Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager To manage products throughout the product life cycle and collaborate with others to achieve team goals, providing specialist advice and support to stakeholders. Role Purpose As a Product Development Manager, you will lead the end‑to‑end development of innovative financial products that meet customer needs, align with business strategy, and comply with regulatory requirements. You will work cross‑functionally with design, engineering, compliance, and commercial teams to bring new products to market and continuously improve existing offerings. A strong emphasis is placed on governance, audit remediation, and data privacy principles. Key Responsibilities Drive the product development lifecycle from ideation to launch and post‑launch optimisation. Conduct market research, customer discovery, and competitor analysis to identify opportunities. Develop business cases, define product requirements, and prioritise features based on value and feasibility. Collaborate with UX/UI designers, engineers, and data teams to deliver high‑quality digital experiences. Lead agile ceremonies and ensure timely delivery of product milestones. Monitor product performance using KPIs and customer feedback, and iterate accordingly. Ensure compliance with regulatory, privacy, and records management frameworks throughout the product lifecycle. Maintain strong governance practices, including documentation, decision tracking, and stakeholder alignment. Partner with Risk, Compliance, and Audit teams to remediate audit findings and proactively manage product risks. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Audit Remediation: Timely and effective closure of audit findings related to product processes and controls. Governance: Adherence to governance frameworks, including product committee approvals, documentation standards, and decision traceability. Privacy & Records Management: Compliance with POPIA and internal records management policies; zero breaches or escalations. Product Delivery: On‑time delivery of product milestones and releases. Customer Impact: Improvement in customer satisfaction, adoption, and retention metrics. Commercial Performance: Achievement of product revenue, margin, or growth targets. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field (Honours/Master’s preferred). 3‑5 years of experience in product development or product management, ideally in financial services or fintech. Proven track record of launching successful products in a digital environment. Strong understanding of agile methodologies, product lifecycle management, and go‑to‑market strategies. Experience working with cross‑functional teams and managing multiple stakeholders. Skills & Competencies Strategic thinking and commercial acumen Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills Excellent communication and stakeholder management Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Figma, and data dashboards like PowerBi Knowledge of APIs, digital platforms, and customer experience design Understanding of regulatory, privacy, and governance frameworks in financial services Job Details Applications will be accepted until 25 November 2028. All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. Candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis; the Bank will keep this information confidential unless required by law to disclose. Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Additional Information Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level Employment Type: Full‑time Job Function: Product Management and Marketing Industry: Banking #J-18808-Ljbffr