Product Owner Network Design Tooling

Description/Role: The client is looking for an experienced Product Owner / Team Manager to lead the Network Design Tooling (NDT) team within the Product Journey Tribe. The team is responsible for the applications that support the inventory, design, build and maintenance of Wyre's HFC and Fiber network.

A key platform within the domain is Marlin, the physical network inventory system containing all network infrastructure information for Belgium's cable and fiber network. The environment combines IT, engineering and telecom infrastructure domains. The role requires someone capable of defining a long-term product vision, improving delivery quality, managing vendors, and guiding a multidisciplinary team through a period of transformation and modernization.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the product vision and roadmap for Network Design Tooling.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable team goals and priorities.
• Own, maintain and prioritize the product backlog.
• Drive delivery excellence, quality improvements and operational stability.
• Manage the full product lifecycle and product health.
• Lead and coach a multidisciplinary team of analysts, developers and vendor resources.
• Take on people management and HR responsibilities for the core team.
• Manage relationships with external delivery partners and vendors in Belgium and abroad.
• Align stakeholders across Telenet, Wyre and other business domains.
• Prioritize initiatives and influence stakeholders in a complex environment with competing demands.
• Contribute to the modernization of the application landscape, including cloud adoption, CI/CD practices and automation initiatives.
• Monitor capacity planning, budget and team performance together with Tribe and Cluster leadership.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent through experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as Product Owner, Product Lead or similar leadership role.
• Experience managing teams and coaching multidisciplinary profiles.
• Proven experience working with software development teams and external vendors.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to build and communicate a clear long-term vision.
• Experience operating in complex enterprise environments.
• Understanding of Agile methodologies and product delivery practices.
• Experience in telecom, utilities, network infrastructure or engineering environments is highly valued.

Must have skills

• Product Ownership in an IT or Telecom related environment.
• Team leadership and people management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Vendor and partner management experience.
• Backlog management and prioritization.
• Agile product delivery knowledge.
• Ability to work with developers, analysts and technical teams.
• Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution.
• Fluent English language skills.

Nice to have skills

Experience within telecom, utilities or infrastructure companies (e.g. network operators, energy utilities). ... ... -