The Chief Product Owner (CPO) is a key role responsible for driving the strategic direction and success of the digital product portfolio with PEGA for Erste Group Business Service. The CPO plays a pivotal role in defining, planning, and driving the digital portfolio and product strategies. This position requires a deep understanding of digital product management, agile development & testing, a solid banking service understanding and a strong commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality products.

• Define and implement a comprehensive digitalization strategy for Erste Group Business Service (front to back including shared service centers), aligning it with Erste Bank objectives and other requirements
• Align digitalization efforts and budgets across all functional service lines and products to maximize ROI and address critical business needs
• Develop, maintain, and grow digital product ownership framework including best practices, methods and tools. Serving as a business center of excellence for product ownership and quality assurance
• Establish and host the portfolio and product governance and represent Erste Group Business Service interests and expectations in the delivery process
• Championing and demanding a customer-first approach, advocating for user experience and fostering products meet or exceed customer expectations
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making to drive business value generation
• Provide guidance, support, and the application of quality assurance best practices in release cycles, enhancing the quality and reliability of product releases
• Provide thought-leadership for senior stakeholders to support their business and enterprise level priorities into value realization
• Collaborate with stakeholders outside and across the organization to gather input and ensure alignment with the digital portfolio and product strategies
• Continuously monitor market & technical trends and customer behavior to identify opportunities and threats for the portfolio
• Define and monitor KPIs to measure product success, value generation, efficiency gains, framework & best practices adherence, iterate on improvements, and communicate progress to stakeholders
• Identify potential risks and proactively develop contingency plans to mitigate them

• Master or Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science or a related field (Master’s or MBA preferred)
• Proven experience in digital product management, program/portfolio management or a related field, with at least 10 years in progressively responsible roles
• Knowledge of PEGA would be of an advantage
• Deep knowledge of agile development methodologies, product management and program/portfolio management best practices
• Strategic thinking and the ability to make data-driven decisions
• Ability to manage a product portfolio with multiple products and projects simultaneously
• Strong leadership skills (direct and/or lateral)
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical abilities
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills