Product Specialist Supervisor (Commercial Vehicles)

SUMMARY:
Product Specialist Supervisor (Commercial Vehicles)

POSITION INFO:

An international automotive OEM is recruiting for a Product Specialist Supervisor for Commercial Vehicles to be based in Sandton, the successful incumbent will be responsible for development of strategic product plans which optimise the competitive advantage of the Commercial Vehicles brand and secure the planned volumes and market share (this entails the types, models, execution, options and pricing); management of product specification through the vehicle order, production and wholesale process and systems to ensure that vehicles are correctly positioned, ordered, manufactured and accurately communicated in marketing material.

Key responsibilities

• Continually benchmark commercial vehicles vs competitor offering and monitor industry developments for threats and opportunities in order to propose appropriate action.
• Management of product and customer requirement research.
• Development of strategic product plans to meet customer requirements (i.e. rationale, range, specification, positioning, as well as supporting pricing, volumes and model mix planning).
• Implementation of product plans as marketing representative in cross divisional project team meetings and Product Marketing Meetings (PMM).
• Development of product information bulletins for the deafer organisation regarding all product innovation or changes.
• Monitoring and proactive implementation of product and model year changes, particularly the communication thereof through customer-facing channels (e.g. website, point-of-sale material).
• Approval of all point-of-sale and customer-facing material in terms of product specification in text, visuals and tables for accuracy (includes website, silent salesmen, brochures, leaflets etc.).
• Provide information to allow effective product training of the dealer network, i.e. support Dealer Training Academy in accuracy of product training material.
• Management and implementation of unique product requirements for the car rental/ government/ fleet market via cross-divisional interaction.
• Planning and implementation of feasibility studies, vehicle clinics and Dealer Council negotiations for the introduction of new products (incl. special editions) or product changes to the Commercial Vehicles range.
• Planning and implementing the specifications for all models utilising the Group MBV system.
• Co-ordinate and reply to product-related customer queries from the Customer Interaction Centre.
• Support the Pricing and Supply Chain Analyst in the development and implementation of price indexing methodology to ensure correct price positioning and model build-up for all products relative to competitors.

Minimum qualifications & experience requirements

• National diploma or Bachelor''''''''s degree in Commerce / Business Science / Engineering
• 5 years product planning experience in automotive industry in commercial vehicles
• 2 years’ experience in engineering, sales forecasting, market research or brand management would be beneficial.
• Strategic and conceptual thinking capability
• Sound understanding of Marketing/ Sales
• Sound understanding of market and competitive environment.
• Well-developed analytical skills
• Good communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability and inclination to work with detail.
• High level of computing skills and in-depth knowledge of group MBV systems.
• Presentation skills (Internal / external e.g. PPT and Dealer Council)
• Ability to interact with internal and external customers under different situations.
• Project management abilities
• Negotiation skills

If you are interested and meet the requirements kindly submit your application to or