Job Description

9658//Gauteng//
R HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE PLUS AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE BONUS
Our client is a South African based financial services group The group operates in the market through multiple client-facing brands including insurance and investment brands. Our client is a global player in financial services. Placing its clients at the heart of the operation, this division within the group is at the forefront of cutting edge technology and innovative thinking thereby creating an environment for its people to collaborate and be the best they can behouseholds and businesses, with the aim of affording expenses and achieving goals over one's lifetime. Their promise to their clients is to be their financial wellness partner over this life-long journey, using the company's expertise and solutions to help them develop and reach their goals.
They now seek a product specialist to join their team. The culture here is a big drawcard: the team works in an agile, collaborative way with strong support from leadership. It's the kind of environment where new ideas are welcomed, and there's space to experiment and drive meaningful change. This company also places a big focus on personal growth - from upskilling to career progression. This role would suit someone who wants to make a real impact, have their voice heard, and be part of a business that's forward-thinking and purpose driven. You will report to the MD.
Someone from a competitor would likely be drawn to this role because it offers real ownership and impact. It's not just about maintaining products - it's about helping shape and grow them across both local and international markets. The role blends strategy, innovation, and collaboration, giving someone the chance to work cross-functionally and bring fresh ideas to life. It's ideal for someone who wants to be part of a forward-thinking team and take their product expertise to the next level.
This role offers potential candidates more than just a technical product position - it's an opportunity to join a dynamic, high-performing team. The successful individual will take real ownership and play a key role in developing innovative solutions that influence both local and global investment markets.
JOB DESCRIPTION WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• You will be required to play a key role in the strategic design, enhancement and execution of product solutions, pricing structures and platform capabilities;
• You will be required to demonstrate increased autonomy and accountability in driving initiatives that meet the evolving needs of investors and advisers across South Africa and selected international markets;
• You will be required to actively collaborate across functions to ensure competitive, compliant and client-centric offerings that support business growth and innovation;
• Product:

• You will be required to contribute meaningfully to the design, enhancement and lifecycle management of platform products and capabilities, ensuring alignment with client and adviser needs, business strategy and long-term sustainability;
• You will be required to evaluate and shape product and capability solutions through a multidisciplinary lens, incorporating regulatory, compliance, risk and financial perspectives to ensure business-wide impact is well understood and proactively addressed;
• You will be required to drive the continuous review and optimisation of MWI products and platform features, ensuring they remain competitive, compliant and fit-for-purpose across key South African and targeted international jurisdictions;
• You will be required to develop and refine content for product and platform-related communication, including marketing and digital material, industry thought-leadership pieces and internal documentation such as terms and conditions, client statements and formal correspondence;
• You will be required to stay ahead of local and global platform trends, conducting in-depth research and market analysis to identify strategic opportunities for new product development, capability enhancements, growth areas, or the rationalisation of existing offerings;
• You will be required to take ownership in translating strategic business initiatives into practical product and capability roadmaps, and assist in cross-functional implementation to drive business value and improved client outcomes;
• You will be required to monitor and interpret client and adviser feedback, behaviour and experience metrics to assess the success of existing products and capabilities and identify areas for proactive refinement or innovation;
• You will be required to prepare high-quality analysis and content to support governance and decision-making processes, including submissions to boards, excos, mancos and product forums, ensuring recommendations are robust, well-researched and aligned to business priorities;
• Engage with clients in a client-centric manner (client services):

• You will be required to provide specialist product expertise and insights to financial advisers, clients and internal stakeholders, acting as a trusted partner in guiding strategic product conversations and resolving complex product-related queries;
• You will be required to proactively cultivate and strengthen collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment, open communication and support in driving product adoption, understanding, and satisfaction;
• You will be required to identify and recommend enhancements to improve the overall adviser and client experience, with a strong focus on ensuring the delivery of fair client outcomes and alignment with treating customers fairly (TCF) principles;
• You will be required to actively contribute to a high-performance, client-centric culture by championing feedback loops, fostering relationship-driven engagement and supporting initiatives that deliver exceptional service and enduring value;
• Self-management and teamwork (people):

