Product Owner (Part-Time)

Location: Remote (PH-based preferred)
Hours: 20-30 hours/week
Rate: Competitive hourly (AUD)
Reports to:

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Product Owner to execute product strategy, manage roadmap implementation for one of our most important clients, and lead cross-functional collaboration in an agile environment. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years of product ownership experience with demonstrated expertise in managing scrum cadences and translating executive vision into deliverable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Vision

• Support the clients CEO and stakeholders in translating high-level product vision and strategy into actionable roadmaps

• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to inform strategic decisions

• Collaborate with the CEO and stakeholders to refine business requirements into product features

• Assist in developing product positioning and go-to-market strategies based on executive direction

Product Development & Management

• Own the product backlog, ensuring proper prioritization based on business value and customer impact

• Write clear, detailed user stories and acceptance criteria for development teams

• Make data-driven decisions on feature prioritization and resource allocation

• Manage product lifecycle from ideation through launch and post-launch optimization

• Monitor product performance metrics and KPIs to drive continuous improvement

Agile/Scrum Leadership

• Serve as Product Owner in scrum ceremonies including sprint planning, daily standups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives

• Facilitate backlog refinement sessions with development teams

• Ensure sprint goals are clear, achievable, and aligned with product objectives

• Manage scope changes and communicate impact to stakeholders

• Coordinate cross-timezone collaboration and ensure effective communication among geographically distributed team members

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders

• Present product updates, roadmaps, and performance metrics to leadership

• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and customer success teams on product launches

• Gather and synthesize feedback from customers, sales teams, and support channels

• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and decision-making processes

Customer Focus

• Support the Design Lead in:

  • Conducting user research and gathering customer feedback to inform product decisions

  • Creation and maintenance of user personas and customer journey maps

• Ensure product features address real customer pain points and deliver value

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 6+ years of product owner or product management experience

• Experience working with successful early-stage/start-ups and scale-ups

• Proven track record of executing product roadmaps and translating strategy into deliverables

• Extensive experience with agile methodologies and Scrum frameworks

• Experience managing and prioritizing product backlogs for multiple development teams

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with product management tools (Jira, Confluence, Trello, Linear, or similar)

• Experience with analytics tools (Google Analytics, Hot Jar, Content Square, Mixpanel, or similar)

• Understanding of software development processes and technical constraints

• Familiarity with user experience (UX) principles and design thinking

Soft Skills

• A proactive approach to collaboration and leading teams

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to influence and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels

• Data-driven decision-making with strong attention to detail

• Adaptability and comfort with ambiguity in fast-paced environments

• Experience managing cross-timezone collaboration and asynchronous communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

• Previous experience with B2B/B2C product development

• Knowledge of modern development practices (CI/CD, DevOps)

• Experience in the tech related to the Hospitality industry is a plus

• Product management certification (CSPO, PMP, or similar) is a plus

• Masters degree desirable

Success Metrics

• Product adoption and user frequency/conversion rates

• Customer satisfaction scores and feedback

• Revenue impact and business KPI achievement

• Team collaboration effectiveness and stakeholder satisfaction

Work Environment

• Remote work

• Flexible working hours (within AEST hours) with required overlap at 9am - 1pm CEST for team coordination

• Fast-paced, collaborative environment with geographically distributed teams

• Regular interaction with cross-functional teams

Who are Local Peoples?

Local Peoples is a strategic research and design studio based in Melbourne and Canberra.

Our mission is to design healthy, resilient and resourceful communities. We are proud to be a certified B-Corporation with a strong focus on our social, environmental and economic impact.

We work across brand and digital design, place and experience design,, content and community engagement. Our key partners include state and local government, social enterprises, universities and large commercial organisations. All are experiencing complex challenges right now and we believe that design research, thinking and delivery can help to solve these challenges and make positive change for people and the planet.

We produce www.mattersjournal.com, a publication and community of 100K+, which focuses on design-led social innovation and impact.

Why join Local Peoples?

• Representative and inclusive - we are dedicated to building an inclusive and accessible workplace for people from diverse backgrounds

• Impact driven - work towards achieving real impact for people and the environment

• Fantastic culture - driven by a welcoming, supportive and collaborative team environment

• Professional support for design excellence- benefit from being a part of one of Australia’s fastest growing design and delivery communities

• Flexible working arrangements - including the ability to work remotely

• Market rate salaries - attractive remuneration packages in line with the market rate

• Flexible employment types - including the preference for permanent, but will consider contracting

Local Peoples proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community, neurodiverse individuals, and First Nations people. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels valued and respected. Together, we strive for equality and a positive future for all.

Local Peoples works, creates, and plays on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, and Wathaurong peoples of the Kulin Nation, land which has never been ceded. We thank them for caring for this land for over 40,000 years and recognize and pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land