Product Owner
The Product Owner sets the priorities of a product or digital service and ensures that each evolution brings real value to users and to the organization.
Within the Scrum method, they represent the needs of users and stakeholders to the product team, manage and prioritize the Product Backlog, then turn needs into feasible solutions with the business and technical teams.
They do not manage developers hierarchically: they set the objectives and priorities, while the development team chooses how to do the work.
On this page:
- The Definition of the Product Owner Profession
- Main Duties
- The skills required
- Fields of Practice
- The Difference Between Product Owner and Product Manager
- Programs to Become a Product Owner
- Useful Certifications
- Salary and career progression
In Brief: the Product Owner Profession
| Other Job Titles | PO, product manager, digital product officer (close to Product Manager) |
|---|---|
| Recommended Education Level | no mandatory degree; 2-year to 5-year degree in digital, project management, marketing, UX, computer science or business, with a first product experience |
| Salary | orders of magnitude from job offers: €33,000 to €45,000 gross/year (junior), €45,000 to €60,000 (experienced), more for specialized positions (sources: Apec, France Travail) |
| Employers | software publishers and digital companies, digital agencies and IT services firms, banks/insurance/e-commerce, media and content platforms, startups, government agencies, cultural institutions |
| Key Skills | agile methods and Scrum, Product Backlog management and prioritization, writing user stories, analysis of user journeys and UX, product data analysis, communicating with technical and business profiles |
| Career Progression | Senior Product Owner, Product Manager, Lead Product Manager, Head of Product, Chief Product Officer, Product Management consultant, entrepreneur |
| IESA Program | Bachelor in Cultural Communication - Bac+3; or Master in Cultural Communication Strategy - 5 years after high school (to be supplemented with product, UX, data and agile methods experience) |
What are the duties of a Product Owner?
The Product Owner’s duties vary depending on the organization and the type of product.
They can in particular:
- define and communicate the product vision and objectives
- gather the needs of users, customers and business teams
- analyze feedback, usage data and the pain points encountered
- create, detail and prioritize the items of the Product Backlog
- write or have others write the user stories and acceptance criteria
- prepare the topics to be addressed with the product team
- arbitrate priorities based on value, risks and constraints
- collaborate with developers, designers, UX researchers and business teams
- take part in sprint reviews and gather feedback from stakeholders
- track product performance and identify improvements to make
The Product Owner may use tools such as Jira, Trello, Notion, Figma, Miro, analytics tools or customer relationship management solutions. The choice of tools depends on the organization.
What skills do you need to become a Product Owner?
The Product Owner must understand users' needs, the organization’s stakes and the delivery constraints all at once.
They must in particular master:
- agile methods and how Scrum works
- managing and prioritizing a Product Backlog
- writing functional requirements and user stories
- user journey analysis
- the basics of user research and UX
- digital project management
- analyzing data and product metrics
- communicating with technical and non-technical profiles
- the operating principles of a web, mobile or software product
This career also requires rigor, listening, analytical ability and strong negotiating skills. The Product Owner must know how to make decisions, explain their choices and adapt when needs change.
In Which Fields Does a Product Owner Work?
The Product Owner can work in every sector that develops or evolves digital products:
- tech companies and software publishers
- digital agencies and IT services companies
- banks, insurance, and e-commerce
- media and content platforms
- industrial or service companies
- start-ups and scale-ups
- government agencies and public services
- cultural institutions and tourism organizations
In the cultural sector, they can contribute to the development of a ticketing website, a content platform, a visitor app, a digital mediation tool, or a CRM for audiences.
The Product Owner most often works as an employee. They can also work as a consultant or freelancer.
Why become a PO?
The Product Owner (PO) holds a central position in designing a digital product. They work with varied profiles and take part in the decisions that shape the product’s evolution.
This profession suits people who like to understand needs, organize priorities and bridge users, business teams and delivery teams.
However, it requires a good ability to handle uncertainty, trade-offs and the sometimes conflicting demands of stakeholders.
What is the difference between a Product Owner and a Product Manager?
Job titles may vary from company to company. In some organizations, the same person takes on both roles.
The Product Manager generally carries a broader and more strategic vision. They analyze the market, define the product’s positioning, identify opportunities and track business goals.
The Product Owner focuses more on the operational translation of this vision. They prioritize the Product Backlog and work day to day with the team in charge of building the product.
The Scrum Master is a distinct role. They help the team apply Scrum, improve how it works and remove obstacles that slow its work.
How to become a Product Owner?
There is no required degree to become a Product Owner. Recruiters generally look for profiles trained in digital, project management, marketing, UX, IT or business.
Several paths are possible:
- BTS or BUT in IT, communication, marketing or management
- bachelor’s degree in digital, UX, digital marketing or project management
- business school or engineering school
- master’s or Master in Product Management, innovation, digital, UX or data
- first experience as a Business Analyst, digital project manager, product officer or UX designer
Internships, work-study and hands-on projects are especially useful for learning to work with a product team.
IESA programs useful for digital cultural projects
The Bachelor in Cultural Communication lets you acquire skills in communication, digital marketing, content creation and project management in the cultural and creative sectors.
After a Bac+3, the Master in Cultural Communication Strategy develops skills in digital strategy, data marketing, UX, project management and campaign management.
These programs can be relevant for contributing to digital products in the cultural sector. However, they must be supplemented by hands-on experience in product, UX, data analysis and agile methods to aim for a Product Owner position.
What Is the Salary of a Product Owner?
Pay depends on experience, location, sector, company size, and level of responsibility.
There is no single national salary for Product Owners. As a guide, recent job postings in France often offer:
- between €33,000 and €45,000 gross per year for a junior profile or one with some experience
- between €45,000 and €60,000 gross per year for an experienced profile
- more for specialized positions, especially in data, artificial intelligence, finance, or large companies
These amounts are rough orders of magnitude drawn from job postings. They do not represent a national average.
Sources: Apec and France Travail, accessed in August 2026.
What Career Progression Is There for a PO?
With experience, the Product Owner can manage a more complex product or a broader scope.
They can notably move into the following roles:
- Senior Product Owner
- Product Manager
- Lead Product Manager
- Head of Product
- Chief Product Officer
- product management consultant
- entrepreneur or startup cofounder
Progression depends on the experience gained, the ability to define a product strategy, and the aptitude to coordinate several teams or products.