Product Owner

Driven by transformative digital technologies and trends, we are RIB and we’ve made it our purpose to propel the industry forward and make engineering and construction more efficient and sustainable. Built on deep industry expertise and best practice, and with our people at the heart of everything we do, we deliver the world's leading end-to-end lifecycle solutions that empower our industry to build better.

With a steadfast commitment to innovation and a keen eye on the future, RIB comprises over 2,500 talented individuals who extend our software’s reach to over 100 countries worldwide. We are experienced experts and professionals from different cultures and backgrounds and we collaborate closely to provide transformative software products, innovative thinking and professional services to our global market. Our strong teams across the globe enable sustainable product investment and enhancements, to keep our clients at the cutting-edge of engineering, infrastructure and construction technology.

We know our people are our success – join us to be part of a global force that uses innovation to enhance the way the world builds.

Find out more at RIB Careers.

• Job Title: Product Owner
• Location: Cape Town, South Africa (Hybrid)
• Employment Type: Full Time

The Job

The Product Owner is responsible for planning, developing, executing, and reporting on the RIB BIM 6D modules. They possess a deep knowledge of our users and customers, and how they engage with our products. They help to develop new ideas and innovations to support the strategic objectives, and act as the point of contact coordinating with stakeholders. They manage and prioritise the backlog and ensure the most valuable features and functionality are being implemented. They collaborate with customers, prospects, external partners, and internal teams to gather user and technical requirements, document workflows and develop designs.

Key Responsibilities

Business Alignment, Product Strategy, Objectives

• Work with the Senior Product Manager to define the core product vision, strategy, and goals for assigned module(s).
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Evaluate product opportunities and prioritize new development, ensuring validation and coordination with the users and customers.
• Ensure team members know the product vision, goals, and priorities.
• Create and maintain product roadmaps.
• Contribute to an inspiring and positive working culture and growth environment.

Market and Product Expertise

• Be an expert in your products, the industry, competitors, target market segments, personas, and customer needs.
• Stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations in construction software technology, formats and standards.
• Capture the voice of the customer, identify pain points, and specify requirements for current and future products by conducting market research programs and client interactions.
• Leverage the R&D team and global team of Subject Matter Experts for input, review, and feedback ensuring that products are suitable for use in different regions and customer segments.
• Gain and maintain an understanding of RIB portfolio products and look for opportunities to leverage and integrate with them to drive sales.
• Analyse competitive products and contribute to the development and maintenance of competitor battlecards.

Product Definition, Collaboration and Execution

• Drive product roadmap execution, managing and communicating project timelines, anticipating deviations from plan, and proactively identifying and recommending solutions.
• Break down stories, develop and refine a prioritised backlog, and identify and document the milestones and deliverables on the product roadmap.
• Actively participate in the product development lifecycle in an Agile Scrum environment, including all scrum ceremonies.
• Develop innovative ideas and solutions to complex problems and work with Product Designers and others to formulate conceptual designs.
• Achieve superior UX by ensuring designs are conformant, consistent, validated by users and evolved and refined based on their feedback.
• Break down designs into actionable tasks and stories for development.
• Continually look for improvements to workflows and product functionality to improve efficiencies and add value.
• Ensure the product is developed according to designs and specifications, meets customer requirements, and aligns with product direction.
• Work with QE and SMEs to ensure that product releases are rigorously tested, UAT is performed, and functional delivery is assured.
• Diagnose possible bugs, dependencies, and gaps by conducting bugathons.
• Help to oversee and coordinate the release to market activities and ensure readiness across all departments and functions prior to product launch as per the PLM process.
• Provide product information to assist with support and documentation.
• Manage own work to meet deadlines and ensure consistent quality.
• Use lessons learned to drive continuous improvement and enhance the user experience.
• Identify areas for improvement beyond the daily scope of this role.

Essential Requirements

• 3+ years hands-on experience in an agile development environment in a product management, product owner, or similar role.
• Experience in delivering successful commercial software products that meet customer and market requirements.
• Experience in analysing customer workflows and documenting requirements and design solutions for large software products.
• Strategic thinker with entrepreneurial drive, passion, and ability to assess and quickly understand strategic product goals and objectives.
• Ability to identify opportunities and risks, as well as problems, inefficiencies, and inconsistencies, and propose solutions that drive demonstrable improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to figure out solutions to complex problems with many constraints, using sound judgement to assess risks, and to define your argument/tell the story in a well-structured, data-informed, written narrative.
• Self-motivated, action-oriented, with a strong work ethic.
• An exceptional communicator, with excellent written and spoken English, with a proven ability to collaborate with UX and the development team and internal and external cross-functional stakeholders at all levels in a constructive and collaborative way.
• Conscientious and highly organized, with excellent attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize effectively.
• Ability to deliver results, without losing track of the details, in a fast-paced environment.

Desired skills and competencies

• Experience in the construction industry, especially knowledge of and/or experience in construction cost estimating, quantity surveying, project management, scheduling or contract administration.
• Degree or diploma in Computer Science or another related computer software qualification.
• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Economics, Business, or related field
• Familiarity with Design Systems and/or experience and understanding of UX and UI Design.
• Scrum Product Owner certification or relevant certificate in Product Management.
• International experience (e.g. working abroad or managing with teams based in other regions/countries).

RIB may require all successful applicants to undergo and pass a comprehensive background check before they start employment. Background checks will be conducted in accordance with local laws and may, subject to those laws, include proof of educational attainment, employment history verification, proof of work authorization, criminal records, identity verification, credit check. Certain positions dealing with sensitive and/or third party personal data may involve additional background check criteria.

RIB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to being an exemplary employer with an inclusive culture, developing a workplace environment where all our employees are treated with dignity and respect. We value diversity and the expertise that people from different backgrounds bring to our business.

Come and join RIB to create the transformative technology that enables our customers to build a better world.