Make a difference.
Purpose
Own the product vision, backlog, and delivery of Graybar’s AI-powered Quote & Order Management platform – the system that is automating how Graybar captures, processes, and fulfills customer quotes and orders received via email in structured and unstructured formats. This product is live in its pilot district and preparing to scale across 12 additional districts serving approximately 2,500 active users processing 190 million order lines annually.
As the AI Product Owner, you are the bridge between Graybar’s sales and customer service teams, the engineering and data science teams building the platform, and the SaaS partner powering the AI engine. You ensure we build the right features, in the right order, to maximize adoption and business value.
Product Context
The Quote & Order Management platform uses AI to automatically capture quotes and orders from customer emails, match products to Graybar’s catalog (including items without Graybar IDs), and present them for human-in-the-loop review before submission. Current capabilities include handling structured and unstructured email formats, obscuring cost and margin information, and supporting a pilot of approximately 1.3 million lines across 550 active users. The 2026 roadmap includes expanding to products without Graybar IDs (NOF (“not on file”/lot), integrating wire cut sheet workflows, launching a voice integration pilot, and scaling nationally.
In this role you will:
- Own and prioritize the product backlog in Azure DevOps – write user stories, define acceptance criteria, and ensure the team always knows what to build next and why
- Represent the voice of Graybar’s sales representatives, customer service agents, and district operations leaders; translate their workflows, pain points, and needs into actionable product requirements
- Lead sprint planning, backlog refinement, and sprint reviews; accept completed work and make scope decisions within sprints
- Define acceptance criteria for AI-powered features that account for model accuracy, confidence thresholds, and edge cases – understanding that AI outputs are probabilistic, not deterministic
- Design and optimize human-in-the-loop review workflows – determining where human review is required, where it can be streamlined, and how to build user trust in AI-generated recommendations
- Drive the scaling strategy from pilot to enterprise rollout: plan district onboarding, define readiness criteria, measure adoption metrics, and manage change across diverse branch operations
- Collaborate with the data science team and SaaS provider to define data requirements, evaluate model performance, and prioritize model improvements based on business impact
- Work with the UX Designer to ensure the review and confirmation interfaces are intuitive, efficient, and designed for the pace of a high-volume sales operation
- Define and track product KPIs: order processing time, accuracy rates, user adoption, exception rates, and business value delivered
- Manage stakeholder communication – regularly update district leaders, sales management, and executive sponsors on product progress, upcoming features, and rollout timelines
- Participate in AI governance activities, ensuring responsible use of AI in customer-facing order processing and compliance with data privacy requirements
What you bring to the table:
Minimum
- 5+ years of experience in product ownership, business analysis, or product management
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments with responsibility for backlog management and sprint ceremonies
- Demonstrated ability to translate business processes into technical requirements and user stories
- Experience managing products through pilot-to-scale transitions or multi-phase rollouts
- Four-year degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Preferred
- Experience with AI/ML-powered products or data-driven applications, particularly document intelligence, NLP, or order automation
- Familiarity with Azure DevOps or similar Agile work management tools (Jira, Rally)
- Experience in electrical distribution, wholesale distribution, supply chain, or B2B sales operations
- Understanding of order management, quoting, or sales workflows in a high-volume environment
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), or equivalent certification
- Familiarity with Microsoft Azure ecosystem or AI/ML concepts (LLMs, confidence scoring, human-in-the-loop patterns)
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of Agile product development practices, including user story writing, backlog prioritization frameworks (WSJF, MoSCoW, RICE), and sprint planning
- Knowledge of business processes in sales, order management, or customer service operations
- Understanding of how AI/ML models work at a conceptual level – training data, accuracy metrics, confidence scores, and the iterative nature of model improvement
- Knowledge of change management practices for deploying technology across distributed operations
Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills – ability to decompose complex business workflows into discrete, buildable product increments
- Excellent communication skills – ability to facilitate requirements workshops, present to stakeholders at all levels, and write clear documentation
- Active listening and requirements elicitation skills – ability to probe beyond stated needs to uncover root problems and opportunities
- Organizational and prioritization skills – managing competing demands from multiple districts, stakeholder groups, and technical constraints
Abilities
- Ability to work effectively at the intersection of business operations and technology – comfortable in a warehouse observing branch workflows one day and in a sprint planning session with engineers the next
- Ability to manage stakeholder expectations around AI capabilities – explaining why AI is not 100% accurate, how it improves over time, and what “good enough” means for production use
- Ability to make scope and prioritization decisions with incomplete information and adapt quickly as new data emerges
- Ability to build strong working relationships across cross-functional teams, including remote engineering teams, SaaS vendor partners, and field operations staff
- Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment where the product is evolving rapidly and the playbook is being written in real time
Working Conditions
Hybrid office environment (Clayton, MO; 3 days per week on-site). Periodic travel to Graybar district offices and branch locations to observe sales and order processing workflows, support pilot launches, and conduct user research. Remote candidates will be considered for exceptional qualifications.
Compensation Details: The expected base salary for this position is starting at $118,000 annually depending on experience. This position is also bonus eligible - based on specific and relevant business metrics.
Why Graybar
Graybar is a Fortune 500, 100% employee-owned company with nearly 160 years of history and $11.6 billion in annual sales. As an employee-owner, you share directly in the company’s success through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and profit-sharing programs. You will be joining a newly formed AI team building products that are transforming how an entire industry sells – with real users, real revenue impact, and a clear path to scale.
The Value of Graybar:
At Graybar, we are known for our comprehensive benefits and our employee stock ownership plan! Most regular, full-time employees at Graybar may be eligible for a variety of benefits like:
Multiple plan options for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug benefits.
Life Insurance coverage for you and options for your family.
Save on expenses with Flexible Spending Accounts.
Enjoy our Disability Benefits at no cost to you.
Share in our success with Profit Sharing Plans.
401(k) Savings Plan with company match to help secure your future.
Paid Vacation & Sick Days to spend time away from work or in case of an illness.
Rest and recharge during our Paid Holidays throughout the year.
Take advantage of our Paid Wellness Day to focus on preventive care and prioritize your health.
Volunteer with Community Time Off to give back to the community.
Predictable Work Schedules to plan your life: no weekends or nights for most roles.
Celebrate your and others' achievements with our Employee Recognition Program.
Reach your career goals with our Educational Reimbursement and Career Development Programs.
And More Per