Consumer Product Solutions Manager

Job category: Others: IT and Telecommunication Location: Centurion Contract: Permanent Remuneration: Market Related EE position: Yes Introduction The Consumer Product & Solutions Manager plays a critical role in driving the success of telematics products and solutions. This position involves leading the entire lifecycle of consumer-facing products, from initial concept to market launch and ongoing optimization. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, technical acumen, and strong leadership skills to deliver innovative solutions that enhance customer experience, improve business outcomes, and align with market trends. This manager will identify market opportunities, define product roadmaps, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver best-in-class telematics solutions. Key Responsibilities Product Strategy and Vision Define and champion the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, aligning with overall company goals and market opportunities. Develop compelling and differentiated value propositions for consumer telematics products and solutions, ensuring they meet customer needs and drive business growth. Lead the conceptualization, design, business case development, implementation, and aftermarket management of products and solutions. Influence and inspire cross-functional teams by leading with a forward-thinking approach and challenging the status quo to drive innovation. Provide strategic input to Business Planning, Segment, and Sales teams to develop and manage execution plans that improve key business performance indicators (KPIs). Liaise and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders to bring solutions to market within required timelines and business requirements. Market Analysis and Innovation Conduct comprehensive customer needs Market Analysis and Innovation assessments to identify key pain points and unmet needs and develop tailored telematics solutions to address them. Serve as a subject matter expert for telematics products, providing insights and guidance to internal teams, external stakeholders, and customers. Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Lead market research initiatives to analyze market size, segmentation, and trends, informing product strategy and roadmap decisions. Continuously evaluate the performance of existing products and solutions, identifying areas for improvement and optimization. Product Management and Development Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and concept validation to development, testing, launch, and ongoing management. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, sales, marketing, and operations, to ensure alignment on product goals, priorities, and timelines. Manage and prioritize product backlogs, ensuring that development efforts are focused on delivering maximum value to customers and the business. Translate product strategy into detailed product requirements and user stories, working closely with engineering teams to ensure accurate and efficient implementation. Drive revenue-generating and market intelligence initiatives, leveraging telematics data, analytics, and reporting products to provide valuable insights to customers and internal stakeholders. Develop core product positioning and messaging, ensuring consistent and compelling communication across all channels. Plan and execute beta and pilot programs for early-stage products and samples, gathering user feedback and iterating on product designs. Act as a product evangelist, building awareness and understanding of telematics solutions both internally and externally. Pricing and Financial Management Develop and implement pricing strategies that optimize revenue, profitability, and market share, considering competitive dynamics and customer value. Formulate pricing models and tactics, communicating them effectively to sales and marketing teams. Monitor and analyze pricing performance, tracking key metrics such as ROI, gross margin, and customer acquisition cost. Provide financial and data modeling support to assess the viability and profitability of new products and features. Develop monthly revenue forecasts for products, providing insights into potential gaps and opportunities. Understand and justify product performance against budget, providing rationales for any variances for the channel to understand current trends and devise pricing models, product mix and market up-take. Stakeholder Management and Collaboration Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, partners, vendors, and internal teams. Work with external third parties to assess partnership and licensing opportunities, negotiating favorable terms and agreements. Engage with customers regularly to gather feedback, understand their needs, and identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation. Partner with engineering teams to drive technical projects that enhance data collection, improve product functionality, and optimize performance. Collaborate with learning and development teams to create and maintain training materials, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders have the knowledge and skills to effectively use and support telematics solutions. Operational Planning and Support Drive best practices and continuous improvement initiatives across the product development and management process. Manage virtual and indirect resources, considering local market conditions and business requirements. Contribute to the long-term strategic plan for telematics products, focusing on business support and enablement. Optimize processes, policies, and procedures to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Compile and analyze reports on product performance, market trends, and competitive activities. Legal and Compliance Maintain awareness of relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, including data privacy, consumer protection, and telecommunications regulations. Ensure that all telematics products and solutions comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with legal teams on contract negotiations, NDAs, and other legal matters. Implement and maintain data security and privacy policies to protect customer data and comply with privacy regulations. Competitor and Technology Research Conduct ongoing competitor analysis, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. Monitor emerging technologies and industry trends, assessing their potential impact on the telematics market. Provide market intelligence reporting, keeping stakeholders informed of key developments and trends. Conduct ad-hoc market research on consumer preferences and consumption habits, informing product strategy and marketing decisions. Qualification Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred. 5-10 years of experience in product management, preferably in the telematics, IoT, or automotive industries. Proven track record of successfully launching and managing consumer-facing products and solutions. Experience working in agile development environment. Experience in Budget inputs and planning. Technical Skills Deep understanding of telematics technologies, including GPS tracking, vehicle diagnostics, data analytics, and wireless communications. Familiarity with mobile app development, cloud platforms, and data visualization tools. Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to drive decision-making. Medical Aid Pension Fund #J-18808-Ljbffr