Product Owner Software Development

KARI ALVAREZ

Santa Clara, UT • 815-***-**** • **********@*******.*** • linkedin.com/in/kari-alvarez-csm-cspo-kmp- 21995358/

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRODUCT OWNER

Deliver large-scale, highly complex projects and programs with senior-level internal or external sponsors and stakeholders within approved budget, schedule, scope, and quality standards. Dynamic Software Development Product Owner with extensive experience in leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative travel software products. Proven track record in defining product vision, managing backlogs, and enhancing user experiences in high- paced environments.

Technical Skills: SQL, JIRA, SSIS/DTS, NextGen EMR, TFS, Data Modeling, Salesforce Field Service Lightning, Data Analytics, Medicare Universes.

• Agile / Scrum

• Team Leadership

• Project Management

• Effective Communication

• System Administration

• SQL Data Queries

• Business Development

• Customer Needs Assessment

• People Development

• Budget Management

• Business Process

• Technical Solution Design

• Databases

• Process Improvement

• Problem Solving

• QA Testing

• IT Strategy

• Business Intelligence

• Systems Analysis

• PI Planning

• Stakeholder Relationships

• Agile Methodologies

• Product Management Tools

• Travel Software

Professional Experience

CIGNA • Remote - UT • 2020 to March 2025

An American multinational managed healthcare and insurance company. Systems Analysis/Agile Product Owner Senior Advisor (2021 to 2025) Defined and communicated product vision and strategy for new software applications, managing and prioritizing the product backlog to maximize value. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality, market-aligned product delivery that significantly improved user experience.

• Lead engagement from multiple stakeholders, ensuring prompt and quality deliverables.

• Translate business knowledge into well-defined goals and objectives, problems and opportunities that facilitate the desired outcome.

• Lead the development of a new software application that provides scalability in data management for CMS reporting, resulting in 30% reduction in total cost of operations as well as providing technology simplification.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define product roadmaps, maintaining a backlog of prioritized features, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer needs. Application Development Senior Manager (2020-2021) Hired as a Senior Manager to support team that supported applications for medical records management and provider scheduling. Assisted in the transition of IT and business under new area – transitioning and creating a plan to migrate and integrate supported applications. Successfully built and executed the plan for transition.

• Championed a culture of innovation and accountability within teams, resulting in improved collaboration and product delivery.

• Participated in analysis, design, development, and implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software and Salesforce / Field Service Lightning.

• Coached team to become true Scrum team operating on a release plan to deliver specific application enhancements and new capabilities within specific areas. Improved team velocity for Scrum. PRODUCT VISION & EXECUTION

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

KARI ALVAREZ Page 2

• Team improved and streamlined product backlog for work deliverables, establishing regular delivery cadence on releases and working at 90% capacity, compared to 60% prior.

• Delivered improvements in scheduling, increasing capacity 60% with no additional technology investments. HCSC / BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD • Chicago, IL • 2016 to 2020 Parent company for 5 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Senior Manager, Resource Development & Agile Center of Excellence Lead (2020) Promoted to lead by process Scrum Master resource requests, coordinate schedule of resources (employee and contractor) to ensure clarity around priorities and goals to meet business needs. Worked cross-functionally with peers and stakeholders to ensure collaboration for shared goals. Led Agile COE, providing team coaching, enterprise-level coaching, Kanban, and Scrum. Held primary responsibility for management of Agile COE product backlog, managed team of 90 (primarily offshore) Scrum Masters.

• Interacted with senior management for reporting, strategy development, and execution planning.

• Opened up 2 Agile coaching clinics in Texas and Chicago.

• Participated in OCM workstream to initiate organizational change to embrace Lean/Six Sigma and CI framework.

• Collaborated with Executive Sponsor to create roadmap, prioritize backlog, and define release plans.

• Continuously worked with team to remain focused on overall objective (vision) and release/sprint goals. Scrum Master II (2016 to 2017)

Advanced to direct 4 Scrum teams in developing solutions using Agile practices while maintaining accountability for software build activities. Orchestrated Scrum events such as backlog creation/grooming, prioritization, standup meetings, estimation, showcase, and retrospectives. Collaborated with product manager to plan roadmap execution based on estimates and capacity and identified risks to plan. Conducted change management by participating in and leading Scrum adoption practices organization wide.

• Nominated for large projects based on delivering on time/on budget. Led team to win Silver Award, recognized by corporate.

• Recognized with Five Star Silver Award for effort to support teams. Held accountability for coaching 20 teams in Agile processes.

Supervisor Application (2015 to 2016)

Directed multiple development projects and groups, and/or application support functions for retail business segment. Led 23- member team of onshore/offshore developers responsible for collecting and disseminating new enrollment data originating from CMS (Center for Medicaid and Medicare).

• Served as Scrum Master for large implementation of new retail application system for 2 retail services work streams.

• Negotiated and managed all release activities; tracked progress to ensure on-budget and on-time application releases.

• Communicated key project plans, commitments, and changes, including requirements, QA plans, schedule, and scope. Education & Certifications

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY • Bachelor of Arts

Certified Scrum Produce Owner (CSPO) Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), SAFe 6.0 PO/PM

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