eligible under the VEOA, please use this link  to complete your application for Veterans' Preference AFTER you apply for this position. The link will also be available on the "Thank You" page after you have submitted your job application.

Candidates only need to apply one time for veterans’ preference to be considered for all future veterans’ preference positions within the Senate Sergeant at Arms. 

• All supporting documents must ONLY be provided within the Veterans’ Preference Application and within the stated deadline of the job announcement.
• Late applications for veterans’ preference will not be considered.
• Documentation to obtain veterans’ preference will not be considered if attached to the job application.
• If you need to revise or resubmit your Application for Veterans' Preference/documents, please withdraw your previous Application for Veterans' Preference and resubmit. If you require assistance, please email employment@saa.senate.gov.
• To view additional information regarding the VEOA, please click here .

An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or to provide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’s status will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but the individual may be ruled ineligible for veterans’ preference.