Hiring a Product Owner? Avoid copying job specs from the internet

TL;DR; When hiring a Product Owner, do not rely on generic job descriptions; a true Product Owner drives product success by setting vision, prioritizing value, collaborating closely with teams, making data-driven decisions, and maintaining accountability. Delegation is necessary, but the PO must remain responsible for outcomes, not just manage tasks. Review your job specs to ensure they focus on leadership and product impact, not just administrative duties.

Published on 15 April 2025

Written by Martin Hinshelwood

1 minute read

https://nkdagility.com/resources/-p1bBjBS0bA

Hiring a Product Owner? Don’t just copy-paste a job spec from the internet. A real PO isn’t just a requirements collector or project manager, they own product success.

Here’s what a strong Product Owner actually does:

Defines the vision and ensures the team is working on the highest-value items.
Collaborates daily with Developers and stakeholders to refine direction.
Uses data to make decisions instead of relying on gut instinct or seniority.
Says no when necessary, even when it’s unpopular.
Orders the backlog strategically, not reactively.

And here’s the hard truth: one person alone cannot do all of this at scale. POs delegate, but they remain accountable. If a PO is just taking orders, someone else is actually running the product, and that’s a problem.

If your PO is buried in admin work instead of driving outcomes, you don’t have a real PO. You have a backlog secretary.

What’s the biggest gap in most Product Owner job descriptions you’ve seen?

Also published on: LinkedIn

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