Product Owner

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Job Description: Senior Product Owner - Retail

Company: Cash Crusaders

Location: Muizenberg

Reports To: IT Executive

About Cash Crusaders:

Cash Crusaders, a leading and well-established new and second-hand goods retailer and pawnbroker with a significant presence in South Africa is looking to appoint a Senior Product Owner

The Opportunity:

Cash Crusaders is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Product Owner with a strong understanding of project management principles to drive the vision, strategy, and execution of key digital and/or physical products within our retail ecosystem. This role will be instrumental in not only defining and prioritizing product value but also in effectively planning, coordinating, and tracking the delivery of those products. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the retail landscape, a passion for customer-centric product development, a proven track record of successfully launching and iterating on impactful products, and the ability to manage projects to successful completion.

Responsibilities:

• Product Vision and Strategy:
  • Develop and champion the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for assigned product areas, aligning with the overall company and business unit goals.
  • Conduct thorough market research, competitive analysis, and customer analysis to identify opportunities and unmet needs.
  • Define and prioritize product features and initiatives based on business value, customer impact, and technical feasibility.
• Product Backlog Management:
  • Manage and maintain a well-defined and prioritised product backlog, ensuring it is transparent and clearly communicates upcoming work to the development teams.
  • Ensure clear, concise, and testable user stories, acceptance criteria, and other product backlog items are written.
  • Regularly refine and groom the product backlog with input from stakeholders and the development teams.
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned product areas.
  • Effectively communicate the product vision, strategy, and progress to various stakeholders, including executive leadership, marketing, sales, operations, and customer service.
  • Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and internal customers.
  • Manage stakeholder expectations and facilitate alignment on product priorities.

• Planning and Execution:
  • Actively participate in product and project meetings, daily stand-ups, project and ticket reviews, and project delivery retrospectives.
  • Provide clear guidance and decision-making during project planning to ensure the development teams understand the "what" and "why" behind the work.
  • Collaborate closely with the development teams throughout the project delivery to answer questions, provide clarification, and make timely decisions.
  • Ensure the delivered product increments meet the defined acceptance criteria and quality standards.
• Product Performance and Iteration:
  • Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success and identify areas for improvement.
  • Analyse product data, gather user feedback, and monitor testing to inform product decisions and drive continuous iteration.
  • Monitor the competitive landscape and identify emerging trends to inform product evolution.
• Retail Domain Expertise:
  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of retail business processes, customer journeys (online and offline), and industry best practices.
  • Apply knowledge of merchandising, inventory management, pricing strategies, e-commerce, and customer retention to product development.
• Project Planning and Management:
  • Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, resource allocation, and risk assessment, for key product initiatives and releases.
  • Coordinate and track the progress of project tasks, ensuring on-time and within-budget delivery.
  • Identify and manage project dependencies and potential roadblocks, proactively escalating issues as needed.
  • Facilitate project communication and reporting to stakeholders, providing clear and concise updates on progress and risks.
  • Utilise project management tools and methodologies to organise and track project activities.
  • Ensure adherence to project management best practices and standards within the product development lifecycle.
  • Manage and guide the product management team and direct reportees

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience as a Product Owner or Product Manager, with a significant focus on retail products (e-commerce, in-store technology, omnichannel experiences, etc.).
• Proven track record of successfully defining, launching, and iterating on impactful products that have delivered measurable business results.
• Demonstrated experience in managing product-related projects, including planning, execution, and tracking.
• Deep understanding of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and experience working in agile development environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and manage multiple initiatives and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for understanding customer needs and delivering exceptional user experiences.
• Experience with product analytics
• Strong Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Microsoft Project)
• Software development experience in C#, .NET, IIS, SQL, MS Power Apps
• Knowledge of Microsoft platform architecture

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification as a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).
• Project Management certification (e.g., PMP, CAPM).
• Experience with specific retail technology platforms and POS systems
• Familiarity with UX/UI design principles.

To Apply: Send your CV to