Product Expert: Development & Management

Job description

Let's Write Africa's Story Together! Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this. Job Description You will form part of the Mass Foundation Cluster which is one of the largest customer-facing business segments in Old Mutual. Our vision is to be our customers' most trusted financial partner, passionate about helping them achieve their lifetime goals. Our mission is to enable positive futures for our customers, by bridging the gap between their resources and their financial service’s needs. Our primary goal is to facilitate access to financial solutions for our customers and to keep pace with their changing needs. Our target market is the low and emerging-middle income segment. The role is responsible for reviewing customer, market, and business opportunities and translating them into viable product propositions, business cases, business requirements, and operational solutions. The role bridges product strategy and execution by combining product development, proposition design, business analysis, stakeholder management, and lifecycle management capabilities. The incumbent will work across the full product lifecycle, from research and concept development through implementation, launch, performance monitoring, enhancement, and optimization (in some elements we are accountable, in other we consult into). The role serves as the key link between customers, business stakeholders, operations, sales channels, technology teams, and governance functions to ensure products deliver customer value and business outcomes. Responsibilities: Product Strategy and Proposition Development Review customer, market, competitor, and business research to identify opportunities and emerging trends. Contribute to product and proposition strategy development. Provide input into customer value propositions (CVPs). Facilitate product concept design, feasibility assessment, prototyping, testing, and refinement. Identify product enhancement and innovation opportunities. Business Analysis and Requirements Management Elicit, analyse, document, and validate business requirements. Conduct current-state and future-state process analysis. Perform gap analysis and impact assessments. Maintain end-to-end requirements traceability. Review acceptance criteria, test scenarios, and business verification requirements. Ensure solutions align to business objectives and product intent. Feasibility and Business Case Management Lead feasibility assessments covering customer, operational, technical, commercial, and regulatory considerations. Develop and maintain business cases, including benefits, risks, assumptions, and (if applicable) costs. Provide recommendations on solution viability and implementation approaches. Support governance and approval processes. Product Delivery and Launch Support Collaborate with business, technology, operations, risk, and delivery teams to implement product initiatives (the implementation sits in another team, this would be setting them up to launch). Support product launches across sales and servicing channels. Support business readiness. Develop and maintain product, user, process, and operational documentation. Monitor delivery progress and resolve issues impacting implementation. Product Lifecycle and Performance Management Monitor product performance, customer outcomes, and business benefits. (This is dependent on if this is in project mode or not. This responsibility expands across a few areas in proposition). Support product performance analysis and reporting. Manage product enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives. Support open and closed book product management activities. (This is at a systemic level as opposed to individual queries etc.). Ensure products remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with customer needs. Stakeholder and Innovation Management Facilitate stakeholder workshops and cross-functional collaboration. Build strong relationships across product, business, sales, operations, and technology teams. Drive innovation and continuous improvement initiatives. Identify emerging industry trends and opportunities to improve customer and business outcomes. Requirements: Bachelor's Degree or NQF Level 7 qualification in Business, Commerce, Finance, Information Systems, Product Management, Business Analysis, or a related field. Business Analysis certification would be advantageous. Product Management, Agile, Financial Services, or Project Delivery certifications would be advantageous. 5 to 8 years' experience in Product Development, Product Management, Business Analysis, Proposition Development, Change Delivery, or a related discipline. Minimum 3 years' experience within Financial Services, Insurance, Banking, or related industries. Proven experience in: Product proposition development and lifecycle management. Business requirements elicitation and analysis. Business case development and feasibility assessments. Product launches and enhancement initiatives. Process analysis and solution design. Cross-functional stakeholder management. Project and/or Agile delivery environments. Skills Business Analysis, Business Case Management, Innovation Management, Performance Management (PM), Product Delivery, Product Launch Support, Product Lifecycle, Product Strategies, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Management Competencies Action Oriented Business Insight Cultivates Innovation Drives Engagement Drives Results Ensures Accountability Manages Ambiguity Manages Complexity Education NQF Level 7 - Degree, Advance Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent (Required) Closing Date 14 September 2026 , 23:59 The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question. The Old Mutual Story!