Product Development Manager
Listing reference: adapt_000222
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 15 August 2025
Position summary
Industry: IT & Internet
Job category: IT and Telecommunications
Location: Midrand
Contract: Permanent
EE position: No
About our company
Adapt IT (Pty) Ltd is a subsidiary of Adapt IT Holdings Proprietary Limited and a market leader in developing specialised vertical market software and digitally-led business solutions that assist clients across targeted industries to Achieve More by improving their customer experience, core business operations, business administration and enterprise resource planning.
Introduction
The Product Manager represents the customer by evaluating matching and prioritizing system enhancements,
features and functionality that support the strategic direction of the system, are relevant and saleable and benefit end users.
Collaborates with clients, business development and other stakeholders to understand their
requirements and goals. Other duties of the Product Manager include identifying product issues, determining the product roadmap, meeting operational and strategic goals and overseeing the development process.
Manages and depends on a team of Lead Developers to ensure that only prioritized development items are planned,resources scheduled, and development executed ensuring that the team achieves their goals.
Job description
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ROLE
Product Custodianship
• Leads in defining product vision for the Business Unit (BU)
• Responsible and accountable for the product’s success in the market.
• Responsible for roadmap with regards to products/systems within scope of control.
• Ensure that products have a sustainable development roadmap
• Maximize the economic life of the BU products and solutions
• Identify opportunities for new or extended functionality to meet customer requirements
• Manage complete product lifecycles
• Identify a prioritized list of items/features to be built into the standard system. This list of items is reflected in and is referred to as the Product Backlog; (12 - 18-month vision of the Product).
• Maintains the Product Backlog by keeping it up to date in terms of requirement and prioritization, and ensures that the Product Backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all. This should preferably be maintained within the organization’s chosen tool;
• As above, prioritization of the product backlog should be done with consideration of operational objectives which include:
• Strategic direction of the product
• Revenue targets
• Technical debt (design issues, technology changes)
• Innovation
• Ensure that the highest value items are worked on by the development team
• Evaluate current offerings saleability with Business Development and advise on functionality to be discontinued
• Collaborate with numerous stakeholders (most notably customers, sales, marketing and development) in defining the priorities within the BU roadmap, which consists of a balance of new capabilities, enhancements to existing features, and defect fixes
Product Custodianship
• Leads in defining product vision for the Business Unit (BU)
• Responsible and accountable for the product’s success in the market.
• Responsible for roadmap with regards to products/systems within scope of control.
• Ensure that products have a sustainable development roadmap
• Maximize the economic life of the BU products and solutions
• Identify opportunities for new or extended functionality to meet customer requirements
• Manage complete product lifecycles
• Identify a prioritized list of items/features to be built into the standard system. This list of items is reflected in and is referred to as the Product Backlog; (12 - 18-month vision of the Product).
• Maintains the Product Backlog by keeping it up to date in terms of requirement and prioritization, and ensures that the Product Backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all. This should preferably be maintained within the organization’s chosen tool;
• As above, prioritization of the product backlog should be done with consideration of operational objectives which include:
• Strategic direction of the product
• Revenue targets
• Technical debt (design issues, technology changes)
• Innovation
• Ensure that the highest value items are worked on by the development team
• Evaluate current offerings saleability with Business Development and advise on functionality to be discontinued
• Collaborate with numerous stakeholders (most notably customers, sales, marketing and development) in defining the priorities within the BU roadmap, which consists of a balance of new capabilities, enhancements to existing features, and defect fixes
• Provide detailed guidance during development to ensure the built product is in line with the BU vision
• Balance the demands for supporting existing customers with the need to develop new features
• Identify opportunities to extend, improve and simplify BU and associated processes (change control, deployment etc.)
• Communication of roadmap, backlog of change requests and problems, release plan, release notes
Evaluation and prioritization of system enhancements
• Evaluate requested / suggested system enhancements, features and functionality in terms of the strategic direction of the system, saleability and benefit end users.
