Product Manager

We seeking for a Product Manager for Microsoft Dynamics 365 responsible for owning and driving the full product lifecycle of the institution’s enterprise Dynamics 365 (D365) platform, including modules supporting **Sales and Marketing, Student Information Management, Finance, and HR**. This role serves as the strategic bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders to ensure that D365 evolves in alignment with institutional goals and delivers maximum business value.

**Purpose of the Role**:
The Product Manager for Microsoft Dynamics 365 is responsible for owning and driving the full product lifecycle of the institution’s enterprise Dynamics 365 (D365) platform, including modules supporting **Sales and Marketing, Student Information Management, Finance, and HR**. This role serves as the strategic bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders to ensure that D365 evolves in alignment with institutional goals and delivers maximum business value.

**Key Performance Areas**:
**Product Strategy & Roadmap**
- Contribute toward the definition and communication of a **clear product vision and roadmap** for the Dynamics 365 platform aligned to the institution’s strategic priorities.
- Maintain an up-to-date product backlog of initiatives, features, and enhancements across all D365 modules in use (CE, F&O, HR, etc.).
- Prioritise product features and development efforts based on **institutional value, business case justification, user needs, and resource availability**.
- Guiding a decentralised team of project managers / leads across various lines of business.

**Stakeholder Engagement & Requirements Management**
- Serve as the primary point of contact between **business system owners**, end-users (academic and administrative), and the technical delivery team.
- Lead **requirements elicitation and analysis workshops** to define, refine, and validate business requirements and translate them into user stories or functional specifications.
- Champion a **user-centric and data-informed** approach to product development and support.
- **Product Delivery Oversight**:

- Work with internal development teams, Microsoft implementation and integration partners to plan, monitor, and validate delivery of D365 enhancements.
- Participate in **sprint planning, backlog grooming, sprint reviews, and retrospectives**.
- Ensure delivery meets business expectations, technical quality standards, and aligns with solution architecture and governance frameworks.
- **Governance and Change Management**:

- Establish and enforce product governance processes, including **change control, release management, and impact assessment**.
- Collaborate with IT governance, data governance, and security teams to ensure compliance with internal and external policies (e.g., **POPIA**).
- Actively contribute to **change enablement and adoption** initiatives to support staff and student success using D365 tools.
- **Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement**:

- Define and monitor **key product performance metrics**, including usage, adoption, issue trends, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Identify opportunities to optimise business processes through automation and smarter use of the Dynamics 365 platform.
- Stay current with Microsoft’s roadmap for D365 and evaluate new capabilities for **Minimum**

**Requirements for the job**:
**Qualifications / Education**

**Minimum**:

- A Bachelor’s degree (qualification at NQF-7 level) in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field.

**Advantageous**:

- A post-graduate qualification in the above;
- Industry-recognised certification at intermediate to advanced level in Product Management and/or Business Analysis and/or Project Management is highly desirable.

**Experience**:

- 5 - 7 years of experience in Product Management, Business Analysis or Application Ownershipwith at least 3 years’ relevant experience in a complex, multi-functional environment.
- At least 3 years’Product Management experience of Dynamics 365 (D365) solutions.
- At least 3 years’ experience with Agile/Scrum delivery methodologies.
- An understanding of how organisational change management supports successful project implementation would be advantageous.

**Technical / Functional Competencies**:

- In-depth understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem (Sales, Marketing, F&O, HR, or equivalent modules).
- Ability to work with technical teams on solution design, integration, testing, and release management.
- Proficient with Azure DevOps or similar tools for backlog and release management.
- Knowledge of business process design and optimisation.
- Experience with Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps**)** is beneficial.

**Behavioural Competencies**
- Strategic thinking with strong business acumen.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong sense of ownership, initiative, and follow-thro