Product Owner (all genders) - NOWA: Innovation Hub WKW
We are a small, entrepreneurial in-house startup with the mission to turn business services into digital products, leveraging modern cloud and AI capabilities. Backed by an established organization, we combine startup agility with corporate reach, data, and infrastructure.
The role:
As Product Owner, you are the driving force behind the development and delivery of innovative digital products at NOWA. You don't just manage a backlog; you own the product vision for your area, set priorities that drive real impact, and ensure the team is always building the right thing - from first concept through to market launch.
You work as a peer to the UX/UI Lead, Development Lead, and Tech Lead, acting as a strategic partner who translates business goals into a prioritized, outcome-driven roadmap - on time and within budget.
Your first focus will be wkw.now, our AI-powered digital assistant for entrepreneurs and NOWA's first product. The platform is in active development, combining conversational AI with structured workflows and personalized services for Vienna's business community.
Key responsibilities:
- Own the full product development lifecycle - from concept and prototype validation through to market launch - including a clear, strategic product roadmap with prioritized development goals.
- Maintain a prioritized product backlog; translate strategic goals and user insights into clear epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria, applying agile methods such as Scrum, Kanban, and Story Mapping.
- Drive sprint planning, backlog refinement, and sprint reviews together with the Development Lead, ensuring the team delivers fast, visible results within budget and timeline constraints.
- Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders; collect, challenge, and synthesize requirements across business, operations, and leadership, and communicate progress clearly.
- Develop user-centric products in close collaboration with the UX/UI Lead, ensuring features are grounded in real user needs and deliver clear added value for our target groups.
- Define and track product KPIs; use data, feedback, and market signals to continuously evaluate what's working and adjust course - with particular focus on how LLM and AI capabilities create value for users.
Your Profile:
- Experience: At least 3 years of experience as a Product Owner or Product Manager on digital products in an agile environment, ideally with cross-functional teams. A degree in Business, IT, or a related field is a plus.
- Agile Practice: Solid knowledge of agile methods - Scrum, Kanban, and Story Mapping - and a track record of using them to deliver fast, visible outcomes. A CSPO certification or equivalent is an advantage.
- Ownership Mindset: You take full accountability for your product area, proactively identify opportunities and risks, and drive decisions with confidence - even under ambiguity and with an eye for detail in complex projects.
- User Focus & Analytics: Strong ability to represent user needs and translate them into concrete requirements. Comfortable using product metrics, usage data, and KPIs to make evidence-based decisions.
- Technical Curiosity: Sufficient technical understanding to work effectively with developers and evaluate trade-offs. Genuine interest in leveraging LLMs and generative AI as core product building blocks.
- Work Style: Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to lead complex projects and convey ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Team player and natural motivator with excellent English and German skills.
Why join us:
Shape the product strategy of our new in-house startup from the ground up.
High-impact, visible role at the intersection of cloud, data, and applied AI.
Work in a small, empowered team with short decision paths and the backing of a stable organization.
- Real Ownership: Drive decisions that directly shape the product and the digital future of Vienna's business ecosystem - no layers of approval, no ownership by committee.
- Inspiring Projects: Work on digitalization, AI, and future-oriented services for Vienna's business community.
- Agile Culture: Flat hierarchies, flexible working models, and an open, cooperative team culture.
- State-of-the-Art Technologies: Access leading technologies and tools to implement innovative ideas efficiently.
- Professional Growth: Benefit from workshops, further training, and strategic exchange with experts.
- Flexible Working: Modern working time models and home-office options promote your work-life balance.
- Attractive Conditions: A market-conforming salary and long-term perspectives in a future-oriented environment.
Annual gross salary starting at 60.000 Euro (on a full-time basis) with the possibility of higher pay according to experience and qualifications.
We promote a diverse and inclusive work environment. Therefore, we welcome applications from people of different gender, age, cultural or social background, sexual identity and applications from people with disabilities.