Head of Product (DMC/Safari)

Black Pen Recruitment

Wes-Kaap

Hybrid

ZAR 1,390,095 - 1,737,619

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical Aid

Life Insurance

Death & Disability insurance

Funeral Cover

Hybrid office environment

Study Leave for business-related studies

Financial assistance for studies after one year

Long-service award bonus

Job summary

A recruiting firm is seeking a Head of Product to define and deliver the product vision across Southern Africa. You will lead the Product and Systems teams, combining strategic development and operational efficiency to enhance client experiences. The ideal candidate has 8-10 years in a senior product role and excellent leadership skills in the travel sector. This position offers a hybrid work model and competitive benefits.

Qualifications

8-10 years’ experience in senior product or commercial roles within a DMC or similar.
Proven leadership of cross-functional teams, including product and systems/technology.
Strong knowledge of Southern African travel products.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the product strategy in line with company goals.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Management and Systems teams.
Oversee the strategic management of core operational system (Tourplan).

Skills

Leadership skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Customer-centric thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Tourism, or related field

Tools

Tourplan

Job description

Role Overview

The Head of Product is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and delivering our client’s product vision across Southern Africa, while ensuring the systems team supports efficiency, profitability, and exceptional client experiences. Leading the Product and Systems teams, this role combines strategic product development, commercial direction and sales conversations, and systems optimisation to meet evolving B2B client needs, drive revenue growth, and uphold our client’s reputation for quality and reliability.

Job Type: Full Time

Workplace: Hybrid (3 days in office)

Location: Cape Town

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Tourism, or related field.
8–10 years’ experience in senior product or commercial roles within a DMC or similar.
Proven leadership of cross-functional teams, including product and systems/technology.
Strong knowledge of Southern African travel products
Experience with operational systems relevant to travel product delivery (e.g., Tourplan).
Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth and operational efficiency through product and systems strategies.
Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
Strategic Leadership & Vision
Product & Commercial Acumen
Systems & Process Optimisation
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Market & Trend Analysis
Customer-Centric Thinking

Responsibilities

Product Vision & Strategic Direction

Define and execute the product strategy in line with company goals, contracted agents, and source market priorities.
Translate market trends and client insights, with the support of the team, into innovative product concepts and enhancements.
Oversee the team’s execution of full product lifecycle, from ideation with agents, through launch, audit procedures, and continuous improvement.
Monitor and analyse product and sales performance, adjusting strategies as needed.

Leadership & Team Management

Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Management and Systems teams, fostering a high-performance culture.
Foster a proactive, commercially minded culture within the Product team, encouraging active participation in sales discussions and product positioning.
Set clear objectives, priorities, and KPIs for both teams.
Promote collaboration between product, reservations, operations, marketing, and systems functions.
Ensure both teams are aligned to strategic business goals and deliver measurable value.
Set the overarching commercial framework for supplier contracting, rates, and overrides.
Guide product managers in supplier negotiations, ensuring profitability and competitiveness.
Develop and approve, in collaboration with CEO, key supplier agreements and strategic partnerships. Oversee risk management related to supplier agreements and service delivery.

Systems Team Oversight

Oversee the strategic management of core operational system (Tourplan)
Ensure systems team optimises to support product delivery, pricing and data accuracy, reporting, and client communications.
Drive system improvements, in collaboration with the CEO, and integrations that enhance efficiency and client experience.
Ensure products and systems together deliver a seamless, high-quality client experience.
Ensure products and systems together with sales/reservations, embed client feedback into product and system improvements.
Act as the strategic link between the customer facing teams, ensuring brand and company goals are achieved
Maintain an in-depth understanding of competitor offerings, market shifts, and source market trends.
Identify, in collaboration with the team, emerging destinations, experiences, and product categories to expand the portfolio.
Ensure the sales/reservations team has the tools, knowledge, and positioning needed to succeed.
Support business development efforts with market insights and product recommendations.
Enable and coach the Product team to confidently engage in sales conversations, supporting account growth through effective product storytelling and solution selling.

Benefits