Skip to main contentA logo with &quat;the muse&quat; in dark blue text.

Product Owner

AT Unum Group
Unum Group

Product Owner

Columbia, SC

When you join the team at Unum, you become part of an organization committed to helping you thrive.

Here, we work to provide the employee benefits and service solutions that enable employees at our client companies to thrive throughout life's moments. And this starts with ensuring that every one of our team members enjoys opportunities to succeed both professionally and personally. To enable this, we provide:

  • Award-winning culture
  • Inclusion and diversity as a priority
  • Performance Based Incentive Plans
  • Competitive benefits package that includes: Health, Vision, Dental, Short & Long-Term Disability
  • Generous PTO (including paid time to volunteer!)
  • Up to 9.5% 401(k) employer contribution
  • Mental health support
  • Career advancement opportunities
  • Student loan repayment options
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Flexible work environments

Want more jobs like this?

Get jobs in Columbia, SC delivered to your inbox every week.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.

*All the benefits listed above are subject to the terms of their individual Plans.

And that's just the beginning...

With 10,000 employees helping more than 39 million people worldwide, every role at Unum is meaningful and impacts the lives of our customers. Whether you're directly supporting a growing family, or developing online tools to help navigate a difficult loss, customers are counting on the combined talents of our entire team. Help us help others, and join Team Unum today!

General Summary:

The Product Owner collaborates with IT and business stakeholders to develop capabilities that enhance customer experience. They manage the scrum team to deliver key features, ensure operational readiness, and prepare the business to adopt new capabilities. Responsibilities include managing technical documentation, breaking down technical requirements, and overseeing epics, features, and user stories with an understanding of hierarchy. The Product Owner mobilizes the right people to ensure the business is ready to accept, use, and support new capabilities before production. They work with multiple scrum teams and influence backlogs to align with strategic goals. This role demands a mix of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders while delivering solutions aligned with business objectives.

Specifications:

  • Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts for nontechnical audiences.
  • Demonstrated success in delivering technical projects and leading teams.
  • Product Owner certification preferred (e.g., PSPO, CSPO).
  • Proficient in agile methodologies, product management lifecycle, and backlog management.
  • Strong technical acumen to collaborate effectively with development teams.
  • Proven negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills to drive decisions and priorities.
  • Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to articulate complex ideas concisely.
  • High ownership and accountability, with a self-starter mentality and ability to navigate ambiguity.
  • Experience coaching and mentoring teams to improve skills and performance.
  • Travel may be required.
  • Insurance industry experience is a plus.

Responsibilities:

  • Contribute to business case development and cost-benefit analysis within product scope.
  • Align IT delivery roadmaps with strategic product roadmaps.
  • Define and track product KPIs and adoption metrics with business partners.
  • Translate client needs into actionable backlog items and prioritize them based on feedback and strategic goals.
  • Build and maintain technical work items to ensure long-term technical integrity.
  • Engage internal and external clients to test assumptions and understand client personas.
  • Leverage methodologies such as Agile, customer journeys, and program execution frameworks.
  • Utilize tools and techniques to gather client insights (e.g., focus groups, surveys, usability sessions).
  • Ensure operational readiness for new capabilities in production.
  • Track benefit realization and incorporate feedback for continuous product improvement.
  • Maintain business and industry expertise relevant to product development.
  • Actively engage in Product Owner forums to share best practices.
  • Monitor progress toward delivery timelines and communicate adjustments as needed.

#LI-TO1

~IN1

#LI-MULTI

Unum and Colonial Life are part of Unum Group, a Fortune 500 company and leading provider of employee benefits to companies worldwide. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, with international offices in Ireland, Poland and the UK, Unum also has significant operations in Portland, ME, and Baton Rouge, LA - plus over 35 US field offices. Colonial Life is headquartered in Columbia, SC, with over 40 field offices nationwide.

The base salary range for applicants for this position is listed below. Unless actual salary is indicated above in the job description, actual pay will be based on skill, geographical location and experience.
$89,400.00-$183,500.00

Additionally, Unum offers a portfolio of benefits and rewards that are competitive and comprehensive including healthcare benefits (health, vision, dental), insurance benefits (short & long-term disability), performance-based incentive plans, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 5% and an additional 4.5% contribution whether you contribute to the plan or not. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of individual Plans.

Company:
Unum

Client-provided location(s): Columbia, SC, USA
Job ID: Unum_Group-379551692
Employment Type: Full Time

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA With Employer Contribution
    • HSA With Employer Contribution
    • On-Site Gym
    • Pet Insurance
    • Mental Health Benefits
  • Parental Benefits

    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
  • Work Flexibility

    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Casual Dress
    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Volunteer Time Off
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Stock Purchase Program
    • Performance Bonus
    • Financial Counseling
  • Professional Development

    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Shadowing Opportunities
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Leadership Training Program
    • Associate or Rotational Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
    • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)