Product Owner, Advanced Technology

“Are you an enthusiastic strategist ready to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world impact? As the Product Owner – Advanced Technology, you will be the driving force behind transforming complex AI innovations into industry-leading solutions, while developing emerging AI talent to benefit the entire AI ecosystem. Join us in shaping the future of the Canadian tech landscape and ensuring our partners stay at the forefront of the global AI adoption”

Stephanie Enders, Chief Delivery Officer 

About Amii

Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) is one of Canada’s three main institutes for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, our world-renowned researchers drive fundamental and applied research at the University of Alberta (and other academic institutions), training some of the world’s top scientific talent. Our cross-functional teams work collaboratively with Alberta-based businesses and organizations to build AI capacity and translate scientific advancement into industry adoption and economic impact.

About the Role

The Product Owner, Advanced Technology leads a dynamic team that works with our industry partners to rapidly adopt AI and apply it to their most challenging business problems. This position is a key driver in aligning our technology strategies and frameworks with our core mission of ‘AI for good and for all’. The Product Owner is instrumental in spearheading the development of cutting-edge AI technologies, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams and complex client environments. By integrating technological innovation with our values, you will contribute significantly to an environment that supports groundbreaking research and ethical AI development.

Reporting to the Chief Delivery Officer, the Product Owner, Advanced Technology drives product development and delivery, cultivates client relationships and industry partnerships, and fosters the growth of a multidisciplinary team. 

Working closely with Investments & Partnerships and other teams across the organization to develop client relationships, understand their needs and priorities, and deliver valuable solutions. Capitalizing on the expertise of cross-functional teams at Amii, the Product Owner, Advanced Technology transfers knowledge, talent, and technology to our clients to advance their internal capabilities and AI use cases. 

In addition, this position applies the same lens to Amii’s internal Applied AI Research and Open Source Program Office to ensure that knowledge and technology are transferred internally across the organization and externally to the public. 

This position is critical in coaching, motivating, and guiding the Advanced Technology team to deliver exceptional client experiences.

The position focuses on achieving excellence in five main accountabilities:

• Product Vision & Development: Identify, validate and develop all products and services with your cross-functional team members. 
• Applied Research Program Management: Oversee the Applied Research Program to align with organizational goals, drive innovation, secure funding, and facilitate collaboration between research teams and external partners.
• Principled AI Framework Application: Ensure rigorous application and evolution of the Principled AI Framework across all projects, promoting ethical AI practices, transparency, and accountability while mitigating biases and risks.
• Client Success: Take a client-focused approach that emphasizes identifying and solving their business problems through a product lens.
• People Leadership: Foster team development, while strategically managing structure, performance and standards. 

Required Skills / Expertise

Key Responsibilities:  

Product Vision & Development

• Develops, owns and executes product strategy 
• Leads the product development and delivery process based on client challenges and needs
• Monitors, measures and provides updates to executives on product initiatives
• Turns data insights into products with actionable outcomes for the program participants
• Partners with teams across the organization to inform the product vision, strategy, features, and prioritization
• Ensures industry adoption of AI/ML by leveraging knowledge and experience

Applied Research Program Management 

• Manages the strategic direction of the Applied Research Program by setting research priorities and goals aligned with organizational objectives
• Identifies and pursues funding opportunities, manage budgets, and allocate resources to support ongoing and new research projects
• Promotes collaboration between internal research teams and external partners, ensuring effective knowledge transfer and innovation
• Aligns and transfers knowledge and technology to the Open Source Program Office
• Tracks the progress and outcomes of research projects, providing regular updates to executives and stakeholders

Principled AI Framework Application

• Ensures the Principled AI Framework is integrated into all projects, promoting ethical AI development and usage
• Regularly assesses and audits projects for adherence to the Principled AI Framework, identifying and addressing any compliance issues

Client Success

• Leads efforts to maintain transparency and accountability in AI development, ensuring all stakeholders understand and adhere to ethical guidelines
• Leads the initial client discovery process to ensure a robust understanding of the client’s challenges, ensuring we build the right solution
• Analyzes project scope for clients to determine timelines and develop optimal execution processes, ensuring alignment with their specific goals and resources
• Diagnoses and resolves issues to guarantee the client attains the optimal overall experience

People Leadership

• Manages and maps fractional headcount allocation for product delivery, ensuring accurate resource modeling and initiating the approval process for new headcount based on delivery needs and capacity forecasts
• Acts as a functional supervisor for all assigned headcount in a dedicated delivery stream, reviewing and revising their work while managing approvals
• Fosters a creative environment where learning is constant, collaboration is key, ideas are heard and mistakes are lessons and not failures
• Mentors, coaches and guides team members to reach their full potential and professional development goals
• Encourages and maintains a problem-solving approach to work while acting as a coach and collaborator
• Functions as the definitive point of escalation for addressing challenges and facilitating the resolution of problems 
• Conducts performance reviews for direct reports and guides quarterly OKR planning sessions 

 Required Qualifications: 

• Post Secondary Degree in Engineering, Science, Economics, or related field
• 7+ years in product, operations, or project management, 5+ years in a leadership capacity  
• Functional knowledge of Machine Learning concepts and tools
• Experience managing client projects and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to develop relationships with partner organizations (e.g. companies, sponsors and community members)
• Experience working within a technology-focused organization (nice to have) 
• 3+ years of budgeting processes and data management experience (nice to have)
• Experience speaking at industry and academic conferences (nice to have)

Attributes and Expectations: 

• Successfully manages multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Works independently and makes informed decisions through a collaborative lens
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written
• Establishes credibility while influencing team members to achieve common goals
• Communicates highly technical subject matter effectively to a variety of audiences
• Identifies the needs of stakeholders and creates/drives new solutions
• Skilled in identifying knowledge gaps and prioritizing learning effectively
• Leads with resilience, maintaining team performance through challenges and change

What you’ll love about us

• A professional yet casual work environment that encourages the growth and development of your skills
• Participate in professional development activities
• Gain access to the Amii community and events
• A chance to learn from amazing teammates who support one another to succeed
• Competitive compensation, including paid time off and flexible health benefits
• A modern office located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta

How to Apply

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, please don’t wait for the closing April 24, 2026 to apply – we’re excited to add a new member to the Amii team for this role, and the posting may come down sooner than the closing date if we find the right candidate before the posting closes! When sending your application, please send your resume and cover letter indicating why you think you’d be a fit for Amii. In your cover letter, please include one professional accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.

Amii is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. Accommodations for disability-related needs throughout the recruitment and selection process are available upon request. Any information provided by you for accommodations will be kept confidential and won’t be used in the selection process.