Woolworths Product Owner Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

Woolworths is seeking a Product Owner to join their Data and Analytics Business Unit. This role is crucial for bridging the gap between business needs and the Data & AI delivery teams, ensuring that the AI assets developed genuinely solve business problems and deliver measurable value.

This position focuses on understanding business operations, shaping product strategy, and driving the adoption and success of data and AI solutions within the organisation. It offers a chance to make a tangible impact by ensuring technology serves real-world business objectives.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma, preferably in commerce, information technology, mathematics, science, data science, or engineering.
• Experience: 5+ years in Product Management, Product Ownership, or a Business/Systems Analyst role at the intersection of technology and business.
• Skills:
• Demonstrable track record of owning senior stakeholder relationships and influencing business decisions without direct authority.
• Evidence of having driven adoption and measurable business value.
• Sound commercial reasoning, including building business cases, sizing benefits, and defending them.
• Strong analytical skills and a working understanding of information systems, data platforms, and data flows.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to present to senior executives.
• Organised and self-directed, capable of managing complex portfolios and competing demands.
• Desired Attributes (Preferred):
• Experience with data products, analytics products, or AI/ML-enabled products specifically.
• Exposure to retail, financial services, or another regulated, data-intensive environment.
• Familiarity with modern data platform and ML tooling.
• Working knowledge of data governance, privacy, and responsible AI practice.
• Agile delivery experience (Scrum, SAFe, or similar).

Key Responsibilities

• Build trusted advisor relationships with senior business stakeholders.
• Develop deep working knowledge of the business areas served, including commercial drivers, operating rhythms, pain points, and success measures.
• Translate ambiguous business problems into clear requirements for data and AI solutions.

What the Work Involves

As a Data & AI Product Owner, you will spend a significant amount of your time working directly with business partners. This involves understanding their operational context, challenging assumptions, and shaping their needs into a coherent product strategy for data and AI assets. You will be responsible for the entire product lifecycle, from defining the problem and overseeing delivery to managing ongoing operations and tracking the value generated.

The role demands a "translator" who is comfortable in both business and technical forums, ensuring ideas are accurately conveyed between the two. You will be expected to demonstrate commercial curiosity, genuinely interested in how the business makes money and how data and AI can improve profitability. This position is based in Cape Town, Western Cape, within the Data and Analytics Business Unit.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please visit the official Woolworths careers portal:

• Go to: https://woolworths.erecruit.co/candidateapp/Login
• Follow the instructions on the portal to complete your application.
• The closing date for applications is 13 September 2026.