Product Development Manager

SUMMARY:
Sandton, Johannesburg

POSITION INFO:

A manufacturing company in the mining industry is seeking a Product Development Manager to start immediately. Marketing qualification essential. 5-8 years experience in Product Development  Marketing / Product experience in a similar position.

• Product Role
• Define the target customer, key competitors, and strategic positioning. Develop and maintain product range for the business. Identify new Product categories. Define range / applications / target pricing / target gross margin (Pricing Analysis). Coordinate market research with Marketing & Sales department (Market Analysis). Conduct evaluation and studies. Approval of all specifications, components (Product and Marketing synergy) Liaise with all customers in order to clearly convey detailed project involved. (technical product knowledge)
• Develop statistical forecast models, sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances, and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions (With Sales Manager) Interact with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers  Utilise a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts Use and maintain the Demand Planning primary forecasting system tool (Working with supply chain/logistics departments)
• The product manager will be responsible;
• Parts, Product pricing, stats, demand, catalog, develop new product ideas, PM Life cycle, Perform price analysis
• Ensuring prices are correct to maximize sales and profits.
• Skills required; Technical background, technically-minded. Organizational skills, good knowledge of Access, Excel, and database management. Statistical background and ability to interpret data meaningfully. Customer-orientated. Ability to negotiate at the executive level. Good communication skills. Report writing on a weekly basis. Bilingual-Afrikaans/English.
• Responsibilities; Short, medium, and long-term market forecasting for the premium market in South Africa. Market forecasting based on economic and competitor analysis. Sales planning – creation and analysis of detailed forecasts. Segment forecasting based on competitor activity and trend/cycle analysis. Analysis of pricing in relation to the competitor''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s product offerings. Management of audit requirements with regards to pricing functions. Analyze the positioning of Company products and competitors to identify strategies for differentiation and increased sales and market share. Participate or lead Product Development projects, (includes market research, data management, forecasting, pricing, profit and loss, promotion materials, market preference evaluations, etc). Ensure information exchange between Sales, Quality, Technical, Production, Finance, Distribution. Ensure product support for existing products e.g. Training, Catalogue, Promotional Materials, Presentations. Analysis of product life cycles. Demand analysis by product line.Market demand calculation. Benchmark product to maximize business value from the product.  Advise sales force of demand by region. Advise management of opportunities that they might not have taken advantage of. 

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