SUMMARY:
Product Manager – Solar Finance (JHB)
POSITION INFO:
ENVIRONMENT:
Our client, a UK-based leader in photovoltaic distribution with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, is seeking a Product Manager to drive the growth of their finance offering, focused on the commercial and agricultural sectors. This hybrid strategy-and-execution role involves developing and scaling tailored financing solutions in collaboration with internal teams, partners, and clients. The ideal candidate will own the product roadmap and execution, ensuring alignment with market needs, financial frameworks, and business objectives—shaping the future of clean energy finance across Africa.
DUTIES:
Product Manager – Solar Finance Strategy
- Develop the company’s Finance product portfolio
- Negotiate products with banks/financiers
- Build commercial partnerships
- Manage product-market fit
- Manager internal processes allowing for efficient handling and processing of the finance products
- Sell directly to installers / EPC’s and end-users; whether farmers facing seasonal power outages or commercial businesses seeking solutions to curb utility price increases and/or clean, affordable energy alternatives.
Finance
- Design and develop tailored solar finance products (e.g., loans, leases, PPAs) that meet the needs of commercial and agricultural customers, incorporating relevant incentives and regulatory requirements.
- Build financial models and business cases to assess product viability, pricing strategies, customer affordability, and long-term profitability.
- Collaborate with financial institutions and partners to structure funding solutions, negotiate terms, and ensure the scalability and sustainability of the finance offering.
Stakeholder Relations
- Build and maintain trust relationships with the Product Solar Finance team, key Suppliers and Customers to ensure business needs are met and employees are self-motivated and driven
- Work as part of the Product Solar Finance team to share ideas and improve operation, contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review, and communicate the impact of the Product Solar Finance department activities
- Ensure effective relationships with Customer businesses through maintaining an appropriate interface between Product Solar Finance, Suppliers and Customers
- Facilitate and encourage effective intra and cross departmental interaction
Product Solar Finance Tasks
- Work closely with the Finance and Commercial teams
- Develop and execute a solar finance product portfolio roadmap, focusing initially on both agricultural and commercial sectors, aligned with market timing, energy needs and client risk profiles.
- Negotiate with banks/financiers in the development of their financial product portfolio.
- Identify and pursue sales opportunities with commercial end users, particularly those with high energy loads and cost-saving mandates (e.g. manufacturers, warehouses, logistics providers).
- Build strategic partnerships with complimentary product suppliers (such as irrigation pivot suppliers to the agri market), farming co-ops and agricultural organisations to unlock bundled offerings and warm lead channels.
- Lead business development efforts to promote adoption in the commercial solar sector, working closely with decision makers in retail groups (end users), developers and direct clients.
- Collaborate with compliance and finance teams to structure finance products that meet regulatory and credit risk standards across both Agri and commercial markets.
- Build and maintain financial models to assess the performance and viability of solar finance offerings across both segments.
- Lead go-to-market efforts including marketing materials, training and tailored collateral for partners and end users.
- Manage the development of policies and processes required for credit brokering and compliance in Southern Africa, with potential expansion into SADC.
- Ensure the customer experience is tailored to each segment, whether it is a farmer navigating seasonal income or a commercial business planning long-term energy strategy.
- Legal Compliance
- Always follow company policies
- Promote employee compliance with financial mandated processes and systems
- Monitor adherence to finance rules and regulations
- Health & Safety
- Ensure a clean and tidy working environment to aid operational efficiency
REQUIREMENTS:
- Strong understanding of consumer and commercial finance in emerging markets.
- Practical knowledge of energy-related financial products and the ability to translate complex financial structures into accessible solutions.
- Track record of success in either Agri-tech, energy, equipment finance, or commercial lending environments.
- Ability to manage product strategy while also executing direct sales and closing high-value deals.
Qualifications & Experience:
- 3+ years’ experience in product development, sales, or business development in finance, renewable energy, Agri-tech or commercial energy sectors.
- Demonstrated success in both product strategy and direct B2B sales to commercial clients or rural/agricultural end-users.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Agriculture, Renewable Energy or equivalent practical experience.
- Knowledge of renewable energy finance trends and how they apply across different customer segments.
- Prior experience working with or selling into both SMEs and larger commercial operations.
- Familiarity with agriculture and irrigation systems, especially in Southern African markets.
- Existing relationships with organisations like Grain SA, Southern Africa Agri Initiative (SAAI), or commercial solar integrators.
ATTRIBUTES:
- Entrepreneurial Drive – Demonstrates a strong commercial mindset with a passion for making clean energy more affordable and accessible.
- Communication & Influencing – Builds trust through empathetic, effective communication across diverse audiences, from grassroots farmers to senior executives.
- Adaptability – Remains resourceful, solutions-focused, and agile in navigating fast-evolving and dynamic market environments.
- Collaboration & Ownership – Works effectively within teams while showing a high level of personal ownership, accountability, and commitment to outcomes.
- Strategic Planning & Organisation – Applies strong organisational and planning skills to develop and execute effective product strategies.
- Accountability - Ensure sustainability and readiness of the work environment in tackling and building accountability and responsibility
- Results Orientation - Develops clear goals, setting performance standards and monitor work progress
Personal Capability- Technical / professional expertise, practices self-development, values diversity, integrity, emotional and social intelligence
