Product Owner, Data & Technology

Product Owner, Data & Technology APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals.

The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!

, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both.

The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service. BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Product Owner is a member of APA!'s Data & Technology Division and reports directly to the Senior Director of Data Strategy.

This role owns the full product lifecycle and systems backlog for the Division's tools, platforms, and integrations, translating the Senior Director's strategic roadmap and the operational needs of executive leadership into clear, sequenced, and buildable work for the Data Analyst, Data Engineer, and the Division's contractor and volunteer bench.

This is a hands-on, execution-focused role suited to someone who can serve as the bridge between the Division's technical strategy, the team building its systems, and the frontline staff using them every day. The ideal candidate brings structure and rigor to a division being rebuilt from the ground up and is comfortable working with ambiguity in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.

The emphasis here is on implementation ownership, change management, and translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders - not on engineering depth. The Product Owner is responsible for on-the-ground implementation, working directly alongside each department, key stakeholders, and the Data & Tech team as needed, including learning new software and tools as they are built and rolled out, as well as running ongoing feedback loops with the departments that use those tools.

The Product Owner will be able to work independently as well as collaboratively with stakeholders of all levels, and will meet timely goals and milestones set with the Senior Director. The Product Owner will own the full product lifecycle from stakeholder discovery sessions to team training and tool launch, to collecting and integrating user feedback.

The Product Owner, Data & Technology is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight.

This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork. APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Product Owner, Data & Technology collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect.

This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers, making sure volunteers are recruited, trained, and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support Partner with the Senior Director to translate APA!

's 3-year data and technology roadmap into an executable, sequenced product backlog, ensuring every piece of work is tied to specific operational priorities. Own day-to-day prioritization and sequencing of the Data & Technology Division's project portfolio, data pipelines, dashboards, integrations, and platform initiatives, in partnership with the Data & Tech team.

Serve as the connective tissue between the Senior Director's strategic priorities, end-user priorities, and daily execution by the Division's contractor and volunteer bench. Stay hands-on through implementation - this goes beyond defining requirements, to working alongside the teams building and using them, so gaps between spec and reality get caught early.

Build standing feedback loops with each department that uses Division tools (shelter operations, medical, behavior, development, community programs, human resources, volunteer management, and others), so real usage and pain points directly shape what gets built next. Support the internal specification for the Shelter Operating System, APA!

's data and systems replication framework, in partnership with the Data & Tech team. Lead change management around data compliance and usage at all levels of the organization. Support sequencing of data integration work tied to APA!'s growing organization. Support data integrity and governance standards across delivered systems, in partnership with the Senior Director's data cleanliness and governance work.

Product & Backlog Ownership Own the product backlog for the Data & Technology Division's systems, tools, and internal platforms, translating stakeholder needs into clear next steps. Maintain a living product roadmap that reflects current priorities, dependencies, and constraints, and communicate changes clearly to the Senior Director and stakeholders.

Translate the requirements of APA! Operations teams, Programs, and executive leadership into concrete specifications for the Data Analyst and Data Engineer to build against. Oversee contractors and volunteers as needed across multiple product development initiatives to ensure specs and timelines are met. Maintain relationships with relevant software vendors.

Stay up to date on industry best practices to ensure APA! is using the most up-to-date data and tech for this rapidly growing field. Hands-On Implementation Work directly alongside the Data Analyst, Data Engineer, and contractors during build and rollout - testing features, troubleshooting issues, and helping close gaps between what was specified and what actually ships.

Work directly alongside on-the-ground teams and relevant stakeholders throughout the full product life cycle. This includes but is not limited to developing and executing staff training for implementation of new tools, quality assurance and standardization of data collection carried out by relevant teams, and troubleshooting roadblocks in real time.

