IT Officer, Business Solutions I - Product Owner

IT Officer, Business Solutions I - Product Owner Job #: req33241 Organization: World Bank Sector: Information Technology Grade: GF Term Duration: 2 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Sofia,Bulgaria Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/11/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 130 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
ITS Vice Presidency Context:
The Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) enables the World Bank Group to achieve its mission of ending extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet by delivering transformative information and technologies to its staff working in over 150+ locations. For more information on ITS, see this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VTFGffa1Y7w
ITSFD Product Owner Position 
Fiduciary Solutions (ITSFD) is a unit within the Operations and County Engagement Department (ITSOE) that provides state-of-the-art information and technology applications to support the business needs of World Bank Operations. The unit focuses on modernizing the product processing platform through enhanced business alignment, process simplification & integration, and improved team productivity. The ITSFD’s application portfolio spans different business processes including Environmental and Social, Financial Management, and Operational Procurement as well as other client engagement applications. We collaborate with our business partners to define product vision, strategy, roadmap, and business processes aligned with business objectives while ensuring a stronger product culture and value proposition. We are committed to delivering business solutions that deliver business value for money while we continue to excel at the basics. And we contribute to providing the Bank with an integrated digital platform that connects policies, processes, people, and knowledge across the institution in a holistic and staff-centric manner. 
The Information and Technology Solutions Fiduciary Operations unit (ITSFD) is recruiting a Product Owner with a strong and broad working knowledge of agile software product management to fill a Product Owner / Product Manager role in Sofia (Bulgaria). The selected candidate will lead and contribute to building and maintaining applications and services that support the implementation of the World Bank’s Operations Procurement work program.  Responsibilities 
• Develop a clear Product Vision and roadmap that aligns with organizational objectives and operational needs. Ensure the development team is aligned with these goals. 

• Lead engagement with clients to understand their pain points, needs, and the impact on end users. Explore user research options to gather insights. • Create Product Vision Boards, develop roadmaps, and rank essential features for the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). 

• Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation through to implementation. Plan and execute future releases using a data-driven and agile approach. • Deliver regular status updates to clients, flag risks and delays, and discuss any shifts in requirements and priorities. 

• Manage and prioritize the product backlog, translating client requirements into viable product features. Track and communicate feature costs. • Oversee all stages of product development, working closely with the development team. Lead the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) process. 

• Develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are measurable, actionable, and align with user goals. • Actively monitor and incorporate various client needs, industry trends, organizational priorities, KPIs, and user feedback into the work program. 

• Represent the department and unit to business partners. Present the product convincingly to stakeholders and perform product demos. Collect, analyze, and respond to product-related questions. • Work closely with scrum masters, business analysts, product development, and engineering teams to guide product planning and execution. Collaborate with users, partners, team members, and industry influencers to ensure a well-rounded understanding of products and developing needs. 

• Conduct research to define and identify use cases and unmet needs of existing and potential stakeholders. Establish business requirements. • Adapt to competing demands, take on new responsibilities, and adjust plans to meet changing priorities. Maintain a positive, constructive approach to problem-solving internally and during client interactions, focusing on timely and accurate issue resolution. 

• Demonstrate the ability to work with business stakeholders to identify data needs and ensure data availability from various sources for analytics, reporting, and operational use. • Exhibit excellent communication skills, proven in engaging stakeholders, leading workshops, and delivering impactful presentations to executives. 

Selection Criteria

• A master’s degree in business, Computer Science, or a related field with at least 5 years of relevant experience, or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of product management experience. 

• Minimum of 4 years’ experience developing and implementing product strategies and managing the full product lifecycle. • Proven experience in successfully delivering technology-centric or AI-enabled products including defining MVPs, user stories, and product roadmaps. 

• Strong background in translating business goals into actionable product requirements, clear product vision, and strategic roadmaps. • Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multicultural teams. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proficiency in preparing concise reports, presentations, and user stories. • Proficiency in data analytics to track product metrics, client satisfaction, and team performance. 

• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic environment. • Passion for innovation and understanding user needs and pain points, with a desire to improve the product using the latest technological trends and user experience insights. 

• Certified Product Owner, SAFe Agile Practitioner, or Scrum Master certification preferred. • Demonstrated use of Agile methodologies and tools such as Azure DevOps, VersionOne, TFC, or JIRA. 

• Experience in defining and managing product backlogs, user stories, and acceptance criteria. • Strong understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and experience working in cross-functional teams. 

• Demonstrated expertise in collaborating with business stakeholders to identify data needs and ensure seamless availability of data from diverse sources—including cloud platforms, enterprise systems, and third-party APIs—for analytics, reporting, and operational consumption. • Strong internal consulting skills and the ability to manage cross-functional collaboration within an Agile environment. 

• Experience defining KPIs, measuring client satisfaction, scrum velocity, and using analytics tools such as Adobe Analytics, Azure AppInsights, or similar. • Proven ability to convert data into meaningful reports and actionable dashboards. 

• Ability to prepare high-quality documents, reports, and presentations for senior management and stakeholders. • Proven experience of working and navigating in teams with an offshore/onsite model and collaborating across teams to build and maintain complex IT landscapes and diverse client bases. 

• Demonstrated leadership skills, particularly in managing cross-boundary teamwork and driving successful product delivery. • Proficiency in English. 

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.