Senior System Product Manager - Parktown at Hollard Insurance

Job Advert Summary    

The role of a Senior System Product Manager will be to lead the product managers in the Personal Lines Features Team. This team focuses on the development of products on external systems. In this role, you will play a key role in shaping the product strategy, overseeing the development lifecycle, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver solutions on external platforms. You need to demonstrate strong leadership, product management skills, and an understanding of external system integrations.

Key Responsibility: Strategy and innovation

• Develop and articulate a clear product strategy and vision for the Features Team, aligning with the overall business goals and external system integration objectives.

Key Responsibility: External system integration

• Lead the team in developing products and features that seamlessly integrate with external systems, ensuring a cohesive user experience and efficient data exchange.

Key Responsibility: Cross-functional collaboration

• Collaborate with pricing, underwriting, and other cross-functional teams to define product requirements, prioritise features, and ensure successful product development and integration.

Key Responsibility: Stakeholder engagement

• Engage with external stakeholders, including broker and third-party vendors, to gather insights, understand integration requirements, and build strong collaborative relationships.

Key Responsibility: Product development

• Oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from ideation and concept development to launch and post-launch optimisation. Refine our agile methodology based on results and client feedback.

Key Responsibility: Market research and analysis

• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities, market trends, and areas for innovation in external system integrations.

Key Responsibility: Roadmap planning

• Work with the scrum master to develop and maintain a detailed product roadmap, outlining the Features Team's priorities, milestones, and timelines for external system product development.

Key Responsibility: Risk management

• Identify potential risks associated with external system integrations and work proactively to mitigate risks through effective planning and collaboration with relevant teams.

Key Responsibility: User centric focus

• Advocate for a user-centric approach, ensuring that products developed on external systems meet user needs, provide value, and offer a positive user experience. Analyse preferences and requests of end users.

Key Responsibility: Budget management

• Work closely with the scrum master to manage the budget for external system product development, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with business goals.
• General: When required, perform any other duties necessary for the operational effectiveness of the company that is within your ability and scope.

Required Knowledge and Experience    

• 5 - 8 years' experience in systems Product management
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and managing complex development projects.
• Track record of delivering projects on schedule.
• Experience with Agile methodologies

Knowledge

• External System Integration: An understanding of external system integrations, including knowledge of APIs, data exchange protocols, and best practices for seamless integration with external platforms would be advantageous. 
• External System Integration: An understanding of external system integrations, including knowledge of APIs, data exchange protocols, and best practices for seamless integration with external platforms would be advantageous.
• HTML & XML: Basic understanding of HTML and XML languages to facilitate effective communication with developers and technical teams during the integration of products on external systems.
• Project Management: Solid foundation in project management principles, including analysing business requirements on new products or enhancements, monitoring projects’ execution against business plans, conducting regular project audits to ensure that projects correctly carried through to the next phase of the PMLC and preparing project statistics for Senior Management.
• Agile Methodologies: Good understanding of Scrum and AGILE methodologies and applying these principles to product development.
• Financial Acumen: Understanding of budget management and financial considerations related to product development, including the ability to manage budgets effectively and make informed financial decisions.
• User Experience (UX): Awareness of user experience principles and the ability to advocate for a user-centric approach in product development, ensuring that products on external systems are intuitive and user-friendly.
• Industry and Market Trends: Stay informed about industry and market trends, especially those relevant to external system integrations, to anticipate shifts and identify opportunities for innovation.

Skills

• Leadership: Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead cross-functional teams, driving a shared vision and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Effective communication with external partners is crucial.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyse data, interpret trends, and make data-driven decisions to inform product strategies.
• Project Management: Proven project management skills, including the ability to oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, set priorities, and manage resources efficiently.
• Negotiation and Relationship Building: Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with external partners, clients, and stakeholders.
• Decision-Making: Ability to make informed and timely decisions, weighing risks and benefits, to ensure successful product development and integration on external systems.

Educational Requirements    

• Matric
• Project management certification
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, or a related field. Advanced degree or relevant certifications are a plus.