Data Product Owner
Outside IR35
* Start Data ASAP
* Contract Length: 6 months
* Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne 1 day a week
* SC Clearance preferable. BPSS with view to getting cleared
The Data Product Owner is accountable for maximising the business value of one or more data products, treating data as a product with clear consumers, measurable value, and defined service levels.
They act as the primary bridge between business stakeholders and delivery teams, owning the product vision, backlog prioritisation, and ongoing performance of the data product across its lifecycle. Each data product has a clearly identified owner who is commercially and operationally responsible for its success .
Key Responsibilities
Product Vision & Strategy
* Define and communicate a clear product vision and roadmap for assigned data products, aligned to business outcomes and strategic priorities .
* Ensure each data product is valuable, usable, feasible, and viable for its intended consumers .
* Act as the accountable owner for the success (or failure) of the data product in delivering measurable business value .
Stakeholder Management
* Serve as the primary point of contact for business stakeholders, data consumers, and delivery teams .
* Translate business needs into clear, prioritised product requirements and outcomes.
* Balance competing stakeholder demands while maintaining focus on agreed product goals.
Backlog Ownership & Prioritisation
* Own and prioritise the product backlog, ensuring delivery teams are always working on the highest-value items .
* Define user stories and acceptance criteria with a strong focus on consumer value and usability.
* Make informed trade-offs between scope, quality, time, and cost.
Data Product Delivery Agreements & SLAs
* Define, own, and maintain Data Product Delivery Agreements, including SLAs covering quality, timeliness, availability, and reliability .
* Agree and track non-functional requirements such as refresh frequency, retention, and recovery expectations.
* Ensure consumers clearly understand intended use, limitations, and notice-of-change commitments.
Value Measurement & Performance Monitoring
* Define success metrics and value measures for each data product, including usage, engagement, and business impact .
* Monitor product performance and data quality, initiating corrective action where standards are not met.
* Regularly review product value and make evidence-based decisions on enhancement, maintenance, or retirement.
Data Quality, Ethics & Compliance
* Ensure data products meet agreed data quality thresholds and are trustworthy for decision-making .
* Embed regulatory, privacy, and ethical considerations into product design and operation .
* Act as a steward for responsible data use within the product domain.
Cross-Functional Leadership
* Work closely with engineers, analytics engineers, platform teams, and UX to deliver high-quality data products .
* Champion a "data as a product" mindset across business and technical teams.
* Contribute to the evolution of product management and data product practices across the organisation.
Required Experience & Skills
Essential
* Proven experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or similar role in a data, analytics, or platform environment.
* Strong understanding of data and analytics concepts (e.g. data products, data quality, analytics use cases).
* Experience owning and prioritising backlogs and working with cross-functional delivery teams.
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
* Ability to define and measure business value.
Desirable
* Experience working with data platforms, analytics products, or data mesh-style ownership models .
* Familiarity with defining SLAs, service promises, or delivery agreements for data products.
* Experience operating in regulated or ethically sensitive data environments.
* Exposure to Agile and product management frameworks.
Please send me a copy pf your CV if you're interested?