• Prioritize requested system enhancements, features and functionality into a prioritized product and sprint backlog.
• Be available to answer questions from and provide any clarifications to the development team regarding items on the product and/or sprint backlog.
Verification and software documentation
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team.
Product support
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team Product support
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team
Market Intelligence
• Industry analysis and reporting on trends, insights and prospects
• Keep abreast of competition and provide competitor analysis comparisons
• Regular positioning monitoring compared to competitors
• Conduct Ad Hoc Market Research on consumer preferences and consumption habits/ trends to better inform product strategy and marketing decisions
Mentorship / Training
• Provide mentorship and guidance to internal staff on technical and system processes.
• Perform internal training for technical staff as required.
• Ability to mentor and assist others, and to lead internal training sessions
• Mentor resources on specialized knowledge.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of business practices that are addressed by systems within scope ofcontrol.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of the technical environment e.g.
• Tools and techniques used to document user requirements and prepare specifications;
• The infrastructure on which the System operates;
• The development methodology and tools used.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of trends within the market with a focus on what competitor software providers offer.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on legislative and statutory developments within all statutory bodies related to the product within his / her responsibility.
• Balance the demands for supporting existing customers with the need to develop new features
• Identify opportunities to extend, improve and simplify BU and associated processes (change control, deployment etc.)
• Communication of roadmap, backlog of change requests and problems, release plan, release notes
Evaluation and prioritization of system enhancements
• Evaluate requested / suggested system enhancements, features and functionality in terms of the strategic direction of the system, saleability and benefit end users.
• Prioritize requested system enhancements, features and functionality into a prioritized product and sprint backlog.
• Be available to answer questions from and provide any clarifications to the development team regarding items on the product and/or sprint backlog.
Verification and software documentation
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team.
Product support
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team Product support
• Sign-off on reviewed documentation, release note, user manuals and training manuals as prepared by the team
Market Intelligence
• Industry analysis and reporting on trends, insights and prospects
• Keep abreast of competition and provide competitor analysis comparisons
• Regular positioning monitoring compared to competitors
• Conduct Ad Hoc Market Research on consumer preferences and consumption habits/ trends to better inform product strategy and marketing decisions
Mentorship / Training
• Provide mentorship and guidance to internal staff on technical and system processes.
• Perform internal training for technical staff as required.
• Ability to mentor and assist others, and to lead internal training sessions
• Mentor resources on specialized knowledge.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of business practices that are addressed by systems within scope ofcontrol.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of the technical environment e.g.
• Tools and techniques used to document user requirements and prepare specifications;
• The infrastructure on which the System operates;
• The development methodology and tools used.
• Maintain adequate knowledge of trends within the market with a focus on what competitor software providers offer.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on legislative and statutory developments within all statutory bodies related to the product within his / her responsibility.
Team Management
• Manage the day-to-day running of the product development team.
• Manage the day-to-day running of the product development team.
•Perform interim and final performance appraisals of staff who are deployed within the team.
• Responsibility for staff discipline and non-performance
• Responsibility for staff discipline and non-performance
Presales
• Understand customer requirements and integrate BU solutions into the customers’ environment.
• Deliver sales presentations, present technical information about BU products and services, and conduct product demonstrations.
• Fulfil role of the BU spokesperson at User Group Conferences and User Groups Workshops (with regards to product(s)/system(s) within scope of control.
• Assist with the completion of Requests for Information / Requests for Proposal responses for systems within the scope of control.
• Identify opportunities to sell systems and services to existing clients.
• Understand customer requirements and integrate BU solutions into the customers’ environment.
• Deliver sales presentations, present technical information about BU products and services, and conduct product demonstrations.
• Fulfil role of the BU spokesperson at User Group Conferences and User Groups Workshops (with regards to product(s)/system(s) within scope of control.
• Assist with the completion of Requests for Information / Requests for Proposal responses for systems within the scope of control.
