eThekwini: Senior Specialist – Product Management (Exports) posted by Defy Appliances

We are currently searching for a Senior Specialist Product Management (Exports) to join our dynamic team responsible for 13 Sub-Saharan African markets (excluding South Africa and the Southern African Customs Union markets). This role is product managementfocused, responsible for planning, developing suitable product offerings, and managing the entire product lifecycle. The successful candidate will play a key role in steering the regional product portfolio in both the short and long term. The role may require occasional travel to key African markets on an ad hoc basis to conduct in-depth market analysis, support new product launches, and provide product training to sales teams and partners, ensuring we maintain a competitive and relevant product lineup that enables the sales team to effectively serve customers. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Develop short-term and long-term product range plans in collaboration with Global Category Product Managers. Manage and lead the product development lifecycle, from concept and development to launch, growth, and phase-out, in alignment with Global Product Management teams. Maintain all relevant product development documentation and systems. Manage multiple brands across the region, ensuring clear brand mapping and appropriate price positioning. Monitor, manage, and communicate all relevant legislation impacting products across Sub-Saharan African markets. Work closely with cooling, cooking, laundry, dishwasher, and air conditioning production plants by providing product briefs and market insights, including market size, design requirements, innovation opportunities, technology trends, and cost/performance considerations. Provide effective and timely communication and support to internal stakeholders, including Sales, Customer Support, Supply Chain, Finance, and Service teams, on product performance, positioning, technical aspects, and commercial matters. Monitor and report on SKU count and product range performance, taking appropriate action to improve performance or discontinue underperforming models to maintain a competitive product offering. Support and contribute to marketing communication plans, including product technologies, innovation stories, and design messaging that support long-term brand equity. Conduct consumer insight and idea-generation sessions in market to identify emerging trends, consumer needs, and opportunities for future product development. Maintain a basic understanding of sales principles, retail management, and customer service practices to ensure alignment with market needs. Prepare business presentations and reports to update internal stakeholders on product performance, including analysis of sell-in and sell-out data. Conduct product training sessions and develop training content for in-store sales teams and brand ambassadors across Sub-Saharan Africa on an ad hoc basis. Collaborate with global, regional, and country marketing teams to ensure alignment between marketing plans and product launch strategies. Manage the phase-in and phase-out of products across the region. Engage with cross-functional stakeholders to plan and support product assembly or localisation initiatives in selected markets. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: BSc Degree in Engineering (preferrable), Business, Marketing 25 years relevant experience in product management or category management preferably within FMCG or consumer durables Strong understanding of the commercial environment and business relationships, with the ability to incorporate these insights into product strategies Excellent communication and presentation skills Strong analytical ability, with attention to detail and advanced problem-solving skills Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain strong business relationships Strong data analysis capabilities, with the ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations Advanced Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills Strong financial acumen, including the ability to evaluate product profitability and business cases Project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously Clear understanding of Sub-Saharan African consumer behaviour, market trends, and emerging technologies Strong product knowledge across multiple appliance categories Ability to work with and influence diverse cross-functional teams