Product owner (m/f/x)

Cultural heritage data lives in databases, paper archives, books, and collections across the globe. But new digital tools can help connect those silos, encourage collaboration, and enhance transparency. NavigatingArt is a nonprofit organization that protects and promotes cultural heritage by empowering teams with the tools to create and publish digital catalogues raisonnés and archives.

We are looking for a highly motivated Product Owner (m/f/x) to coordinate the development of the NavigatingArt platform and its integrations. You’ll work closely with our design, engineering, and domain expert teams, as well as external partners, including the Wildenstein Plattner Institute in New York and the Museum Barberini in Potsdam.

By joining NavigatingArt, you’ll contribute to a meaningful and ambitious initiative that bridges technology and cultural heritage. Help us bring it to life!

Tasks

• Work as part of a cross-functional team of designers, engineers, and domain experts to develop user-centered solutions and guide the product through all stages of development.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to gather insights, define requirements, and translate them into actionable plans for product development.
• Conduct research initiatives to evaluate existing data models, schemas, standards, and comparable search experiences in the field of cultural heritage data.
• Develop and maintain a product roadmap, balancing user needs with technical feasibility and ensuring timely delivery.
• Communicate progress updates to stakeholders and senior management and ensure the development strategy is aligned with the overarching goals of NavigatingArt and its collaboration partners.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience as a Product Owner or in a similar role for a digital product or technology-driven environment (SaaS environment preferred).
• Hands-on experience applying user-centered design by turning user feedback, research findings, and usability testing results into clear, actionable product decisions, particularly in digital platforms or data-driven tools.
• Strong ability to communicate and coordinate effectively across technical and non-technical teams, ensuring clarity and alignment with stakeholders.
• Interdisciplinary knowledge in at least one of the areas of (digital) art history, digital humanities, data science, or similar data-driven fields, with the ability to apply this knowledge to the development of cultural heritage data solutions.
• Experience working in agile environments, managing backlogs, planning roadmaps, and iterating based on feedback while leveraging project management tools like Jira.
• (Preferred) Experience with basic software engineering methodologies such as version control systems, trunk-based development, feature branches, or Git Flow that allow for efficient product delivery.
• You share our values (listed below) and work in accordance with them.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in German is appreciated.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and work in small, autonomous teams with a high degree of creative freedom
• A collaborative and open company culture that values diversity and work-life balance among our talented and inspiring colleagues from all over the world
• Discounted public transport ticket (Deutschland Ticket) or Urban Sports Club membership
• The chance to work on cutting-edge technology and opportunities for professional development and career growth
• A pleasant office space in Berlin Kreuzberg/Mitte with great coffee, offering the flexibility of a hybrid work environment.

In 2021, a group of art historians and developers recognized the potential of new technologies to ease the creation of digital catalogues raisonnés and archives for global audiences. NavigatingArt has since applied digital strategies to meet the needs of institutions, increasing the availability of historical materials and lowering the barrier to comprehensive research. It became a nonprofit organization in 2024, supported by the Hasso Plattner Foundation, thereby aligning its legal status with its mission to protect and promote cultural heritage.

Our values

• Integrity: transparency, authenticity, and responsibility are at the fore of everything we do.
• Expertise: we grow personally and professionally while learning from mistakes and striving for excellence.
• Durability: we prioritize longevity in the products and materials we create in an effort to do things only once — even when this emphasis requires slow thinking and development.
• Collaboration: we work across teams to overcome complex challenges that require everyone’s contribution, not just those at the top.

NavigatingArt is committed to providing a friendly and safe environment for everyone who works here or with us, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion (or lack thereof), and art preferences.