Job Description

Senior IT Product Manager Product/Project management
Johannesburg - Gauteng - South AfricaENVIRONMENT:Our client a fast-paced, high-growth online loan underwriting company is on the lookout for a Senior IT Product Manager whos equal parts strategist, communicator, and execution powerhouse. In this key role, youll act as the vital bridge between operations and dev teams, translating big-picture business goals into clear, actionable product requirements. They're looking for someone whos not just technically fluent, but also great at keeping projects on track using tools like JIRA, all while championing collaboration and efficiency. Youll be shaping innovative IT products, measuring the productivity of tech resources, and ensuring delivery hits the mark every time.If youve got a Bachelors in Computer Science, IT, or Engineering (bonus points for a Masters or MBA), plus 5+ years in IT product management (with 3+ in a senior or lead role), this could be your next big move. Ready to lead the charge on smart solutions? Lets talk.DUTIES:Product Development and Strategy:

• Define and document product requirements, specifications, and roadmaps in collaboration with stakeholders, operations management, and development teams.
• Translate business needs into actionable technical requirements, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Develop and maintain a clear product vision, prioritizing features and deliverables based on business value and user needs.

Liaison and Stakeholder Management:

• Act as the primary point of contact between operations management and development teams, fostering collaboration and resolving conflicts.
• Communicate project status, risks, and opportunities to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives, to drive project momentum.

Productivity Monitoring and Optimization:

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the productivity and efficiency of IT resources, including development teams and infrastructure.
• Implement processes to monitor resource utilization, identify bottlenecks, and optimize team performance.
• Provide regular reports and insights to leadership on team productivity, project progress, and areas for improvement.

JIRA Expertise and Project Management:

• Leverage advanced proficiency in JIRA to manage project workflows, track tasks, and ensure timely delivery of milestones.
• Configure and customize JIRA boards, workflows, and dashboards to support Agile/Scrum methodologies and team needs.
• Train and support team members on JIRA best practices to enhance project management efficiency.

Technical Leadership:

• Collaborate with developers to ensure technical feasibility of product designs and solutions.
• Stay informed of emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to guide product innovation.
• Provide technical guidance to non-technical stakeholders, bridging the gap between complex technical concepts and business objectives.

REQUIREMENTS:Education:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Masters degree or MBA is a plus.

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in IT product management, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead role.
• Proven experience liaising between operations management and technical teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated success in defining and launching IT products, from ideation to delivery.

Technical Proficiency:

• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (SDLC), cloud technologies, and IT infrastructure.
• Familiarity with programming languages, APIs, and database systems is highly desirable.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation and architecture diagrams.

JIRA Expertise:

• Advanced proficiency in JIRA, including workflow customization, reporting, and integration with other tools (e.g., Confluence, Bitbucket).
• Experience implementing Agile/Scrum frameworks within JIRA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with performance monitoring tools (e.g., New Relic, Datadog) to track IT resource productivity.
• Certification in Agile/Scrum (e.g., Certified Scrum Product Owner, PMI-ACP) or project management (e.g., PMP).
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and tools (e.g., Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes).

ATTRIBUTES:

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, with a focus on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Strategic thinking and vision
• Stakeholder management
• Process optimization
• Technical acumen
• Agile project management
• Data-driven decision-making

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