Job Summary
The AVP, Product Owner Practice is accountable for building, leading, and maturing the product ownership discipline in support of F&G’s project-to-product transformation. This role owns the outcomes delivered by a team of Product Owners while shaping the culture, standards, and organizational understanding of product ownership at scale. Beyond leading the practice, the AVP will also coach Value Stream Leads, advancing product thinking across business leadership. This position will require deep practitioner experience, a passion for developing talent, and the credibility to influence how the broader organization engages with the product owner discipline.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the Product Owner practice, and a team of Product Owners, holding the team accountable for delivering measurable business value through well-managed backlogs, clear product vision, and effective stakeholder engagement.
- Establish and evolve the standards, frameworks, and best practices that define product ownership excellence, ensuring consistency and quality across all product teams.
- Serve as the organization's primary authority on product ownership, bringing industry experience and external perspective to shape how product thinking is understood and applied across business and technology.
- Design and lead education and enablement initiatives that build organizational literacy around the product model, helping stakeholders and leaders understand how to effectively engage with and leverage product owners.
- Mentor and coach Value Stream Leads in product thinking, outcome-based prioritization, roadmap ownership, and the cultural shifts required to operate in a product model.
- Partner with the Director, Digital Delivery, Agile Coaches, and RTEs to ensure product ownership practices are well-integrated with agile delivery frameworks and team-level execution.
- Attract, develop, and retain top product ownership talent, building clear career pathways within the Product Owner job family.
- Define and track practice health metrics — including backlog quality, story readiness, stakeholder satisfaction, and outcome realization — holding the team accountable for continuous improvement.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, IT leadership, and transformation partners.
- Lead change management efforts supporting agile and delivery transformations.
Experience and Education Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of experience in product ownership or product management, with at least 3–5 years leading a product owner practice or team.
- Deep, practitioner-level knowledge of product ownership, backlog management, outcome-based roadmapping, and agile delivery frameworks.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
- Experience operating within a SAFe environment preferred.
- Experience in Financial Services, Life Insurance, or Annuities strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Expert-level knowledge of product ownership principles, product operating models, and scaled agile frameworks, with the ability to set strategic direction for their adoption.
- Strong executive presence and communication skills (oral and written), with the ability to influence and educate senior leaders.
- Strong coaching and leadership skills, able to influence at all organizational levels.
- Exceptional facilitation, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
- Skilled at designing enablement programs, standards, and frameworks that build durable organizational capability.
- Data-driven leadership mindset, with the ability to define practice health metrics and drive improvement through accountability and coaching.
- Experience navigating complex, matrixed, regulated environments with diverse stakeholder needs.
- Ability to influence without direct authority over Value Stream Leads, Lean Portfolio Management, and other stakeholders.
- Skilled in fostering team development and cross-functional collaboration.
- Experienced in organizational change management and acts as an effective change agent.
Other Requirements
- Perform other duties and projects as assigned.
- Regular and punctual attendance.
- Some travel may be required (less than 10%).
- Willingness to work flexible hours as business needs dictate.
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Additional Information
Work Environments
F&G believes in an employee-centric flexible environment, which is why we offer the ability for in-office, hybrid and remote work arrangements. During the hiring process, you'll work with your leader to decide what works best for your role.
F&G complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and candidates with disabilities, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for F&G. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [email protected].
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About F&G
Since 1959, Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company (F&G) has offered annuity and life insurance products to those who are seeking security in retirement and protection during life’s unexpected events.
As a national Top Workplace1, an Iowa Top Workplace2 and a proud equal opportunity employer, F&G team members are empowered, collaborative, dynamic and authentic. We believe that by embracing these values, we will continue to build and strengthen the company while continuing to be a great place to work.
1Top Workplaces USA 2022 – 2023
2Des Moines Register Top Workplaces 2018 – 2022
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