• Identify opportunities to sell systems and services to existing clients.
Key Responsibilities
• Ensures the product supports the company's overall strategy and goals
• Develop the product strategy and roadmap within the assigned area to deliver on business outcomes — growth, customer retention, and revenue – and effectively communicate recommendations to leadership
• Maintain Key Product Management tools: Roadmap, Specification, Competitor Feature Comparison analysis, Price Positioning
• Driving productization, modernisation and new technology acceptance
• Takes own initiative and collaborate with team to deliver exceptional products
• Make recommendations to Management based on recognizing a customer’s current and future technology/business needs
• Takes the initiative in thought leadership, innovation and creativity and seek to continually improve products and solutions
• Works closely with other key stakeholders within the organisation, to define and deliver new products and enhancements
• Translates functional specifications into workable project deliverables and staging these according to team capability and capacity.
• Interface with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities to increase efficiency and improve quality, quantify the impact, prioritize initiatives, and develop execution plans.
• Scope and prioritize activities based on business and customer impact
• Gain a deep understanding of customer requirements, identify and fill product gaps and generate new ideas that grow market share, improve customer experience and drive growth in existing and new customers
• Participating in weekly management meetings
• Updating management weekly on Product Development progress
• Ensures the product supports the company's overall strategy and goals
• Develop the product strategy and roadmap within the assigned area to deliver on business outcomes — growth, customer retention, and revenue – and effectively communicate recommendations to leadership
• Maintain Key Product Management tools: Roadmap, Specification, Competitor Feature Comparison analysis, Price Positioning
• Driving productization, modernisation and new technology acceptance
• Takes own initiative and collaborate with team to deliver exceptional products
• Make recommendations to Management based on recognizing a customer’s current and future technology/business needs
• Takes the initiative in thought leadership, innovation and creativity and seek to continually improve products and solutions
• Works closely with other key stakeholders within the organisation, to define and deliver new products and enhancements
• Translates functional specifications into workable project deliverables and staging these according to team capability and capacity.
• Interface with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities to increase efficiency and improve quality, quantify the impact, prioritize initiatives, and develop execution plans.
• Scope and prioritize activities based on business and customer impact
• Gain a deep understanding of customer requirements, identify and fill product gaps and generate new ideas that grow market share, improve customer experience and drive growth in existing and new customers
• Participating in weekly management meetings
• Updating management weekly on Product Development progress
General
The Product Manager role in General:
• Team Management
• Extreme attention to detail and effective prioritization skills
• Extensive experience managing product roadmaps
• Solid knowledge of Agile methodologies
• Natural ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders
• Solid problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent understanding of complex software lifecycles
• Experience in B2B and B2C solutions
• Proven work experience in product management
The Product Manager role in General:
• Team Management
• Extreme attention to detail and effective prioritization skills
• Extensive experience managing product roadmaps
• Solid knowledge of Agile methodologies
• Natural ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders
• Solid problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent understanding of complex software lifecycles
• Experience in B2B and B2C solutions
• Proven work experience in product management
•Solid technical background with understanding and/or hands-on experience in software development, cloud technologies, and industry best practices.
• Presales or Technical Sales: Has the ability to work with existing and potential clients or customers ensuring you have a strong understanding of the services and/or products provided.
• Presales or Technical Sales: Has the ability to work with existing and potential clients or customers ensuring you have a strong understanding of the services and/or products provided.
Minimum requirements
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• University IT Degree/Diploma in related field
• Minimum 10 years working experience in Telecoms industry and 5 years in product management
• Demonstrated experience across the entire product lifecycle, from product research and competitive analysis, to conception, specification, design and launch
• Broad knowledge of Telecommunications industry
• Sufficient understanding of Telecoms Products to fulfil the role of advisor to senior Business Analysts, Developers, Support Staff and Consultants in respect of the Software.
