Product Manager (Aircon / HVAC / Refrigeration)

Headhunters; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Headhunters in Gauteng seeks a senior product specialist in refrigeration and HVAC to own and progressively improve the product portfolio across our regional network.

You will evaluate new products, suppliers and emerging technologies, providing technical expertise and ensuring profitable costs, margins and lifecycle continuity.

This role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with procurement and engineering to test, substitute, train, and deploy high-quality solutions.

Qualifications

• Extensive practical experience in refrigeration, HVAC and air-conditioning products and applications.
• Strong technical knowledge of compressors, condensing units, evaporators, refrigerants, controls and associated systems.
• Relevant technical industry experience will take precedence over previous job titles or formal product management experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage and continuously improve the company's product portfolio.
• Evaluate new products, suppliers and emerging technologies.
• Provide technical product expertise and support to the national branch network.
• Assess product costs, margins, competitiveness and commercial viability.
• Identify gaps, duplication and obsolete products within existing ranges.
• Work with Procurement on product lifecycles, stock suitability and technical substitutions.
• Coordinate product testing and technical evaluations with Engineering.
• Develop technical training and product knowledge throughout the business.

Skills

Refrigeration/HVAC products

Technical knowledge of components

Product costing & margins

Product evaluation & supplier testing

Inventory & lifecycle understanding

ERP experience (SAP B1)

Strategic thinking

Attention to detail

International sourcing experience

Education

Matric certificate

Formal technical qualification in refrigeration/HVAC or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP Business One or similar ERP

Job description

Requirements

• Extensive practical experience in refrigeration, HVAC and air-conditioning products and applications.
• Strong technical knowledge of compressors, condensing units, evaporators, refrigerants, controls and associated systems.
• Relevant technical industry experience will take precedence over previous job titles or formal product management experience.
• Product management, technical management or supplier evaluation experience advantageous.
• Matric certificate.
• Formal technical qualification in refrigeration, HVAC or Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong refrigeration, HVAC and air-conditioning product knowledge.
• Ability to interpret technical specifications, performance data and equipment-selection requirements.
• Knowledge of product costing, selling prices, margins and commercial viability.
• Product evaluation and supplier assessment skills.
• Understanding of inventory and product lifecycles.
• SAP Business One or similar ERP experience advantageous.
• International sourcing and product-range development experience advantageous.
• Strategic thinking and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage and continuously improve the company's product portfolio.
• Evaluate new products, suppliers and emerging technologies.
• Provide technical product expertise and support to the national branch network.
• Assess product costs, margins, competitiveness and commercial viability.
• Identify gaps, duplication and obsolete products within existing ranges.
• Work with Procurement on product lifecycles, stock suitability and technical substitutions.
• Coordinate product testing and technical evaluations with Engineering.
• Develop technical training and product knowledge throughout the business.