• You will be required to foster strong, solution-oriented relationships with the product team and cross-functional partners including IT, marketing, distribution, compliance and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure seamless collaboration in delivering value-driven product solutions;
• You will be required to actively engage in and positively influence change and transformation initiatives, contributing to business agility and the successful implementation of strategic priorities;
• You will be required to demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous professional development, staying ahead of industry trends, legislative developments and emerging client needs to remain a credible and informed product specialist;
• You will be required to drive a culture of innovation by contributing and actioning fresh ideas, with a focus on improving product features, operational efficiencies and client engagement;
• You will be required to take accountability for personal growth and career progression, seeking out opportunities to expand product knowledge, develop technical competencies and increase strategic impact;
• You will be required to apply strong time management and prioritisation skills to consistently deliver high-quality outputs and meet business objectives within set timelines;
• You will be required to maintain up-to-date and in-depth technical and legislative knowledge, enabling the delivery of innovative, compliant and future-fit client solutions that meet governance and regulatory standards;
• You will be required to exhibit self-confidence, drive, and resilience, consistently striving to meet and exceed performance goals while contributing to a high-performance product environment.

CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• You have sound strategic thinking & business acumen:

• Ability to connect product initiatives to broader business strategy, anticipate market trends and make informed decisions that support sustainable growth;
• You have a client-centric mindset:

• Consistently advocate for adviser and client needs, leveraging feedback and insights to inform product development and experience improvements;
• You have product lifecycle management skills:

• Proficient in managing the end-to-end lifecycle of investment products, from concept through to market launch, review, optimisation and retirement;
• You have data-driven decision-making skills:

• Comfort with data analysis and insights to support product proposals, monitor performance, identify risks and measure success;
• You have regulatory and compliance knowledge:

• Strong understanding of local and international regulatory frameworks affecting wealth and investment products, with the ability to apply these practically;
• You have innovation and digital fluency:

• Familiarity with digital platforms, fintech trends and how technology can be leveraged to improve product competitiveness and client engagement;
• You have stakeholder engagement and influence skills:

• Ability to engage, align and influence diverse internal and external stakeholders, including distribution, legal, compliance, IT and executive management;
• You have excellent communication (verbal and written) skills in English:

• Skilled at translating complex product and regulatory information into clear, compelling content for various audiences (e.g., advisers, clients, committees);
• You have governance and risk awareness knowledge:

• Demonstrate sound judgment and adherence to governance protocols when contributing to proposals and engaging with oversight forums;
• You have project execution skills:

• Ability to manage or support product-related projects and initiatives from planning to execution, ensuring alignment with timelines, quality standards and business goals.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• You have a B.Bus Science/ Quants honours/ CA(SA) ; or actuarial qualification or part;
• You have a CFA designation or part - this is essential, reflecting the technical and analytical expertise needed to succeed in a specialist investment product role;
• You have a minimum of 5 years' current, relevant experience in a financial services environment, specifically within the international LISP (linked investment service provider) or investment platform industry, with proven exposure to product development, pricing, platform strategy, or capability design;
• You have comprehensive knowledge of the South African LISP landscape, including its regulatory frameworks, tax implications and competitive dynamics. Exposure to or experience in the offshore LISP market is strongly preferred, given the international focus of the company;
• You have a demonstrated ability to engage with and influence diverse internal and external stakeholders, effectively balancing technical detail with business impact to support sound product decisions;
• You have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interrogate data, challenge assumptions, and integrate multiple perspectives when shaping product strategies;
• You have proven experience working cross-functionally across product, IT, marketing, distribution, compliance and operations, with the ability to navigate complexity and contribute to high impact initiatives.

Great team - superb role for a subject matter expert with a superb work ethic! Rewards on performance are excellent as is working with a great team.