• Participation and providing key input in marketing, presales and sales activities
• Managing and driving product roadmaps
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills, internal and external. Excellent people and management skills to interact with customers, colleagues and cross-functional teams and third parties
• Ability to develop and build strategic relationships
• Preparing budget proposals and building business cases
• Existing relationships with senior customer decision makers
• University IT Degree/Diploma in related field
• Minimum 10 years working experience in Telecoms industry and 5 years in product management
• Demonstrated experience across the entire product lifecycle, from product research and competitive analysis, to conception, specification, design and launch
• Broad knowledge of Telecommunications industry
• Sufficient understanding of Telecoms Products to fulfil the role of advisor to senior Business Analysts, Developers, Support Staff and Consultants in respect of the Software.
• Participation and providing key input in marketing, presales and sales activities
• Managing and driving product roadmaps
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills, internal and external. Excellent people and management skills to interact with customers, colleagues and cross-functional teams and third parties
• Ability to develop and build strategic relationships
• Preparing budget proposals and building business cases
• Existing relationships with senior customer decision makers
REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Technical:
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of Software Development
• Industry Knowledge (Telecoms & IT)
• Value Added Services (Messaging, SMSC, USSD, Middleware Tech)
• GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G
• Cloud Computing, Virtualisation Technologies, AI
• Telecommunication Technologies (SS7, SIGTRAN, MTP, SCCP, TCAP, MAP, CAP, etc)
• Middleware, APIs, Microservices
Problem Solving and Analysis:
• Ability to research technology as well as business policy, - process and - practice to understand issues and make systematic and rational judgments based on the relevant information.
• Ability to determine the information required to guide strategic decisions to mitigate medium/long term risks.
• Ability to identify and prioritize technical- logical and problem areas
• Ability to estimate costs for interventions and weigh alternative solutions
• Ability to lead brainstorming sessions and other meeting to determine requirements and decide on solutions.
Strategy Management
• Ability to formulate strategies and policies and create new approaches in adverse situations.
• Ability to take a broad-based view of issues and events and understand their longer-term impact or
wider implications.
Ability to translate strategies into strategic and operational activities.
• Ability to be involved in multiple projects at the same time
• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations
Behavioural:
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong leadership ability with personal credibility capable of effectively interacting with all
stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to translate business problems into product features
• Is a natural consensus builder across all levels of a company
• Exceptional communication skills, written, verbal and presentation.
• Ability to present formal and informal business case to management
• The ability to correlate different opinions and input from a variety of sources and make informed
technical decisions
• Leadership and conflict resolution skills
Communication Skills
• Sound interpersonal skills, creativity and ability to mix with other people
• Sound communication skills
• Have a high standard of written- and spoken English skills
• Ability to communicate with personnel from clients on all levels, including senior management,
technical resources and administrative operational staff.
• Excellent verbal ability, communication, negotiation and presentation skills
• Ability to create, compose and edit written materials and presentations
• Ability to pitch proposals
• Ability to convey complex information in understandable terms
• Ability to lead brainstorming sessions
• Ability to be involved in multiple projects at the same time
• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations
Behavioural:
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong leadership ability with personal credibility capable of effectively interacting with all
stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to translate business problems into product features
• Is a natural consensus builder across all levels of a company
• Exceptional communication skills, written, verbal and presentation.
• Ability to present formal and informal business case to management
• The ability to correlate different opinions and input from a variety of sources and make informed
technical decisions
• Leadership and conflict resolution skills
Communication Skills
• Sound interpersonal skills, creativity and ability to mix with other people
• Sound communication skills
• Have a high standard of written- and spoken English skills
• Ability to communicate with personnel from clients on all levels, including senior management,
technical resources and administrative operational staff.
• Excellent verbal ability, communication, negotiation and presentation skills
• Ability to create, compose and edit written materials and presentations
• Ability to pitch proposals
• Ability to convey complex information in understandable terms
• Ability to lead brainstorming sessions