RRF_[TBD]

ProductOwner – Platform & Roadmap

Culinary Digital | Fulcrum Worldwide

Position Title

Product Owner – Platform & Roadmap

RRF Number

RRF_[TBD]

Reports To

Associate VP of Product

Location

Pune, India (Hinjawadi)

Employment

Full-Time

Experience

12–15 years total; 8+ years in product management; B2B SaaS experience mandatory

Delivery Model

Scrum

Company Overview

Culinary Digital, part of Fulcrum Worldwide, is a B2B SaaS company building the Operating System for Institutional Foodservice. Our platform serves 2.5M+ meals daily across seven verticals, including healthcare, senior living, K–12, higher education, corrections, and food service management companies.

Our products — CulinarySuite, CD MealPlanner, and CD Signage — connect procurement, inventory, recipes, production, compliance, and diner experience in one integrated system. We operate in regulated environments (HIPAA, HL7, USDA/NSLP, audit-ready corrections records) and are actively building AI and intelligence capabilities on an enterprise-scale platform.

Position Overview

The Product Owner – Platform & Roadmap owns delivery of the committed product roadmap and the platform foundation that powers all Culinary Digital products. The role is accountable for outcomes, not activity: roadmap scope delivered, platform stability strengthened, and commitments met on schedule.

The role spans two layers:

• Roadmap delivery — new modules and capabilities on the CulinarySuite roadmap, including AI-driven insights, operational modules (e.g., commissary and catering workflows), and enterprise client programme commitments.

• Platform foundation — architecture-level improvements, data integrity, concurrency and infrastructure reliability, observability, and AI/data enablement.

This is a senior, technically strong PO role. You will make informed trade-offs with Engineering and Architecture, then explain those decisions in business terms to leadership, Client Delivery, and Sales.

Key Responsibilities

Committed Roadmap Delivery

• Own the Platform & Roadmap backlog end to end — prioritised, groomed, and sprint-ready at all times

• Drive delivery against agreed roadmap scope sprint over sprint, measured as items delivered vs. items committed into sprint

• Conduct structured discovery before development; write user stories with clear, testable acceptance criteria (Gherkin preferred)

• Translate roadmap and client programme commitments into sequenced, deliverable increments

Platform Technical Delivery & Stability

• Partner with Engineering and Architecture to own the platform roadmap — scalability, reliability, and performance

• Define requirements for architecture-level work, data integrity improvements, and concurrency/race-condition fixes that close defect classes at the root

• Own data platform requirements — data models, data quality standards, pipeline reliability, and cloud DB/BI access for clients

• Define requirements for AI and analytics capabilities, including governance and benchmarking

• Drive observability, CI/CD, and environment readiness for compliance, load testing, and scaling

• Lead root-cause analysis for critical incidents in owned areas; distinguish requirement gaps from engineering failures

Delivery Predictability

• Deliver committed sprint scope on schedule; flag risk at least one sprint ahead, never at sprint close

• Sequence concurrent platform priorities with explicit trade-offs

• Own Definition of Done enforcement for both feature releases and platform capability delivery

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Visibility

• Maintain a live dependency and risk tracker across Engineering, Product, QA, UX, and Client Delivery

• Run a recurring sync cadence with teams affected by platform sequencing decisions

• Communicate platform investment rationale to non-technical stakeholders in terms of business value

• Support Client Delivery and Sales with release readiness artifacts — demo flows, release summaries, and CS briefs

Process & Documentation

• Document major decisions in real time — scope changes, architecture trade-offs, and reprioritisation rationale

• Close the loop on deprioritised or rejected requests with documented reasoning

• Present delivery outcomes and platform progress clearly in leadership forums

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field

• 12–15 years of total experience, with a minimum of 8 years in product management (Product Owner / Product Manager roles)

• Mandatory: hands-on product experience in a B2B SaaS company

• Hands-on ownership of platform, infrastructure, or technical backlogs alongside customer-facing features

• Strong understanding of web application architecture, APIs, databases, and integrations — enough to make informed trade-offs with Engineering

• Proven delivery against committed sprint scope, with a track record of surfacing risk early

• Proficiency with Jira or equivalent agile tooling

• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to explain technical decisions to non-technical audiences

• Based in Pune or willing to relocate

Preferred

• Exposure to data platforms — data pipelines, data quality, BI/reporting, or cloud database access

• Experience defining requirements for AI/ML features, including benchmarking and governance

• Familiarity with observability, CI/CD, and performance/load testing concepts

• SAFe or LeSS exposure

• Enterprise SaaS experience in regulated domains (healthcare/HIPAA, public sector, education)

• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification

What Success Looks Like

• Committed roadmap delivery rises sprint over sprint against an agreed target

• Platform work measurably strengthens stability — root-cause fixes close defect classes rather than patching symptoms

