Specialist - Product Management Exports

Defy Appliances; Durban; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading appliances manufacturer is seeking a Specialist in Product Management to join their team. The candidate will manage product strategy for 13 Sub-Saharan Africa markets, requiring deep market understanding and the ability to create detailed product range plans. Responsibilities include leading product development processes and driving marketing communication plans to enhance brand equity. Candidates must have a degree in marketing and relevant experience in product management, alongside strong analytical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years relevant experience in marketing or product.
• Thorough understanding of the commercial environment.
• Strong finance acumen.

Responsibilities

• Create long-term and short-term product range plans.
• Manage and lead the product development process.
• Monitor and manage all relevant legislations affecting products.
• Deliver effective communication to internal customers.
• Manage reports on SKU count and commercial performance.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Data analysis skills

Project management skills

Advanced Excel skills

Understanding of Sub-Saharan African consumer behaviour

Education

A relevant degree in marketing or related qualification

Tools

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Looking for your next contract role?

An opportunity to join Defy as a Specialist – Product Management is available. Join our dynamic team responsible for 13 Sub‑Saharan Africa markets (Excluding South Africa & The Southern African Customs Union markets). Your role will be product‑management centric with planning, developing suitable products and managing the product life‑cycle. You will need to be a highly motivated person that will work solely on steering the region’s product line‑up both short and long term. You will be required to visit key African markets to conduct in‑depth market studies to ensure we have a robust line‑up that the sales team can offer to customers.

Skills & Qualifications

• A relevant degree in marketing or a related qualification.
• 2+ years relevant experience in marketing or product.
• Thorough understanding of the relevant market and a good understanding of the commercial environment and commercial relationships that can be incorporated into product strategies.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills coupled with attention to detail and advanced problem‑solving skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills including ability to establish and develop good business relationships.
• Excellent data analysis skills.
• Advanced Excel/Outlook/PowerPoint skills.
• Strong finance acumen.
• Project management skills.
• Clear understanding of Sub‑Saharan African consumer behaviour, current and future trends, and technologies.
• Strong product knowledge and experience across product categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Create long‑term and short‑term product range plans with Global Category Product Managers.
• Manage and lead the company’s product development process in alignment with Global Product Manager teams and maintain the key product development files & systems.
• Manage multiple brands across the region and have a sound understanding of brand mapping and price positioning.
• Monitor, manage and communicate internally all relevant legislations affecting all products across Sub‑Saharan markets.
• Work closely with the cooling, cooking, laundry, dishwasher & air‑con production plants providing product briefs and guiding them on market size, product design, innovation, technology trends and keep them up to date on market‑related cost and performance issues.
• Provide effective and timely communication and support to internal customers such as Sales, Customer Support, Supply Chain, Finance and Service teams on all product‑related issues including performance, market positioning, technical and commercial issues to ensure internal customers are up to date with all products‑related issues.
• Manage and provide reports on the SKU count and commercial performance of category product ranges. Take necessary actions to improve performance or discontinue models to maintain a competitive range that is appealing to customers.
• Drive and contribute to marketing communication plans regarding product technologies, innovations and design stories that will strategically support brand equity targets in the short and long term.
• Run idea generation sessions regularly with consumers in country and identify current and future trends, needs and integrate them into the long‑term roadmap.
• Basic understanding of sales principles.
• Create business presentations on a regular basis to update internal stakeholders about product performance in the market and evaluate the continuity or improvement of products, including monitoring of sell‑in and sell‑out through effective reporting.
• Run on‑ad‑hoc basis product training content and sessions for stock‑in salesmen and/or brand ambassadors in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
• Support the marketing team at a global, regional and country level to ensure alignment of marketing plans and that product launches are aligned.
• Manage the phase‑in and phase‑out of products across the region.