Product Manager Job at AA in Johannesburg

JOB TITLE: PRODUCT MANAGER (2)

Background Information

Reporting to the DM: Strategic Marketing, the Product Manager will be expected to drive the development and implementation of the product strategy. A priority will be product design and development, business rules implementation and channel management. The Product Manager will be the ultimate custodian for the product including ongoing business development; this will include managing third party service providers and strategic partnerships.

The Product Manager is responsible for the design, development and rollout of Membership and/or corporate products in line with the strategic objectives, as well as the management of sales targets through available channels. Ensuring that appropriate communication is continuously implemented regarding product development, internally and externally, as well as management and continuous optimization of the channels to reduce barriers to Membership entry/exit is key.

The Marketing Division places a strong emphasis on Member acquisition and retention, with a focus on providing enhanced products and services. In addition, the Division is tasked with driving the AA’s Customer Relationship Management strategies, including the implementation of the AA’s service, channel and customer experience charters.

Additionally, the development of pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing profits or share of market while ensuring customers are satisfied is also critical.

Department

The Product Manager’s ongoing priorities include:

• Development of product and value added benefits to maintain the value proposition
• Forecasting and budgeting Membership revenue across all sales channels
• Management of the customer experience across all of these channels
• Maintenance of products and pricing in Microsoft CRM
• Management of customer insights to drive product and channel activity
• Project support on key product projects
• Channel optimisation delivered through focused and improved channel management. This includes chairing channel meetings to review sales performance, service enhancement opportunities, customer experience concerns and highlight marketing opportunities to boost sales and retention
• Implementation of data integrity management processes and inclusion of revised targets in performance scorecards
• The implementation of data integrity campaigns to boost contact information and bolster Member communication and retention efforts     

Upward Reporting Relationship

Divisional Manager: Strategic Marketing

Number of Personnel Supervised

One

Job Objectives
• Support and co-ordinate marketing activities across channels and ensure that policies and business rules are established and communicated to promote Membership and/or corporate products and services,
• Evaluate the financial aspects of Membership including budgets, expenditure, return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
• Develop pricing strategies, balancing organisation objectives and customer satisfaction.
• Co-ordinate and direct promotional activities to market products and services based on analysis of customer information.
• Direct marketing efforts including product launches, campaigns, collateral, website, handbook, retail catalogues, posters and campaign materials to support acquisition and retention efforts
• Maintain and update the product information including pricing, business rules, and terms and conditions across all Membership communication channels
• Initiate market research studies, analyse the findings and drive business performance improvement
• Use sales forecasting and strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of Membership and/or corporate products, lines, or services, analysing business developments and monitoring market trends.
• Manage Service Recovery performance in line with organisational objectives
• Design and development of Membership and/or corporate products
• Develop the core positioning and messaging for products
• New product innovation
• Development of business rules
• Management and continuous optimisation of Membership channels in order to deliver frequent product communication and reduce barriers to Membership entry
• Manage strategic alliance relationships with service providers to Membership and/or corporate products
• Oversee maintenance of the Membership database and ensure data integrity
• Alignment to the vision and objectives of the AA through performance management
• Define the product strategy and roadmap
• Work with external third parties to assess partnerships and licensing opportunities
• Run pilot programs with early-stage products and case studies
• Be an expert with respect to the competition
• Analyse and interpret large amounts of data
• Assist in developing the core positioning and messaging for the product
• Implement pricing strategies to meet revenue and profitability goals
• Deliver a monthly revenue forecast
• Propose an overall budget to ensure success

Job Knowledge
• Knowledge of channel management. Must have had exposure to multi-channel environments
• Understanding of information systems to maximize the use of technology throughout the distribution channels

Job Related Skills
• Strong analytical skills as well as the ability to compare, contrast and match customer data to products and services
• Financially astute with strong business acumen
• Lateral thinking
• Innovative and creative
• Ownership (accountability & responsibility)
• Decision making
• Time management
• Problem solving
• Confident to deal with business at all levels
• Excellent team work skills

Job Experience
• Substantial product management experience with an excellent track record, including new product design, development and implementation
• Experience working with large database
• Strategic planning
• Budgeting
• Presentation at board level
• Project and programme management
• Demonstrate success defining and launching products
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong links to marketing and sales efforts
• Minimum 2-3 years product management experience

Job Grade

    Mirum est notare quam littera gothica
    Mirum est notare quam littera gothica
    Mirum est notare quam littera gothica

Education
• Relevant degree with proven track record.

Other
If you have assessed yourself against the job’s requirements and believe you are a suitable candidate for the position, please submit a detailed CV to Lara Connock by email to lconnock@aasa.co.za by close of business on 28 February 2014.