• Sprints have few surprises; risks are visible at least one sprint ahead

• Leadership and dependent teams have a current, trusted view of platform dependencies and sequencing

• Key decisions are documented as they happen, making the track's choices defensible and repeatable

• Platform investments are articulated in business value, not just technical outcomes

Why Join Us

• Work on an enterprise-scale SaaS platform serving 2.5M+ meals daily across the US

• Direct exposure to AI, data, and platform modernisation initiatives

• Flat structure with direct access to product leadership

• High-ownership culture with clear accountability and visible impact

• Close collaboration with US-based client and leadership teams

Culinary Digital | Fulcrum Worldwide · Pune, India · culinarydigital.com

Requirements

Scrum Facilitation and AgileCoaching:

• Facilitate Scrum Ceremonies: Organize and facilitate all Scrum ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, ensuring they are conducted effectively and efficiently.
• Agile Coaching: Act as a coach to the development team, Product Owners, and other stakeholders in Scrum and Agile best practices, promoting an understanding and adoption of Agile principles.

Continuous Improvement:

• Encourage continuous improvement within the team by facilitating retrospectives and identifying actionable steps to enhance processes and productivity.

Sprint Planning and Execution:

• Sprint Goal Setting: Collaborate with the Product Owner to define sprint goals and ensure they are clearly understood by the development team.
• Backlog Refinement: Assist the Product Owner in refining and prioritizing the product backlog to ensure that the team works on the highest-value features that align with business goals.
• Monitoring Progress: Track and monitor the team’s progress against sprint goals and velocity, ensuring that the team stays on track to meet commitments.

Impediment Removal:

• Identify and Resolve Blockers: Proactively identify and address any impediments or blockers that may impact the team’s ability to deliver on sprint commitments, facilitating solutions that keeps the team moving forward.
• Advocate for Resources: Advocate for necessary resources, tools, and support required by the team to achieve optimal productivity and quality.

Team Development andPerformance:

• Foster Collaboration: Create a collaborative and inclusive team environment that encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and a strong sense of team unity.
• Team Coaching: Provide guidance and support to team members to enhance their skills, address challenges, and promote career development.
• Performance Management: Support the performance management process by providing input on individual and team performance, helping to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

Quality and DeliverableManagement:

• Ensure Quality Standards: Work with the development team and Product Owner to ensure that deliverables meet quality standards and acceptance criteria before being released.
• Velocity Optimization: Monitor and optimize team velocity to improve the predictability and efficiency of sprint delivery.
• Commitment Management: Ensure that the team commits to realistic and achievable sprint goals and holds the team accountable for meeting these commitments.

Collaboration andCommunication:

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with Product Owners, Product Directors, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment between development efforts and business objectives.
• Stakeholder Communication: Provide transparent communication to stakeholders regarding sprint progress, potential risks, and areas of improvement.
• Alignment with Product Vision: Ensure that the team’s work aligns with the broader product vision and strategy set by the Chief Product Officer and Product Director.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Business, or a related field; relevant work experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of experience as a Scrum Master or in a similar role within an Agile environment.
• Strong understanding of Scrum, Agile, and Lean principles, with experience applying these methodologies in real-world scenarios.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), or similar Agile certifications are preferred.
• Familiarity with Agile project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Trello, or equivalent) is preferred.

Benefits

Hiring Requirements – Product Owner, Platform & Roadmap

21 Oct 2026 · @Abhinandan Arkade

We need a senior B2B SaaS Product Owner with 12–15 years of experience (8+ in product management) to own the Platform & Roadmap track. Target hire date: 20 Nov 2026.

Role Snapshot

FieldRequirement Position

Product Owner – Platform & Roadmap

RRF Number

RRF_[TBD]

Total Experience

12–15 years

Product Management Experience

Minimum 8 years in dedicated PO / PM roles

Industry

B2B SaaS product company — mandatory

Location

Pune (Hinjawadi); relocation candidates acceptable

Notice Period

Immediate to 30 days preferred

Budget Band

[To be confirmed]

Reports To

Associate VP of Product

Confidentiality

Need-to-know; do not disclose the team or track internally

Must-Have Criteria (Knockout)

A profile missing any one of these should not be shared.

