Head Of Product Management - (Permanent)

Project Management Connection; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in South Africa is seeking a Head of Product Management. This role involves leading the product function and overseeing the entire product portfolio, ensuring alignment with business goals and driving innovation. Candidates should have at least 8 years in product management, particularly in fintech, and experience in managing cross-functional teams. Strong strategic, leadership, and communication skills are essential. The role also entails staying up-to-date with emerging payment trends and managing the full product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of experience in senior product, strategy, or innovation roles.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in fintech or technology sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of the payments industry.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute product strategy in alignment with business goals.
• Manage the entire product lifecycle from ideation to launch.
• Conduct thorough market research to identify trends.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science or related field

Postgraduate qualification in Product Management or Business Analysis

Tools

Agile methodologies

JIRA

Job description

Our client is seeking to hire a Head of Product Management who will be responsible for leading the product function by setting the overarching product strategy and vision, managing and developing the product team, and ensuring that the Company's product goals align with broader business objectives.

The Head of Product Management will oversee the entire product portfolio, making strategic decisions, allocating resources, and collaborating with other departments to drive innovation and successful product delivery from concept to launch.

In addition, the role requires staying closely connected to payment trends and the evolving future of payments, including the emergence of alternative payment solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision

Define and execute the overall product strategy and long-term vision in alignment with business goals.

Lead the development and ongoing refinement of product roadmaps.

Identify and analyse new product ideas and support evaluation of new product lines.

Contribute to product portfolio planning through detailed analysis and strategic input.

Create buy-in for the product vision across departments and leadership.

Team Leadership

Mentor, guide, and lead product management teams in best practices for product development and execution.

The ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams, align stakeholders, and effectively communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Market and User Research

Conduct thorough market and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and unmet user needs.

Stay informed of emerging payments trends, including alternative payments and industry shifts.

Represent the voice of the customer throughout the product lifecycle.

Product Development and Requirements Management

Translate customer needs and business objectives into clear product requirements.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop a comprehensive set of requirements.

Ensure effective communication of product requirements to all stakeholders.

Manage requirement changes during development to minimise disruption.

Balance feature requirements with cost implications to maximise product value.

Product Lifecycle Management

Manage the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch and eventual discontinuance.

Plan and coordinate commercial product launches in collaboration with sales and marketing.

Conduct ongoing reviews of product performance and recommend repositioning or discontinuation as needed.

Maintain and evolve product documentation, including specifications, roadmaps and reports.

Cross-functional Collaboration and Project Support

Work closely with development, operations, sales, compliance, and support teams.

Provide guidance and product expertise during project planning and execution.

Ensure alignment of business processes across functional areas for successful product rollout.

Collaborate with international OEMs, including Ingenico and Newland, on technical and commercial matters.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Oversee functional, usability, and beta testing for all products.

Ensure that all product launches meet internal quality standards and external compliance requirements.

Execution at All Organisational Levels

Deliver value at a tactical level through effective day-to-day product management.

Drive medium-term outcomes through operational planning and coordination.

Contribute to long-term strategic goals through product innovation and lifecycle governance.

Key Skills and Competencies

Strategic thinker with a customer-focused mindset.

Skilled communicator with influence and negotiation abilities.

Detail-oriented and results-driven.

Strong project and time management skills.

Resilient, adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Strong leadership and team collaboration capabilities.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems or related field.

Postgraduate qualification or certification in Product Management, Agile or Business Analysis will be highly advantageous.

At least 8 years of experience in senior product, strategy, or innovation roles, ideally within fintech, payments or technology, with a proven track record in delivering impactful, market-ready solutions.

At least 5 years of leadership experience ideally within fintech, payments or technology.

In-depth knowledge of the payments industry. Including acquiring transaction processing for both card-present and card-not-present environments. (mandatory)

Demonstrated success in creating commercially viable client solutions that deliver measurable value and business growth.

Skilled in product lifecycle management, go-to-market execution, and managing financial performance (value creation, cost optimisation, ROE improvement).

Strong networking and relationship building ability.

Think beyond the requirement and solution for today and the future.

Familiarity with Agile methodologies and tools (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, JIRA).