Product Manager –

Master Power Technologies; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy solutions company in South Africa is seeking a Product Manager to manage and market a diverse product group, ensuring that targets are obtained through effective collaboration and market intelligence. The ideal candidate will have a B-Tech or National diploma in engineering, technical knowledge of back-up power equipment, and strong communication skills. This position requires travel and strong relationships with suppliers to enhance product offerings.

Qualifications

• Comfortable speaking and presenting to large audiences.
• Good questioning techniques to identify customer's needs.
• Willingness to travel and have a valid passport.

Responsibilities

• Manage and market a product group within MPT products.
• Support colleagues and customers to ensure targets are met.
• Maintain relations with suppliers of responsible products.

Skills

Presentation skills

Listening skills

Communication adaptability

Technical knowledge of back-up power systems

Market understanding

Knowledge of IEC standards

Self-motivated

Education

B-Tech or National diploma in electrical/mechanical engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

The Product Manager will manage and market a product group within the range ofMPTproducts, communicating with existing customers, gathering market intelligence, and benchmarking against our competition to know what to offer and in what quantities.

Then support colleagues and customers with these products to ensure targets are obtained.

Products include all backup power electrical equipment and accessories, or associated products around backup power applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify the right products that we should be providing for the local market and decide whether we should look at keeping local stock in what quantities.
• Once stock levels have been selected, ensure stock levels are correct in stores for the above.
• Help identify markets, customers and applications that salespeople should focus on aligning with Master Power's overall strategy, then communicate this to the sales team.
• Provide sales type training for internal and external customers, via the supplier and by self, and maintain a database with all this training for the new and existing sales team to refer to at any time.
• Support salespeople with / on shows, demos and presentations for responsible products.
• We should be looking at cut‑through samples for the training centre and working demos that can be used for shows and training, and customer factory visits.
• Keep up to date with competition activities, products, pricing, market demands and communicate this to both the Master Power sales team and suppliers.
• Maintain relations with suppliers of responsible products and accessories for pricing, special pricing on projects or large orders, marketing materials, presentations, software, apps, technical documents, demos, technical support, training materials and warranty issues and claims.
• Arrange product launches with suppliers, marketing and the sales team or customers.
• Assist the sales team with technical specifications in quotes and tenders to ensure the solution we put forward meets the technical requirements and application needs.
• This includes helping the salespeople look at all the options for the applications and understand the advantages and disadvantages so the sales team can put a strong value proposal forward.
• Support the cross‑functional collaboration between sales teams and suppliers.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills required

• Must be comfortable speaking and presenting to large audiences as well as writing professional business letters and e‑mails.
• Must have good listening skills and questioning techniques to get all the required info to identify and verify the customer's needs and find the best options to meet the needs.
• B‑Tech or National diploma in electrical / mechanical engineering or similar qualification relevant to products and applications required to sell.
• Skilled in adapting communication techniques to specific client personalities and frame of mind to manage calm and heated situations, ask open and probing questions, paraphrase to clarify understanding and articulate oneself.
• Technical knowledge of back‑up power equipment and systems, control & maintenance, and the application thereof.
• Good understanding of the market and route to customers.
• Good knowledge of all relevant IEC standards.
• In‑depth knowledge of Microsoft packages, namely Excel and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s licence and own transport.
• Must be willing to travel and have a valid passport.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to use initiative and operate with minimal supervision.

(Gentle on people but firm on stance)