Stellenbosch: Senior Analytics Product Manager posted by Sabenza IT & Recruitment

Are you a strategic thinker passionate about turning data into action? Do you thrive at the intersection of business and analytics, leading innovative products that deliver measurable impact? Join us as a Senior Analytics Product Manager and drive the development and deployment of analytics solutions that shape business decisions and create real value.

Job Purpose:
Drive the delivery of the analytics product strategy through the development and deployment of a portfolio of innovative products that generate measurable business value. A Senior APM leads communication with senior functional and regional stakeholders, acting as a strategic bridge between business and analytics teams. You will share insights, align cross-functional priorities, and proactively shape the roadmap of analytics products based on evolving business opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

Analytics Product Development

• Own and manage the end-to-end product lifecycle from concept to launch, including market needs, product vision, and strategy.
• Develop detailed product requirements and specifications for innovative analytics products (alongside the product owner).
• Work closely with data analysts, data scientists, engineers, and UX designers to drive product development in a lean/agile environment.
• Create transparent communication to manage stakeholder engagement, validating product concepts and optimizing product development.
• Evaluate competitive offerings to ensure that our analytics product maintains its leadership in the marketplace.

Analytics Product Deployment

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth product deployment (incl. change management).
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure that product solutions are aligned with business needs.
• Work closely with customer-facing teams to develop and implement training and support materials.
• Measure product performance and optimize based on gathered data and user feedback.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• BSc/BEng/BComm in a quantitative related field; equivalent work experience accepted. Masters degree preferred.
• 5+ years in product, analytics, tech, or consulting roles, including leadership of complex projects or portfolios.

Must Have:

• Strong strategic communication skills, executive-level messaging, with demonstrated ability to influence and align senior stakeholders across functions and regions.
• Proven experience managing a portfolio of analytics or data-driven products with varying scope and complexity.
• Joint ownership with senior business leaders of portfolio prioritisation, sequencing, and investment trade-offs.
• Excellent project and stakeholder management skills, with structured problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to define and execute product strategy and communicate actionable insights to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience leading teams in agile environments (e.g., backlogs, sprints, user stories, iterative design).
• Track record of translating business problems into scalable analytics solutions that deliver tangible business value.
• Demonstrated ability to drive prioritisation and delivery across multiple concurrent initiatives, balancing business impact and resource constraints.
• Deep experience managing full product lifecycles in cross-functional settings.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in data analysis, machine learning, or related field.
• Experience working in or delivering analytics solutions within the FMCG sector.
• Familiarity with data platforms, governance principles, and AI/ML product development pipelines.

Leadership Competencies:

• Mentorship: Guides and develops domain experts across the analytics portfolio.
• Vision and Direction: Provides clear strategic direction, aligning teams around a shared vision and long-term objectives.
• Influence and Impact: Builds credibility with senior stakeholders; drives decisions without formal authority.
• People Development: Coaches product owners and cross-functional teams to foster growth and capability building.
• Collaboration: Promotes shared ownership and teamwork across analytics, technology, and business functions.
• Change Leadership: Leads transformation initiatives by creating buy-in, managing resistance, and ensuring readiness.
• Execution Excellence: Sets high standards for delivery, ensures accountability, and drives operational discipline.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Maintains composure under pressure, navigates ambiguity, and adapts quickly to changing business priorities.

If youre ready to lead the future of analytics, influence strategic decisions, and make data work harder for the business, we want to hear from you!