Lead Product Owner at Rainforest Alliance

POSITION SUMMARY:

At the Rainforest Alliance (RA), we create value for customers and users through a portfolio of products—including Certification—that support our mission and global impact. The Product Development department is responsible for developing the technology solutions that enable these products, operating within a complex ecosystem of internally built platforms and integrated third‑party software.

Product Owners (POs) at RA work across a variety of delivery contexts. A single PO may support both internal engineering teams—using agile approaches such as Scrum or Kanban—and external technology vendors who may follow more hybrid or waterfall delivery models. Because of this, the PO role spans a wide range of responsibilities, from driving internal development and managing backlogs to coordinating vendor work, integrations, and delivery timelines.

As the Lead Product Owner, you guide and support this team as they operate in these varied environments. You ensure high‑quality product delivery, strengthen product ownership practices, and help the team navigate both agile development and vendor‑driven implementations. This role reports to the Director of Product Development.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Team Leadership & Growth

• Lead and mentor an initial team of four Product Owners, with potential to grow further.
• Provide clear guidance, regular feedback, and support for individual skill development.
• Participate in hiring and building a strong, balanced PO team.

Delivery

• Ensure successful delivery of technology solutions built internally or delivered through external vendors.
• Support POs in managing backlogs, defining requirements, or helping draft Statements of Work depending on the delivery model.
• Help the team adapt to agile, hybrid, or more traditional project approaches.
• Take on hands‑on Product Owner responsibilities yourself when needed, for either internal engineering teams or vendor‑managed solutions, depending on organizational priorities and hiring timelines.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Business Analysts, Product Development Managers, UI/UX designers, engineering teams, and vendor partners.
• Ensure smooth end‑to‑end processes and consistent user experiences across systems.

Continuous Improvement

• Promote best practices in product ownership, agile ways of working, and vendor coordination.
• Encourage learning and adoption of new tools and emerging technologies.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and proactive problem solving.

Production Support

• Help define and improve production support processes.
• Ensure clarity of ownership, smooth handover from development, and effective issue resolution.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: 

Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of two years of experience in a leadership or team‑management role.
• Experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, Business Analyst, or in a similar role within a complex, multi‑system environment.
• Ability to work effectively across agile development teams and vendor‑led delivery contexts.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Understanding of user‑centered design or UX practices.
• Proficiency with tools such as Jira, Confluence, or equivalent workflow‑management platforms.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with third‑party software vendors or managing vendor contracts.
• Familiarity with data‑driven decision‑making or analytics tools.
• Experience working in an international or mission‑driven organization.