Sr. Product Owner (SVP level)

Product Owner - CCAR

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc., (SGA), is searching for a Product Owner - CCAR for a contract to hire role with one of our premier financial services clients in Rutherford, NJ. Responsibilities: Experienced retail risk product owner to lead the development and enhancement of a new loss forecast platform for use in CCAR and internal loss forecast processes. This critical role will have significant SME knowledge and bridge the gap between business needs, risk management requirements, and technical development teams, ensuring the delivery of a robust, scalable, and compliant platform. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in retail credit risk, regulatory stress testing (CCAR), and agile product management methodologies. They will be responsible for defining the product vision, strategy, roadmap, and features for our next-generation risk analytics and forecasting capabilities.

Product Strategy & Roadmap

• Define and articulate the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for the loss forecast platform, aligning with overall business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and gather stakeholder feedback to identify new opportunities and inform product decisions.
• Translate high-level strategic objectives into detailed product requirements and user stories to bring in efficiency to the organization.
• Experience using AI assisted tools is a plus.

Requirements & Backlog Management

• Act as the primary liaison between risk management, finance, technology, and other key stakeholders to capture, analyze, and prioritize business requirements for CCAR, retail loss forecasting models, and other platform functionalities.
• Develop and maintain a well-groomed product backlog, ensuring stories are clearly defined, estimated, and prioritized based on business value, regulatory urgency, and technical feasibility.
• Facilitate workshops and discussions to elicit detailed requirements and resolve ambiguities.

Platform Development & Delivery

• Work closely with agile development teams (scrum masters, developers, QA) throughout the entire product lifecycle, from conceptualization to deployment and post-launch optimization.
• Provide clear guidance and answer questions from development teams during sprint cycles to ensure accurate understanding and implementation of features.
• Participate in all agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Oversee user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure delivered solutions meet specified requirements and quality standards.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Expertise

• Maintain an in-depth understanding of retail credit risk methodologies, CCAR, DFAST, CECL, and other relevant regulatory guidelines (e.g., SR 11-7).
• Ensure the platform design and functionality support robust data governance, model risk management, and auditability for regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with model development and validation teams to integrate advanced loss forecasting models into the platform effectively.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Effectively communicate product updates, progress, risks, and challenges to senior management and relevant stakeholders.
• Manage expectations and negotiate scope trade-offs to achieve optimal outcomes.

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor platform performance, user feedback, and regulatory changes to identify areas for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Champion a data-driven approach to product development, utilizing analytics to inform decisions.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, computer science, engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in product management, business analysis, or a similar role within financial services, with a strong focus on retail risk.
• 5+ years of direct experience with CCAR, DFAST, or similar regulatory stress testing frameworks and loss forecasting processes.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex technology platforms or products in an agile environment.
• Solid understanding of retail credit products (e.g., credit cards, mortgages) and associated risk drivers.
• Familiarity with risk modeling concepts (PD, LGD, EAD) and methodologies.
• Experience with data analytics tools, SQL, and understanding of large-scale data architecture concepts.
• Knowledge of relevant technologies and platforms used in risk management and data warehousing.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive consensus across diverse teams.
• Proactive, self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Master's degree or MBA preferred.