Technical Product Owner - Job Opportunity at Manitoba Hydro

Winnipeg, CA
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 10, 2025
Hybrid
CAD 90,484.68-124,925.58 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive defined-benefit pension plan providing long-term financial security beyond typical 401k offerings
Nine-day work cycle with every other Monday off, delivering superior work-life balance compared to standard schedules
Flexible remote work options allowing up to 3 days remote per 2-week period, supporting modern hybrid work preferences
Competitive salary and benefits package positioning above market standards for utility sector roles
Flex-time scheduling providing autonomy over work hours to optimize productivity and personal commitments

Key Responsibilities

Lead product roadmap ownership and orchestrate cross-functional business and technical resources using Agile methodologies to deliver incremental releases that directly impact customer satisfaction and operational efficiency
Facilitate strategic discovery workshops with business stakeholders to transform high-level requirements into actionable technical specifications, ensuring alignment between business vision and technical execution
Develop comprehensive user stories that serve as the foundation for product development, enabling design, development, and testing teams to deliver features that meet business objectives
Coordinate stakeholder alignment across multiple business units to ensure product features address diverse organizational needs while maintaining technical feasibility and resource optimization
Collaborate with Platform Solution Owners, Solution Architects, and Business Systems Analysts to ensure technical architecture supports scalable business growth and operational excellence
Apply advanced analytical tools to measure and optimize business value throughout the decision-making process, directly contributing to ROI and strategic business outcomes
Develop and manage customer personas, journey maps, and value propositions that drive product strategy and inform feature prioritization decisions
Maintain deep technical and business expertise to guide architectural changes that support long-term product evolution and market competitiveness
Drive sprint and release planning initiatives that ensure timely delivery of high-quality products while managing resource constraints and technical dependencies
Foster a collaborative environment that promotes innovation, agile thinking, and adaptability to changing market conditions and customer needs

Requirements

Education

A four-year degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related disciplines from a university of recognized standing OR A two-year diploma from an institute of recognized standing

Experience

minimum of five years of directly applicable experience with four-year degree OR minimum of seven years of directly applicable experience with two-year diploma

Required Skills

Experience leading technical and Product Delivery teams, including implementing products in a complex, matrixed organization, preferably in the Power and Utilities sector Experience in mobilizing product teams, maturing teams to scale, and creating a product-smart culture within organizations Very strong knowledge of and/or experience with Agile methodologies, development, and delivery Training and work experience in Six-Sigma, lean or equivalent business process improvement framework Experience with internal customer Journey and value stream mapping, customer segment and persona development Strong analytical skills, including a sound understanding of interpreting scorecard results to target, results relative to leading operational metrics Ability to understand and use data to extract actionable insights and develop recommendations Strong understanding of customer experience practices and proven success in executing major projects Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and influence both business and technology teams Ability to understand, empathize and bridge multiple perspectives Exceptional stakeholder partnership and collaboration Excellent consultative skills with a strong ability to understand underlying stakeholder needs and organizational goals Strong interpersonal skills, coupled with excellent communication and people-interaction skills Exceptional knowledge of the software development cycle and project management methodologies Experience in cultivating agile principles and values and applying these principles to working with or in Agile teams Extensive experience in working with technology engineering and design teams
Advertisement
Ad Space

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The utility sector is experiencing massive digital transformation as companies modernize legacy infrastructure to support smart grid technologies, renewable energy integration, and enhanced customer experience platforms. Technical Product Owners in this space are increasingly critical as utilities transition from traditional operational models to technology-driven service providers that can adapt to changing energy markets and regulatory requirements. Agile methodologies and product management practices are becoming standard in utility companies that historically operated with waterfall project management approaches. This shift reflects the industry's recognition that rapid technological change and customer expectations require more flexible, iterative development processes that can respond quickly to market demands and regulatory changes. The convergence of IT and operational technology (OT) in utilities is creating demand for Technical Product Owners who can bridge traditional engineering disciplines with modern software development practices. This hybrid expertise is particularly valuable as utilities implement IoT solutions, predictive analytics, and automation technologies that require both technical depth and business acumen.

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary range of CAD 90,484-124,925 annually is competitive for the Winnipeg market and reflects the specialized nature of utility sector product management roles. This range is approximately 15-20% higher than typical product owner positions in other industries within the same geographic region, reflecting the premium placed on utility sector experience and the technical complexity of energy infrastructure modernization projects.

Role Significance

Typically manages cross-functional product squads of 8-12 members including business analysts, designers, developers, and architects, while coordinating with multiple stakeholder groups across business units. The matrixed organizational structure suggests influence over 20-30 individuals across various teams and departments.
This is a senior-level position with significant strategic impact, serving as the critical bridge between business strategy and technical execution. The role's responsibility for product roadmap ownership and cross-functional team leadership indicates substantial influence over product direction and organizational success. The requirement for both technical depth and business acumen, combined with the expectation to lead complex stakeholder relationships, positions this role as a key decision-maker in the organization's digital transformation efforts.

