Sr. Product Owner, Emerging AI & Automation Products

This position serves as a business expert and is responsible for the end-to-end ideation, design, launch, optimization and support of emerging, mission-critical products focused on AI, automation, and intelligent operations. This role will lead cross-functional efforts to identify, shape, and scale new capabilities that transform core business processes and student-facing experiences. This role balances high-visibility business engagement with a practical understanding of how AI and automation capabilities are applied within real-world processes. The Product Owner must be fluent in translating business problems into AI-enabled requirements, prototypes, and other solutions, and working closely with technical partners to deliver value at scale.

The Product Owner will operate in a highly dynamic environment where product scope is not fully predefined, requiring strong problem framing, opportunity identification, and iterative product development. This individual will partner across the enterprise to bring to life solutions such as virtual agents, AI-enabled processes, and intelligent workflow automation that improve outcomes across enrollment, operations, and student experience while managing the roadmap, cross-functional leadership, and end-to-end product accountability for these solutions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Own end-to-end product lifecycle for a portfolio of emerging AI and automation products, from concept through launch, continuous improvement and issues triage and resolution.

• Identify and define new product opportunities by assessing business pain points, operational inefficiencies, and student experience gaps.

• Develop, own, and continuously refine product roadmaps in an environment where product scope and priorities evolve over time.

• Translate business needs into epics, features, and user stories; manage and prioritize backlog.

• Partner with technical teams to shape AI/automation solutions while remaining accountable for business outcomes.

• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Enrollment, Advising, Operations, Marketing, Analytics, and IT to design, run and optimize integrated solutions.

• Drive adoption and value realization of AI-enabled capabilities such as:

• Virtual agents (e.g., lead qualification, chatbot experiences)

• Intelligent workflow automation

• AI-driven knowledge management

• Ensure solutions are grounded in measurable outcomes (e.g., conversion, productivity, experience, persistence).

• Analyze data and performance metrics to evaluate product success and inform iteration.

• Design and execute experiments (A/B tests, pilots) to validate product hypotheses and refine solutions.

• Stay current on emerging AI and automation trends, tools, and best practices, translating them into practical business applications.

• Support broader strategic initiatives by introducing innovative, scalable solutions that improve both learner and operational outcomes.

Job Skills:

• Strong ability to translate business problems into structured product opportunities and roadmaps.
• Demonstrated understanding of AI and automation use cases in business processes (e.g., conversational AI, workflow automation, decision support).
• Ability to bridge business and technical teams without requiring deep engineering expertise.
• Experience working in Agile environments, including backlog management, story development, prioritization and sprint planning.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive decision-making.
• Customer-first mindset; experience with human-centered design, service design or Lean transformation is preferred.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building products where requirements are not fully defined upfront.
• High degree of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Ability to learn and apply new technologies quickly, particularly in the AI/automation space.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience.

• Minimum of 4-6 years in product ownership, product management, or equivalent experience leading cross-functional initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience driving initiatives involving AI, automation, or advanced analytics in business operations.

• This may include implementing AI-enabled tools, automation of workflows, or intelligent customer/learner experiences.

• Experience does not need to be in IT or software development but must include meaningful involvement in delivering AI/automation solutions (beyond basic tool adoption).

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required from a regionally accredited institution.
• Preferred (but not required):
• Coursework, certification, or formal training in AI, data, analytics, or automation
• OR equivalent practical experience applying these capabilities in business contexts

Other:

• Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodation regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 - 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 - 10%).
• Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
• If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in settings which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
• Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.
• Able to access information using a computer.
• Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc

SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$106,500.00 - $159,800.00 - Salary

If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at Careers@strategiced.com.