Product Manager: Early Childhood Development

TYPE: Permanent

SALARY: CTC Market and Experience Linked

ENTITY: AMANDLA NPO

START DATE: Immediate

LOCATION: Johannesburg or Cape Town, SA

BENEFITS: 25 Annual Leave days, Medical Aid subsidy

THE ORGANISATION
AMANDLA is a globally award-winning social enterprise with over a decade of experience in the development sector, specialising in infrastructure, youth and community development and sport for development. We have offices in Cape

Town, Johannesburg (South Africa), Berlin (Germany) and Philadelphia (USA).

AMANDLA currently has 14 operational sites nationwide and is currently rolling out more exciting infrastructure projects nationwide.

Our diverse team is looking for an ambitious and energetic professional who is willing to take on exciting challenges and eager to realise his/her potential to change lives.

JOB SCOPE
To address the systemic challenges related to poverty, inequality and unemployment, South Africa needs significant and sustainable change in the Early Childhood Development sector. A combination of vision, creativity, theoretical understanding, and practical implementation experience is required to develop an integrated support system for children.

As ECD Product Manager is a senior role, responsible for driving the co-creation of AMANDLA’s Early Childhood Development Product. The ECD Product will be embedded within the Safe-Hub ecosystem, and implemented through close collaboration with the broader Safe-Hub offerings. It should focus on achieving age appropriate outcomes, through building an integrated network of partnerships and support, ensuring that children are at the centre of the Product vision and strategy.

The ECD Product iteration and development will be done within the context of a pilot project, rolled out in collaboration with Common Goal and the Lego Foundation.

CORE DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead the co-creation and roll out of the ECD product, including:

- Lead the review and co-creation of the ECD Product strategy
- Lead the contextualisation of the ECD Product strategy in each pilot precinct
- Design and iterate a product development roadmap in alignment with the Common Goal and Lego Foundation
- Drive the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for the product
- Drive the co-creation of ECD Product content
- Identify innovative programs, technologies and partners to enhance the ECD Product
- Support with the recruitment of site based ECD operations staff
- Train and support the site based ECD Operations team
- Provide ongoing support to the roll out of the ECD Product across multiple sites
- Develop new and maintain existing LED product content and training materials

CORE COMPETENCIES, ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS and PREFERENCES

EDUCATIONAL:

- Bachelor’s Degree (minimum), Master’s Degree (preferred) in field relevant to the role (e.g. Early Childhood Development, Education, Psychology, Social Work); and
- Relevant professional qualifications in Product/Programme Development and/or Implementation Management, Project Management, and Systems Thinking.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

- 3-5 years’ product/programme development experience in ECD
- 3 -5 years’ training and implementation experience in ECD
- Strong process design and facilitation skills and comfortable with various facilitation tools and methodologies (both in-person and digital)
- Proven ability to plan and execute complex projects
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Strong verbal and written communication ability
- Strong relationship development and management ability
- Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office & MS Projects)
- Ability to communicate in English and (at least one) other South African language

Personal Attributes:

- Passion for Early Childhood Development and Resilient & resourceful challenging the status quo Entrepreneurial
- Strong leadership ability Empathetic
- Attention to detail Team player
- Highly motivated

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Education**:

- Bachelors (required)

**Experience**:

- Product/Programme development experience in ECD: 3 years (preferred)