UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

The Digital Services business unit is at the heart of UCAS’ technical innovation, data and infrastructure. It focuses on leveraging data science, technology, and enterprise architecture to enhance UCAS' digital products and services.

The unit is dedicated to developing and improving customer-centric digital solutions, ensuring seamless and secure online experiences for all users. By providing insightful data and analysis, often made available to anyone with free-to-use intuitive dashboard, Digital Services empowers the Higher Education sector and those interested in the sector with valuable information to make informed decisions. By working in collaborative, expert led, multi-disciplinary teams, Digital Services drives UCAS’ mission to connect students with their next opportunities through advanced technological solutions.

The Product Owner (PO) is a key member of the agile delivery team, responsible for defining and prioritizing product backlog items (stories) to ensure smooth execution of business and customer priorities. The PO balances both functional and technical integrity of the product features or components, ensuring the team delivers maximum value.

In this role, the Product Owner ensures that prioritised backlog items meet user needs and align with the 'Definition of Done.' The PO plays a pivotal role in collaboration, working closely with Product Management, development teams, Architecture, Service Owners, customers, and other key stakeholders to deliver high-quality product outcomes.

This role is a 12 month fixed term contract

Key accountabilities:

• Program Increment (PI) Preparation

• Backlog Ownership and Prioritisation

• User Story & Acceptance Criteria

• Customer Value Ownership

• Team Development & Improvement

• Enabler Work & Technical Decision-Making

• Stakeholder Collaboration & Demos

• Customer Understanding & Exploration

• Agile Experience

• Product Vision & Communication

• Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Customer Focus & Clarity

• Product & Market Strategy Development

• Risk Management

• Third-Party Collaboration

• Diversity & Inclusion

• Industry & Technical Knowledge

• Presentation Skills

For more information about this role please see the attached role profile.

Salary up to £50,000

· Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

· Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

· Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

· 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

· Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

· Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

· Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

· Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you are interested in this vacancy, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please apply.

If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk.

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