Product Development Manager - Water Treatment and Purification

Elchemie; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Negotiable remuneration

Collaborative environment that values

Job summary

Elchemie in Gauteng, South Africa, seeks a senior Product Manager to own and grow its water treatment product portfolio. You will drive lifecycle management from concept to phase-out, analyze performance and margins, and identify growth opportunities.

Collaboration with suppliers, technical teams and sales is essential to translate capabilities into market value. The role requires strong commercial acumen, 8–12+ years in water treatment, and experience with international suppliers.

Qualifications

• Experience in water treatment products is essential.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management and portfolio optimization.
• Ability to translate technical capabilities into market value propositions.

Responsibilities

• Own water treatment product portfolio from concept through launch and phase-out.
• Analyse performance, margins, lifecycle, and market relevance.
• Identify gaps, overlaps, and rationalisation opportunities within the portfolio.
• Collaborate with suppliers, manufacturers and tech partners on developments.
• Support go-to-market strategies, launches and product positioning.
• Provide product training and guidance to internal teams.

Education

Relevant qualification in Engineering, Chemistry, Product management, or related field

Experience in international supplier/manufacturer interactions

Strong commercial and strategic thinking

Job description

What you'll be doing

• Product Portfolio Ownership: Take full ownership of existing water treatment and purification product lines


• Analyse product performance, margins, lifecycle stage, and market relevance


• Identify gaps, overlaps, and rationalisation opportunities within the portfolio


• Manage product lifecycle from concept through launch, optimisation, and phase-out


• Growth & Innovation: Identify new product opportunities based on market trends, customer needs, and competitive analysis


• Explore line extensions, product upgrades, and adjacent technologies to drive growth


• Develop business cases for new products, including pricing, margin, and volume projections


• Work closely with suppliers, manufacturers, and technology partners on new developments


• Technical & Market Alignment: Translate technical product capabilities into clear value propositions for the market


• Ensure products meet local regulations, standards, and performance expectations


• Collaborate with technical teams to validate product performance and suitability Support testing, trials, and validation of new and improved products


• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the link between sales, technical, operations, and marketing teams


• Provide product training, documentation, and guidance to internal stakeholders


• Support go-to-market strategies, launches, and product positioning


• Assist sales teams with product selection, application guidance, and competitive differentiation

What you'll need

• Relevant qualification in Engineering, Chemistry, Product management, or a related field


• Formal product management or innovation training


• Experience working with international suppliers or manufacturers


• 8-12+ years' experience in the water purification / water treatment industry


• Proven experience in product management, product development, or portfolio management


• Strong exposure to both technical and commercial aspects of water treatment products


• Product & Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of water treatment technologies including:


• Filtration and membrane technologies


• Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems


• Ion exchange and water softening


• Disinfection and dosing technologies


• Working knowledge of water chemistry and system application requirements


• Ability to assess product feasibility, scalability, and long-term viability


• Strategic and analytical mindset with strong commercial awareness


• Ability to identify growth opportunities and turn them into executable plans


• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills


• Detail-oriented with a structured approach to product development


• Comfortable making data-driven decisions in complex technical environments

What is in it for you?

• A senior role with real influence over product direction and growth


• Opportunity to shape and expand a technically advanced product portfolio


• A collaborative environment that values innovation, accountability, and expertise


• Remuneration Package: Negotiable based on candidates knowledge and experience

A Few Things to Know

• Strong understanding of water treatment technologies is required (Filtration, RO systems, Ion Exchange, water softening and disinfection technologies