Key Projects

Smart grid infrastructure modernization initiatives that integrate renewable energy sources and enhance grid reliability and efficiency Customer experience platform development projects that digitize utility services and improve customer engagement and satisfaction Operational analytics and automation projects that optimize energy distribution, reduce costs, and improve service delivery Regulatory compliance systems that ensure adherence to evolving energy regulations and reporting requirements Integration projects that connect legacy utility systems with modern cloud-based platforms and third-party services

Success Factors

Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value propositions that resonate with diverse stakeholder groups, from executive leadership to engineering teams. This communication bridge is essential for securing buy-in for technical initiatives and ensuring alignment between business objectives and technical implementation strategies. Deep understanding of both agile product development methodologies and utility industry operations, enabling effective leadership of cross-functional teams while maintaining focus on customer outcomes and operational efficiency. The combination of technical expertise and industry knowledge is critical for making informed decisions about product priorities and technical architecture. Strong stakeholder management capabilities that can navigate the complex regulatory, operational, and customer requirements inherent in utility operations. Success requires balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on long-term strategic objectives and short-term operational needs. Data-driven decision-making skills that leverage analytics and metrics to optimize product performance and demonstrate business value. The ability to interpret complex operational data and translate insights into actionable product improvements is essential for continuous improvement and stakeholder confidence.

Market Demand

High demand driven by utility sector digital transformation initiatives, with limited supply of candidates possessing both technical product management expertise and utility industry knowledge.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Agile methodology expertise is absolutely essential as the utility industry continues its transformation from traditional waterfall project management to iterative development approaches that can respond rapidly to changing customer needs and regulatory requirements. The ability to implement and lead agile practices across diverse teams with varying technical backgrounds is crucial for project success. Cross-functional leadership capabilities are fundamental to success in this role, as the Technical Product Owner must effectively coordinate between business stakeholders, technical teams, and external partners. The matrixed organizational structure requires exceptional influence and communication skills to achieve alignment and drive results without direct authority over all team members. Technical architecture understanding combined with business acumen is critical for making informed decisions about product direction and technical implementation. The utility sector's unique combination of operational technology and information technology requires deep technical knowledge alongside strong business judgment to balance competing priorities and constraints. Stakeholder management and communication skills are essential for navigating the complex regulatory, operational, and customer requirements in the utility sector. The ability to translate technical concepts into business value and communicate effectively with diverse audiences from executive leadership to engineering teams is crucial for securing support and resources for product initiatives.

Beneficial Skills

Six Sigma or lean process improvement expertise provides valuable frameworks for optimizing product development processes and ensuring continuous improvement in product quality and delivery efficiency, particularly important in utility operations where reliability and efficiency are paramount. Power and utilities sector experience offers significant advantages in understanding the unique challenges, regulations, and customer needs that shape product requirements in this industry, enabling more effective product strategy and stakeholder communication. Data analytics and business intelligence capabilities are increasingly valuable as utilities implement smart grid technologies and customer analytics platforms that generate vast amounts of operational and customer data requiring sophisticated analysis and interpretation. Customer experience design expertise is becoming more important as utilities focus on improving customer satisfaction and engagement through digital platforms and service innovations that differentiate them in increasingly competitive energy markets.

Unique Aspects

The combination of utility sector focus with modern agile product development methodologies creates a unique opportunity to lead digital transformation in critical infrastructure, providing both technical challenge and societal impact through improved energy services and grid reliability.
The role's positioning at the intersection of business strategy and technical execution in a Crown corporation environment offers stability and resources typically unavailable in private sector roles, while still providing opportunities for innovation and strategic impact.
The emphasis on customer journey mapping and persona development in a utility context presents unique challenges in understanding and serving diverse customer segments, from residential users to large industrial customers, each with distinct needs and usage patterns.
The opportunity to work with both legacy utility systems and cutting-edge technology platforms provides exceptional learning opportunities and career development in both traditional engineering disciplines and modern software development practices.

Career Growth

Typical progression to senior product management roles within 2-3 years, with advancement to director-level positions possible within 4-6 years given the specialized nature of utility sector expertise and the ongoing demand for digital transformation leadership.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Product Manager or Product Management Lead roles with expanded responsibility for multiple product lines and larger cross-functional teams Director of Product Management positions overseeing entire product portfolios and strategic product planning initiatives Chief Product Officer roles in utility companies or energy technology firms, with executive responsibility for product strategy and innovation Consulting roles specializing in utility digital transformation and product management, leveraging deep industry expertise to guide other organizations through similar transitions

Company Overview

Manitoba Hydro

Manitoba Hydro is a major Crown corporation and the primary electric power and natural gas utility serving Manitoba, Canada. As a provincial utility, it operates critical infrastructure that serves over 600,000 customers and plays a central role in the province's economic development and energy security. The company has a strong reputation for reliability and customer service, consistently ranking among Manitoba's top employers.

Manitoba Hydro holds a dominant market position as the primary utility provider in Manitoba, with a strong financial foundation and stable customer base. The company's status as a Crown corporation provides financial stability and long-term planning capabilities that enable sustained investment in infrastructure modernization and technology initiatives. Its recognition as a top employer indicates strong organizational culture and employee satisfaction.
As Manitoba's primary utility provider, the company plays a crucial role in the province's economic development and energy infrastructure. The Winnipeg location provides access to a growing technology talent pool and positions the role at the center of the company's digital transformation initiatives. The regional focus allows for deep community engagement and understanding of local market dynamics.
The company's commitment to work-life balance through flexible scheduling, remote work options, and the nine-day work cycle reflects a progressive approach to employee well-being. The emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, combined with the collaborative approach to product development, suggests a culture that values innovation and teamwork while maintaining the stability and reliability expectations of utility operations.
Advertisement
Ad Space
Apply Now

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

The job listings displayed on this platform are sourced through BrightData's comprehensive API, ensuring up-to-date and accurate job market information.

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Our advanced AI system analyzes each job listing to provide valuable insights including:

  • Industry trends and market dynamics
  • Salary estimates and market demand analysis
  • Role significance and career growth potential
  • Critical success factors and key skills
  • Unique aspects of each position

This integration of reliable job data with AI-powered analysis helps provide you with comprehensive insights for making informed career decisions.