Product Owner

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions.

We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here!

Summary

The Product Owner is responsible for owning and managing the product backlog for assigned Commercial Salesforce CRM, nCino, or related AI capabilities product areas. This role partners closely with the Lead Product Owner, business stakeholders, and technology teams to translate business needs into clear, actionable backlog items that align with product strategy, business capabilities, and platform standards.

Operating within an agile product model, the Product Owner focuses on execution‑level prioritization, stakeholder engagement, and delivery readiness to ensure high‑quality outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities

Product Backlog Ownership Own and manage the product backlog for assigned Salesforce CRM, nCino, or related AI capabilities product areas

Translate business needs into well‑defined backlog items, user stories, and acceptance criteria

Prioritize backlog items based on business value, risk, dependencies, and capacity

Ensure backlog items are refined, ready, and sequenced appropriately for delivery

Product Execution & Delivery Support Partner with delivery teams to support sprint and release execution

Clarify scope, intent, and acceptance criteria throughout delivery

Participate in refinement, planning, reviews, and retrospectives as needed

Identify and surface risks, dependencies, and delivery challenges early

Stakeholder Engagement Serve as the primary product contact for business stakeholders at the execution level

Gather input, feedback, and validation to inform backlog priorities

Communicate progress, changes, and tradeoffs clearly and consistently

Escalate delivery or priority conflicts through the Lead Product Owner as needed

Solution Alignment & Readiness Partner with Architecture, Data, and Engineering teams during solution shaping

Ensure backlog items and solutions align to defined business capabilities and platform standards

Support testing and validation activities by clarifying expected outcomes

Contribute to release readiness, documentation, and change communication

Agile & Operating Model Adherence Operate within the established product and agile operating model

Follow standard intake, prioritization, and refinement practices

Continuously improve backlog quality and execution effectiveness

Support consistent application of product practices across teams

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Manage workload across competing priorities and deliverables

Communicate effectively with business and technology partners

Participate in knowledge sharing and continuous improvement activities

Represent the product organization in a professional and collaborative manner

Product Backlog Ownership & Refinement

Sprint & Delivery Execution Support

Stakeholder Engagement (Execution Level)

Solution Alignment & Readiness

Agile & Operating Model Alignment

Administrative & Professional Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of this role to take ownership of all tasks and challenges that they encounter in the operation of their assigned position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Minimum Experience

4+ years of experience in FinTech or other software delivery environment

4+ years of experience in a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or similar role

Experience working in agile delivery environments required

Experience in financial services or regulated industries preferred

Experience with Salesforce CRM and / or related AI capabilities

Strong background in Commercial Lending CRM processes (sales processes, client relationship management, pipeline and opportunity management)

Experience in financial services or regulated environments

Proven experience supporting transformational initiatives with lending or credit practices

Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Business, Technology, Operations, and Risk partners

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and requirement gathering skills

Experience writing user stories, defining acceptance criteria, and managing technology delivery in an agile environment

Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex workflows into clear, actionable requirements

Licenses & Certifications

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent

Salesforce Platform - Administrator

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

No direct supervisory responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Understanding of agile product ownership and delivery practices

Knowledge of backlog management and prioritization techniques

Familiarity with solution design concepts and business capability alignment

Awareness of SDLC, risk, and compliance requirements in regulated environments

Knowledge of commercial banking processes and platforms preferred

Strong backlog grooming and requirements definition skills

Ability to facilitate conversations around scope, priorities, and tradeoffs

Effective stakeholder communication and collaboration skills

Strong organizational and analytical skills

Ability to work effectively within cross‑functional delivery teams

Ability to translate business needs into actionable backlog items

Ability to ensure solutions align to business capabilities and platform standards

Ability to operate effectively in fast‑paced, iterative environments

Ability to identify risks and escalate appropriately

Ability to balance competing stakeholder needs within delivery constraints

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands

Ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through electronic channels

Ability to use a computer on a frequent basis, including typing and sustained attention to a monitor

Ability to sit, walk, and/or stand for extended periods of time

Ability to bend and reach

Work Environment

Office: If the position reports to a physical Company location, the setting will be a typical office environment.

Remote or hybrid: For remote or hybrid positions, a secure and distraction-free setting is required, with a reliable internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, mobile hotspots not acceptable). Hybrid positions will report to a physical Company location, as directed by the manager, and that setting will be a typical office environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans.