AI & Data Product Manager/Owner

Sabenza IT & Recruitment; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm based in Johannesburg is looking for an experienced AI & Data Product Manager to oversee the strategy and delivery of innovative AI-driven solutions. The successful candidate will manage the full product lifecycle and ensure ethical outcomes while collaborating with diverse teams. Strong knowledge of AI/ML, cloud platforms, and Agile methodologies is essential for this role. Join us to shape the future of data products in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of data pipelines and analytics platforms.
• Hands-on experience with SQL, Python, and cloud platforms.
• Proven product management expertise using Agile/Scrum methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the product vision and strategy for AI & data products.
• Translate business objectives into clear Product Requirement Documents.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Data Science, Engineering, and Business teams.

Skills

AI/ML concepts

SQL

Python

AWS

Stakeholder management

Agile methodologies

Education

MBA or related advanced qualification

Computer Science

Tools

Kubernetes

Docker

Job description

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 12/01/2026

We are seekinga highly experienced AI & Data Product Manager to lead the strategy,development, and delivery of cutting‑edge AI- and data-driven products. Thisrole sits at the intersection of business, data science, and engineering,owning the end-to-end lifecycle of AI/ML products while ensuring ethical,scalable, and value-driven outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Define,own, and execute the product vision, roadmap, and strategy for AI & dataproducts
• Translatebusiness objectives into clear Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and userstories
• Prioritizefeatures, use cases, and backlogs based on business value, feasibility, andrisk
• Leadcross-functional collaboration with Data Science, Engineering, UX, and Businessteams
• Managethe full AI/ML lifecycle: development, deployment, monitoring, retraining, andoptimization
• EnsureResponsible AI practices including fairness, transparency, governance, andcompliance
• Defineand track product KPIs, success metrics, and business outcomes
• Overseedata quality, governance, integration, and analytics platforms
• Drivestakeholder alignment, executive communication, and product evangelism
• CoordinateA/B testing, experimentation, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensuresecurity, privacy, and regulatory compliance (e.g., POPIA and global standards)
• Leaddocumentation, user enablement, training, and adoption initiatives

Requirements

• Strongunderstanding of AI/ML concepts, data pipelines, and analytics platforms
• Hands‑onexperience with SQL, Python, and cloud platforms (AWS / Azure / GCP)
• ProvenProduct Management expertise using Agile / Scrum methodologies
• Experiencewriting PRDs, managing backlogs, and owning roadmaps
• Strongstakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills
• Familiaritywith MLOps, model monitoring, version control, and deployment practices

Good-to-Have Skills

• Experiencewith Kubernetes, Docker, and scalable architectures
• Exposureto Ruby on Rails and/or Java
• Knowledgeof NVIDIA H200 GPU environments or high-performance AI infrastructure
• Experiencein Business Analytics or Business Administration
• MBA,Computer Science, AI, or related advanced qualification

Screening Focus – Must‑Have Validation

• Hands‑onexperience managing AI/ML product lifecycles
• Provenability to translate business problems into AI/data solutions
• Strongexperience in cloud‑based data and AI platforms
• Demonstratedstakeholder management at senior/executive level