#CriterionHow to Verify 1

12–15 years total experience

CV timeline adds up; no unexplained gaps

2

8+ years in dedicated PO / PM roles

Count only pure PO/PM titles; blended BA/QA/delivery/PMO titles do not count

3

B2B SaaS product company experience

At least one substantial stint (2+ years) in a SaaS product company, not a services/IT consulting firm

4

Platform or technical backlog ownership

Owned infrastructure, data, architecture, or integration backlogs — not only UI features

5

Strong technical grounding

Can discuss APIs, databases, integrations, and architecture trade-offs with engineers

6

Scrum delivery experience

Has run backlog, refinement, and sprint planning as the PO

7

Strong English communication

Clear, structured spoken and written English; US stakeholder-facing

8

Pune-based or willing to relocate

Confirmed in writing before submission

Good-to-Have Criteria

These strengthen a profile but are not grounds to reject.

• Data platform exposure — pipelines, data quality, BI/reporting, cloud database access
• AI/ML feature ownership — requirements, benchmarking, or governance
• Observability, CI/CD, or performance/load testing involvement
• SAFe or LeSS exposure
• Regulated-domain SaaS — healthcare/HIPAA, public sector, education, foodservice, or supply chain
• CSPO, SAFe POPM, or equivalent certification (active, not expired)
• Experience working directly with US-based clients or leadership

Evaluation Framework

Every round assesses candidates on the same four pillars. TAG prescreens should collect early evidence against each.

PillarWhat We Look ForEvidence Expected Business Domain Knowledge

Understands how B2B SaaS products create value; links platform work to customer and revenue outcomes

Can explain the business case behind a platform investment they owned

Agile / Scrum Process Experience

Mature PO practice — backlog ownership, discovery, acceptance criteria, sprint commitment, DoD

Can write a Gherkin scenario on the spot; explains how they flagged sprint risk early

Adaptability Within the Team

Works across Engineering, QA, UX, Client Delivery; handles shifting priorities and pushback

Specific example of resolving a priority conflict or a missed commitment

Enterprise Systems Experience

Has handled scale, integrations, data, and reliability in enterprise products

Can describe an architecture or data trade-off they made with Engineering, and its result

Prescreen Checklist

TAG must confirm every item below before a profile is shared.

• Total experience and dedicated PO/PM tenure, broken down by employer and title
• Name of the SaaS product(s) owned, the company type (product vs. services), and tenure there
• Type of backlog owned — platform/technical, customer-facing, or both
• Team size and engineering setup they worked with as PO
• Current CTC and expected CTC, with any fixed vs. variable split
• Notice period, LWD if serving notice, and buyout possibility
• Current location and relocation willingness
• Certifications held, with issue/expiry status
• Reason for change
• Any other offers in hand or interviews in final stages

Red Flags and Auto-Drop Rules

Auto-drop

• Services-only or IT consulting career with no SaaS product company stint
• PO/PM tenure built from blended titles (BA/PO, QA Lead/PO, Delivery Manager/PO)
• Total or PM experience below the band once titles are verified
• Only feature/UI backlog ownership; no platform, data, or technical exposure

Flag in prescreen notes (do not auto-drop)

• Concurrent or overlapping titles on the CV
• Expected CTC structured to land just inside the band alongside stretched tenure
• Precise improvement percentages with no baseline or context
• Expired or "in progress" certifications listed as held
• Unexplained employment gaps longer than 6 months
• Single-client career or unrelated domains (e.g., fintech, telecom) with no product ownership

Sourcing Guidance

Source from B2B SaaS product companies with enterprise customers, ideally in Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Mumbai.

PrioritiseAvoid Enterprise B2B SaaS product companies (ERP, supply chain, HR/payroll, healthcare IT, field service, hospitality tech)

Pure IT services and outsourcing firms with no own product

Senior POs / PMs owning platform, data, or integration tracks

Project managers, delivery managers, or Scrum Masters relabelled as PO

Profiles with US client or leadership exposure

Consumer/B2C-only product backgrounds with no enterprise exposure

Candidates who have scaled or re-architected a live product

Profiles whose only product work is early-stage MVPs

Suggested search titles: Senior Product Owner, Lead Product Owner, Technical Product Manager, Platform Product Manager, Senior Product Manager – Platform.

Interview Process

1. TAG prescreen — must-haves and checklist confirmed; profile submitted in the format below
2. L1 – Hiring Manager (Abhinandan Arkade) — in-person or virtual; technical depth, platform trade-offs, live acceptance-criteria writing
3. L2 – CPO (Abilash Krishnaswamy) — product leadership, business alignment, stakeholder handling
4. HR round — compensation, notice period, culture fit
5. Final – CEO (Ian Worden) — leadership fit and final approval

Target feedback turnaround is 48 hours per round.

Profile submission format (per candidate)

FieldDetail Name / Current Company / Title

Total Exp / Dedicated PO-PM Exp

SaaS Product(s) Owned

Backlog Type (Platform / Customer-facing / Both)

Current CTC / Expected CTC

Notice Period / LWD

Location / Relocation

Certifications (with status)

Recruiter Notes and Flags