As described in the Scrum Guide, there are three core roles in Scrum, responsible for meeting the project objectives: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master and the Development Team.
The Scrum Product Owner is the professional responsible for maximising the value of the product resulting from the work of the Development Team or, in other words, for maximising business value for the project.
He or she is responsible for articulating customer requirements and ensuring the business justification throughout the project. We can say this role embodies the voice of the Customer.
The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing the Product Backlog.
This means:
The Product Owner is one person, not a committee. He/she may represent the desires of a committee, but those wanting to change a Product Backlog item’s priority must address the Product Owner.
The Product Owner’s decisions are visible in the Product Backlog and the Development Team works according to these defined set of requirements. It’s fundamental that the entire organisation respects his or her decision in order for the Product Owner to succeed.
The Product Owner represents the interests of the stakeholder community to the Scrum Team.
He/she is responsible for:
The Product Owner must always maintain a dual view, understanding and supporting the needs and interests of all stakeholders, while also understanding the needs and workings of the Scrum Team.
The following are the specific responsibilities of the Scrum Product Owner:
The Scrum Product Owner should be a Scrum Expert, knowing Scrum processes.
He/she also must have business domain knowledge and excellent communication skills.
Other important soft skills, highlighted by the Scrum Guide are:
| Activities / Responsibilities | Key skills included |
|---|---|
| Define and communicate the product vision | Strategic vision, Communication, Leadership |
| Manage and prioritise the Product Backlog | Analysis, Decision-making, Value-orientation |
| Collaborate with the Scrum Team and the client | Teamwork, Active listening, Negotiation |
| Validate the features released at the end of the sprint | Attention to detail, Quality assessment, Feedback loop |
| Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders | Relationship management, Transparency, Empathy |
| Measure the value released and adapt the roadmap | Business analysis, Adaptability, Iterative approach |
Luca is a Scrum Product Owner for a B2B e-commerce platform that serves over 200 retailers in Europe. His goal is to improve the user experience of the shopping cart and increase the conversion rate. After a data analysis, Luca defines a product vision focused on simplifying the purchase process to 3 clicks.
He conducts customer interviews, collaborates with the marketing team to validate hypotheses, and writes targeted user stories. During each sprint planning, Luca maximises the value of the work done by the team and constantly updates the Product Backlog. At the end of the sprint, he participates in the sprint review to gather feedback and adjust the roadmap. Luca works closely with the team for clarifications, refinement, and understanding of the value to be released.
After three releases, shopping cart abandonment is reduced by 18% and the reorder rate increases by 25%. Luca presents the results to management, proposing an extension of the project to the mobile section. His ability to mediate between technology, customers, and business is confirmed as essential for the success of the product.
The average national salary for a Scrum Product Owner in Luxembourg is between €75,000 and €112,000 gross per year. The range is wide: junior profiles start from €55,000, while mid-level figures reach €80,000 – €95,000. Senior professionals, with full product responsibility and strong decision-making autonomy, are between €100,000 – €120,000, with peaks above €140,000 in digital native, fintech, or multinational companies.
The variables that have the greatest impact are: seniority, sector, and level of ownership of the product. Each jump in experience can also be worth €8,000 – €15,000. The variable component, linked to bonuses and MBOs (Management by Objectives), can account for a further 5-15%.
Freelancers or consultants apply rates between €500 and €900 per day, especially in complex projects of product discovery, digital strategy, and enterprise transformation.
Certifications are strong career accelerators: titles such as Scrum Product Owner ABC CSPO® (Certified Scrum Product Owner), PSPO™ (Professional Scrum Product Owner) or credentials in the Scaled Agile field (SAFe® POPM) increase attractiveness on the market. Companies also reward transversal skills such as UX, data analysis, business storytelling, and stakeholder management, which are essential for maximising the value of the product.
Sources: Schwaber and Sutherland, The Scrum Guide; © 2017 SCRUMstudy™.
A Guide to the Scrum Body of Knowledge (SBOK™ Guide).
