Product Owner Specialist II

Horace Mann is seeking a Product Owner Specialist II to bridge the gap between business strategy and technology execution. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that our Property & Casualty (P&C) information systems deliver maximum value, align with organizational goals, and continuously improve customer service quality.

The ideal candidate will be a strong collaborator with the ability to translate business needs into actionable features, guide development teams, and support long-term product roadmaps while keeping user experience and risk management at the forefront.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Risk Management

• Monitor and analyze risks associated with project plan deployment.


• Ensure that P&C information systems maximize value and align with business goals.


• Build strong relationships across business units for strategic alignment.

Feature Definition & Planning

• Translate business vision into specific system features and long-term roadmaps.


• Define upcoming features for development teams with clarity and detail.


• Prepare and lead backlog refinements and sprint planning sessions.


• Introduce innovative ideas for system features that enhance business performance.

Business Process Evaluation

• Evaluate business processes and provide key recommendations for efficiency improvements.


• Support initiatives that improve service quality and streamline workflows.


• Carry tasks through from start to finish with accountability for outcomes.

Stakeholder & User Engagement

• Involve stakeholders and end-users in system development, ensuring active participation.


• Keep end-user needs at the center of development decisions.


• Discuss and define non-functional requirements directly with end-users.

User Experience & Collaboration

• Coordinate with UX designers to deliver user-friendly solutions.


• Help agile and IT teams understand and integrate UX requirements.


• Ensure system features and processes align with customer experience goals.

Qualifications & Requirements

• H.S. Diploma or GED equivalent, required.


• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field preferred.


• Experience as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or related role within insurance, financial services, or IT.


• Strong understanding of agile methodologies and product management practices.


• Ability to evaluate risks, analyze business processes, and provide strategic recommendations.


• Strong communication and collaboration skills with experience engaging stakeholders and end-users.


• Familiarity with UX design principles and ability to coordinate with design teams.


• Proven ability to translate business goals into actionable product features and long-term roadmaps.

Salary Range

$61,900.00 - $91,300.00/annually.

Salary is commensurate to experience, location, etc.

Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we’ve broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we’re publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.

We’re motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children’s future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.

EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status

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