Retail F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

Overview:

Live the experience. From professional empowerment to continual learning opportunities. From ongoing investment in new and emerging technologies to a career of self-determination. At Ulta Beauty, our tech team is critical to our scalability—and is recognized that way. We’ve been defined as a “mature start-up.” A place where interdepartmental exposure, open doors, and genuine collaboration is ubiquitous. Where challenges come fast and furious, requiring agility, mental dexterity, and creativity. Where our passion for better solutions drives us and is core to who we are.

We’re engineering for the future of retail, and it’s no-holds-barred. But for those motivated by continual change and ambiguity, by superior leadership, by whip smart colleagues who will press you daily for your very best, you’ll find that virtually nothing’s impossible at Ulta Beauty.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

Ulta Beauty is building best-in-class Data & AI capabilities with the goal of creating enterprise value through AI, making a significant impact on the company's already rapid growth. A core focus of this effort is the Enterprise AI Assistant, enabling teams to work smarter through intelligent, scalable AI experiences. We are seeking an AI Product Owner to lead the delivery and scale-out of the Enterprise AI Assistant across the enterprise.

The Product Owner is a core member of the Agile Scrum team and is responsible for the execution and delivery of the product roadmap and its initiatives. The Product Owner is responsible for driving the day-to-day direction of product development and partners closely with the Product Manager to define the product roadmap supporting the strategic vision for their team. They are responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Product Backlog including its content, availability, and prioritization.

The Product Owner will create and refine user stories and set priorities for sprint planning to ensure the correct acceptance criteria is defined for the product features. They collaborate with business, field, and DC teams across the enterprise to onboard, scale, and operationalize AI assistant use cases that will unlock measurable productivity and quality gains.

The Product Owner has a deep understanding of the target market/industry and builds close relationships with key stakeholders to ensure that the team’s effort is aligned with overall strategy. They will manage dependencies with other team’s functions through identifying, building, and managing strategic partnerships across the different teams while acting as a liaison between the delivery team and business, ensuring clear communication and alignment.

YOU’LL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY:

• Set & communicate a clear Enterprise AI Assistant product vision to team members & relevant stakeholders focused on adoption and business impact
• Lead business & technical development teams through the agile development lifecycle
• Accountable for tracking & communication of AI Assistant success metrics & KPIs (productivity, quality, adoption)
• Participate in Quarterly Program Increment Planning sessions to align on objectives, prioritize initiatives, and ensure successful execution of product strategies
• Facilitate release planning with stakeholders as well as lead required product demos
• Utilize knowledge of user and business feedback to create epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria
• Advocate for business stakeholders by providing timely actionable insights
• Develop Agile best practices and engage in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Re-prioritize and update user stories based on shifting priorities, timelines, & feedback
• Collaborate with enterprise business, field, and DC teams to support onboarding, enablement, and adoption of AI Assistant Use Cases

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with the Tech, Platform, and Security teams to ensure the AI Assistant is stable, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards
• Champion the adoption of agile and product development practices focused on delivering value by partnering with business stakeholders and mentoring other teams
• Acts as the voice of enterprise, field, and DC user, advocating for productivity, quality, and responsible AI usage
• Partner with third party AI and platform vendors to ensure delivery, governance, and rollout alignment

ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field required
• 4+ years relevant work experience with at least 2+ years in a product owner role and experience operating in an agile (scrum) environment, focus on AI or technology-driven products preferred
• Strong understanding of AI technologies including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and data analytics
• Experiencing using tools, such as Jira, Confluence, Figma, and SharePoint
• Experience leading teams in an agile setting such as facilitating ceremonies, managing a backlog, developing a release plan, and writing user stories
• Advanced analytical skills to assess complex business operations and backend technology integrations
• Strong collaborator with cross-functional teams across design, product, & technology
• Strong communication skills with ability to influence stakeholders, communicate complex concepts, and align the organization on required decisions
• Strong problem solver with the ability to manage and lead the team to a solution
• Experimental mindset to drive innovation, empower others to fail, learn

COMPENSATION:

• The pay range for this position is $88,200.00 - $125,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page.

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.