Participate hands-on in configuration, QA/user-acceptance testing, and rollout logistics for new tools and workflows, rather than handing off requirements and stepping back. Be present for go-lives and early adoption periods to catch friction quickly and route fixes back into the backlog. Department Feedback Loops Run a regular, structured feedback cadence with each department that uses Division tools - shelter operations, medical, behavior, development, community programs, and others - to hear directly what is and isn't working.

Turn department feedback into prioritized backlog items, and close the loop back to those departments on what changed and why. Act as the on-the-ground point of contact for staff and volunteers reporting tool issues or workflow friction. Process & Delivery Define and track success metrics for delivered systems and features; report progress to the Senior Director on a regular cadence.

Identify risks, dependencies, and blockers early, and escalate to the Senior Director with clear options rather than open-ended problems. Coordinate with external vendors, partner organizations, and contractors involved in systems integration or platform work. Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation of systems, workflows, and decisions to support a rapidly growing and changing team.

Work collaboratively with APA!'s Education Department to ensure relevant SOPs, courses, and training materials are up to date with the most current tool usage and functions. Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager OTHER FUNCTIONS: Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS: A bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience.

Demonstrated adaptability and experience managing change across multiple systems and teams simultaneously, including building buy-in on new processes and workflows. 1+ years of experience in a product owner, product manager, business analyst, systems/program lead, or related role responsible for defining and prioritizing technical work.

1+ years of experience in animal shelter operations as staff or in a volunteer capacity. Demonstrated experience translating ambiguous organizational needs into clear requirements or specifications for a technical team. Comfortable working hands-on through implementation. This may include configuration, testing, product training, and live troubleshooting with relevant stakeholders - not solely defining requirements from a distance.

Experience running structured feedback loops or user research with non-technical stakeholders, and translating that input into backlog priorities. Demonstrated experience in change management, training, customer service, and building buy-in on new processes and workflows. Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials with the ability to work effectively with both technical staff and non-technical stakeholders.

Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities across a small, resource-constrained team. Excellent problem-solving skills; well-organized and detail-oriented. Comfort with common project/work-tracking tools (e.g., monday.com or similar). Familiarity with data platforms, CRMs, or shelter/animal welfare management systems.

Demonstrated aptitude for learning new processes and software quickly. Ability to travel for special projects as needed up to 15% of the time. Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!

’s mission Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience Preferred abilities: Working knowledge of agile/scrum or kanban delivery practices, and comfort adapting them to a small, resource-constrained team.

2+ years of experience in a nonprofit, animal welfare, healthcare, or other mission-driven organization. Experience with, or demonstrated strong aptitude for, data integration or multi-tenant systems work. Product owner or Scrum certification (e.g., CSPO, PSPO) is a plus but not required Lean Six Sigma certification at any level is a plus but not required.

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather Must be able to comfortably interact with cats/dogs of various health levels, including cats who may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc.

Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with the ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Will sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, stoop, bend, stretch, squat, kneel, grasp, grip, put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level, lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds and push and pull up to 50 pounds for situations of moving supplies and setting up for events; repetitively use hands to operate computers; flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.

If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship to the organization. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Animal shelter office environment, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals Uses own transportation to travel and transport Work is normally performed inside; some outside work is required Regular in-person and virtual meeting time with department teams across the organization.

Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants, and high levels of noise Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs TIME COMMITMENT: This is a full-time, exempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.

Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Data Strategy. The Product Owner works closely with the Data Analyst and Data Engineer, and coordinates with the Division's contractor and volunteer bench.

The role partners cross-functionally with APA! Operations teams, Programs, Development, and executive leadership, and maintains regular, direct working relationships with each department using Division tools. LOCATION(S): APA! Main

• Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703 Hwy 290 Medical Clinic - 4942 W Hwy 290 Austin, TX 78735 Tarrytown Corporate Office, 2414 Exposition Blvd, Suite B-100, Austin, TX 78703 May travel to offsite locations as needed for special projects BENEFITS: Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life-saving work. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer, and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation. APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at job@austinpetsalive.org at least one week in advance of your interview.