AI Project Management Specialist and AI Product Owner (Spezialistin*Spezialisten im Bereich KI-Projektmanagment und KI Product Owner für das Anwendungslabor für Künstliche Intelligenz und Big Data)

Official title: Spezialistin*Spezialisten im Bereich KI-Projektmanagment und KI Product Owner für das Anwendungslabor für Künstliche Intelligenz und Big Data

Location: Leipzig, Germany — Alte Messe 6 | Employment information: Fixed term; full-time or part-time; 39 hours per week for employees

This role combines the day-to-day discipline of an AI product owner with the wider responsibility of project and portfolio management. It requires careful movement from needs assessment to product definition, then through agile development toward a product that is ready to be used. The vacancy makes clear that product ideas, requirements and business cases are part of that continuous chain rather than isolated planning exercises.

Alongside delivery work, the specialist will help establish and further develop product and portfolio or multi-project management for AI projects. The post calls for considered coordination across internal and external stakeholders, practical control of resources, budgets and risks, and constructive advice to specialist project coordinators. It is not framed as a purely technical development position; it is a role for translating structured management practice into an AI application context.

Responsibilities

• Conduct needs assessments and shape product concepts for AI development projects through to product maturity.
• Develop and refine product ideas and requirements, including the preparation of business cases.
• Prepare and steer agile product development with specialist colleagues, users and UX/UI design.
• Lead, or contribute to leading, hybrid or agile projects that develop AI applications for administrative implementation.
• Build and further develop product, portfolio and multi-project management for AI projects.
• Plan, monitor and steer the financial budget for projects within the stated remit.
• Advise and coach specialist project coordinators on agile project management and crisis management.
• Coordinate and moderate collaboration with internal and external stakeholders while managing resources and risks.

Qualifications

• Completed research-oriented university degree at Master's or university-diploma level in a relevant discipline.
• In-depth knowledge and extensive experience in hybrid and agile project management.
• Methodological knowledge of software-development processes, including the principles and roles of agile software development such as Scrum.
• Confident use of Microsoft Office applications and project-management tools such as MS Project, OpenProject and Kanban boards.
• Very good written and spoken English skills.
• Gender competence.
• Preferred: a degree in a STEM field, economics, administrative sciences, innovation management or a comparable area.
• Preferred: experience as a Product Owner or in a comparable function, and project-management certifications such as PMP, IPMA, PRINCE2, Scrum or Product Owner.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to organise work across hybrid and agile delivery approaches.
• Clear communication and collaborative working with specialist stakeholders, users and design colleagues.
• Analytical thinking, creativity, initiative in shaping work and problem-solving ability.
• Competence in coordinating stakeholders and moderating cross-functional collaboration.
• Capability to handle budget, resource and risk-management tasks in project work.
• Working knowledge of agile software-development principles and associated roles.

Benefits and Employment Information

• Fixed-term employment with full-time or part-time arrangements possible.
• A 39-hour working week for employees.
• Remuneration under the TVöD-Bund E 13 public-sector pay scale.
• Possibility of mobile work, flexitime and part-time options as described in the vacancy.
• Collectively regulated pay, including performance-related pay, retirement provision and an annual special payment.
• Personal and professional development options, with supported onboarding and further qualification opportunities.
• A health-promoting work environment and the possibility to obtain a job ticket.