Product Owner, Event Technology

At Informa, we love knowledge, expert information and the power of networks and connections. We are dedicated to connecting specialists with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more in their roles and businesses, and we’re doing this in ever smarter ways. We’re passionate about our customers and the markets they operate in. And because our colleagues are our greatest assets, we do everything we can to make work life at Informa supportive, rewarding and enjoyable. 

We are a FTSE 100 company with 10,000 colleagues working in over 30 countries. Within Informa's Group Technology team, the Platforms teams design, build, and operate shared platforms that drive customer value at scale, optimizing the platforms and related technology assets to provide greatest customer and commercial value at the lowest cost. 

Purpose of the Role & Team Profile 

The Product Owner will be the bridge connecting customer needs, business strategy, and technology capabilities. In this role, you will ensure that the product(s) in your remit are being developed and supported in line with the vision and goals of Informa. You’ll help to drive a customer-centric delivery model, thinking in ‘products’ not ‘projects’ and always focused on delivering incremental chunks of business and customer value.  

For roughly the first six months you will focus specifically on optimizing the relationship, backlog, and operation of a third party exhibitor management solution before expanding your remit to either multiple related solutions or solutions in other event capability areas.  

Key interactions  

Events Technology Operations Team 

• Reporting to Senior Product Owner in CTech’s Events Technology Operations team 

• Shared process development, learning, and problem solving with the growing product operations team 

Supporting Technology Teams 

• Partnering with CTech Content & Media and Marketing Technology practices to design exceptional customer experiences 

• Delivering high quality solution design and shippable software with CTech Solutions Architecture and Engineering centres of excellence 

• Steering contract negotiations with Procurement partners 

• Designing and implementing ITSM plans with Service Management teams 

Internal Event Teams 

• Collaborating with event brand and operations teams to prioritize backlogs and refine user stories 

• Driving lasting change with Technology Business Partners 

Suppliers and Vendors 

• Influencing supplier roadmaps 

• Ensuring on time and on spec delivery 

Key Areas of Responsibility/Accountability 

Supplier Management: 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure seamless event technology delivery, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 

• Communicate prioritized roadmap to vendor, ensuring alignment between Informa’s ambitions and the platform vision.   

• Monitor and assess supplier performance, proactively addressing any issues or escalations. 

• Identify, evaluate, and contract with technology suppliers/vendors specializing in event technology solutions. 

• Facilitate the collaboration and communication between suppliers/vendors, ensuring resources and responsibilities are clearly stated and objectives met. 

Backlog Management: 

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to prioritize technology projects and initiatives that enhance event experiences. 

• Develop and maintain a technology backlog that aligns with the unique needs of our events and conferences. 

• Define clear project requirements and timelines, tracking progress to ensure on-time delivery for each event. 

• Continuously monitor progress and adjust roadmaps as needed to accommodate changing event priorities or circumstances. 

• Regularly report progress and results to senior leadership and stakeholders, highlighting areas of success and opportunities for improvement. 

Delivery Management 

• Develop and maintain platform resources and engagement documentation, ensuring those are made available to the necessary business partners 

• Be fluent in the platforms’ roadmap and Informa’s role in it.   

• Ensure the integrity and compliance of data collected through the technologies in your remit and data flows through the technology stack. 

• Collaborate and support product managers in identifying alternative solutions if requirements cannot be met through enhancement of an existing approved solution.   

• Maintain visibility of the external technology partners’ progress against plan to deliver change on scope, on time, and on cost.   

• Act as advisor and SME to additional areas of the Informa business who engage with the digital event platform.   

IT Service Management: 

• Establish and maintain IT service management processes and best practices tailored to event technology in partnership with Informa’s ITSM department. 

• Ensure the availability, performance, and security of event technology systems and services. 

• Rapidly respond to and resolve IT service incidents and requests to guarantee a smooth event experience. 

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to elevate the quality of event technology services. 

Key Outputs and Outcomes  

Informa continually increases its return on technology investment 

• Supplier value is maximized through increased utility and responsible expenditures 

• A minimum number of suppliers are in play to deliver common needs 

• Time to market is minimized through intelligent integration, planning, and delivery 

Suppliers’ roadmaps are supportive of Informa’s event technology vision 

• Suppliers are well versed in Informa’s event technology vision and their roll in it 

• Suppliers are delivering enhancements aligned with that vision 

• When alignment is not possible, alternative solutions are actively sought out 

Internal stakeholders are informed, educated, and confident in their event technology 

• Event leaders have an up-to-date view of anticipated deliverables for the upcoming twelve months (0-6 months details, 6-12 months thematic) 

• Enhancement demands are following a prescribed process for qualification, planning, and delivery/rejection 

• Event team members have sufficient lines of support and training on new and existing capabilities 

• Event teams members are confident that the technology is secure and operational risk is minimised through a multi-layered service management plan 

Measures of Success   

Technology adoption 

• % of events are using provided solutions 

• % of events implementing new features 

Process adherence 

• % of change requests flowing through prescribed channels 

Issue management 

• # of incidents raised 

• Mean time to issue resolution 

• Frequency and outcomes of ITSM plan testing 

Collaborative and communicative 

• Effective and demonstrable interpersonal and collaboration skills. 

• Strong verbal and written English language communication skills with the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and summarize and report information. 

• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to simplify and clearly communicate complex requirements. 

• Ability to work as part of matrix and virtual teams that include senior stakeholders, business and technology subject matter experts, and external partners. 

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally