Product Manager

**Division**:
Operations (Commercial)

**Department**:
Marketing: OTC

**Employment Type**:
Permanent

**Job Purpose**:
The product managers are the clients’ representatives for the respective Therapeutic Category within Cipla. He or she shoulders the responsibility of launching new medications in the market based on the requirements of the client. With the aid of market research findings, the product managers plan launching existing products in a new market or launch a new product through new target market identification within the Therapeutic Categories. These individuals identify and utilise client demographics and requirements to market the products of the organization to those clients who will be the most likely target audience for the products.

The Product Manager contributes and implements marketing strategy for the assigned products to achieve the sales, profit and growth performance objectives in the annual budget.

**Accountabilities 1**:
**Therapeutic Category Product Management**
- Contributes to the development and the validation of long range planning and forecasting models
- Contributes to the development of positioning and key strategies for the brand
- Implements the marketing plans and key strategies
- Is an integral part of cross-functional brand team through the development working relationships with clinical, medical, regulatory affairs, sales and finance departments
- Develops relations with Sales Managers and Representatives where appropriate
- Manages all business and promotional activities in accordance with relevant Acts, legal demands and ethical standards, including internal procedures
- Maintains and updates the market intelligence databases
- Evaluates the effectiveness of promotion and advertising programmes, using set guidelines, and makes recommendations for improvements within internal guidelines
- Manages working relationships with advertising agencies and other servicing companies
- Developing a name and product brand
- Collecting and analyzing the client feedback

**Accountabilities 2**:
**Product Management Business Alignment and Integration**
- Responsible for providing the sales team with the necessary technical expertise to enable them to sell the product. This involves printed and electronic promotional material, product training, and relevant clinical papers
- Responsible for reviewing product data to ensure that the field force is kept up to date on new developments regarding the companies or competitors’ products
- Close liaison with the field force to assess the response to and suitability of current promotional material and to ensure that the printed promotional material is being used optimally
- Act as point of first reference for all product related enquiries and work collaboratively with colleagues in Medical and Regulatory to address any issues that may arise
- Assist with the development of the annual marketing plan and for controlling advertising, promotion and sales aids in accordance with the annual marketing plan
- Close liaison with the field force to assess the response to and suitability of current promotional material and to ensure that the printed promotional material is being used optimally

**Accountabilities 3**:
**Develops and Manages Stakeholder Relationships**
- Leverage Marketing expertise and alignment with Global Marketing
- Regularly interacts with line managers to ensure Marketing meets the needs of the business
- Builds and pro-actively maintains critical relationships with key thought leaders locally and internationally in terms of therapeutic areas in order to drive best in class product management
- Coordinates adherence to customer and stakeholder policy and procedure
- Provides support and guidance to customers
- Adheres to customers SLAs

**Accountabilities 4 -5**:
**Marketing Financial Management**
- Tracks monthly cost centre spend
- Generates monthly cost control report
- Reports on monthly variances

**People Management**
- Manages Team Delivery based on targets/outputs
- Facilitates knowledge and skills transfer within the team
- Provides advice and support
- Compliance to Performance Contract
- Accountable for IDP

**Education Qualification**:
Relevant Marketing Degree

**Relevant Work Experience**:

- 3 years’ experience in a Marketing roles role covering all areas of the function.
- Experience within Pharmaceuticals and/or Consumer Goods market is advantageous.

**Competencies/Skills**:

- Purpose Inspired- Integrity and Trust Anchored- Responsibility Centered- Excellence Focused- Innovation Driven**Job Location**:
Head Office (Cape Town)

**EE Requirement**:
Cipla is an Employment Equity employer and this position will be filled based on our Employment Equity Plan.