About Us:
Our goal at Pawame is to support limitless opportunity through a foundation of safe, reliable, and affordable solar energy. With so many African communities lacking access to power, participating in the modern digital world can be challenging and laborious. The Pawame team provides the energy-driven tools these communities and individuals need to become successful students, entrepreneurs, and global citizens. We like to think of ourselves as an electric foundation, and our team is what makes that possible.
About the Role:
The Product Manager is responsible for Pawame’s product vision, strategy and ultimately the products we sell to our customers. They will work very closely with the Corporate Development Director and CEO to ensure that Pawame’s product portfolio aligns with the overall strategic objectives of the company. The Product Manager will be responsible for gathering product & business requirements, understanding competitor offerings, defining the product road map, developing implementation plans and managing the delivery of product pilots and full product commercialization.
KEY CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP & INTERFACES
Sales
Interface frequently with the Sales organisation to gather feedback from both customers and sales representatives on existing and future product offerings.
Logistics
Interface frequently with the Logistics organisation regarding warranty claims, repair issues and customer pain points with Pawame products to ensure the highest quality service delivery.
Finance
Provide high level planning and detailed implementation budgets for all product development.
Investment Team
Working closely with the grant funding team on applications targeted towards product development and field trials.
Providing subject matter support on products and technical features.
Country Teams
Support country teams in development of country-specific new appliances.
Responsibilities
KEY OUTCOMES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE
Product Development Strategy
Refining and updating Pawame’s product development strategy, working with:
Senior Leadership and Corporate Development teamto solidify the Pawame Product Vision & Strategy for Pawame’s foundational hardware product offering.
Customers, Marketing and Sales teamsto define and/or ratify new product offerings that tie in with our strategic product objectives and customer needs.
Technician & Repair teamsto optimize existing or define new features for use, distribution, quality and repair-ability that exemplify product offerings.
Business process management teamto develop new and improve existing processes and procedures for product development, ensuring strict adherence at all times
New Product Implementation
Product sampling:Performing desktop analysis of products from various “off the shelf” supplier that pass initial selection criteria. Identify suitability within the Pawame portfolio, utilizing limited physical trails. Vigorously assess all products before moving to pilot stage.
Product pilots:Defining the overall pilot implementation plan, which customer type to target, pricing, funding needs, partners, field and logistical considerations to ensure success. Execute the plan successfully and deliver reporting on commercial viability for respective product.
Project management:Developing and managing cross-functional project teams, developing and delivering projects in timely and cost-conscious manner while encouraging mutual trust and respect in the project team
Monitoring and evaluation:Developing test and measurement criteria and the work plans to gather the necessary data to aid the evaluation of the pilot and the product.
Procurement and Supplier Management
Working with Procurement & Supply Chain teams to drive improvements in quality and feature sets with product suppliers and service providers.
Leading the evaluation and selection of new suppliers from a technical and product quality point of view.
Monitoring supplier performance to assess ability to meet delivery and quality requirements.
Expert Advice and Communication
Providing guidance to management or other groups on strategic, technical or process-related topics related to product development.
Communicating with external stakeholders, including suppliers, product certification bodies, and where relevant, investors and/or donors.
Requirements for the RoleRequired Education
Bachelor’s degree in a product design related subject, engineering, manufacturing.
Preferred Education
Masters or other relevant advanced degree.
Required Certifications
Associate level PMP, PRINCE2 for project management and/or agile certification or experience.
Preferred Certifications
Full certified PMP or PRINCE2 professional and/or agile certification.
Required Experience
2 years in progressive product management role, with experience in a B2C firm with responsibility for initial requirements, R&D, prototype, field trial, product launch and reporting.
Prior working experience in the off-grid solar sector.
Preferred Experience
5 years in progressive product management role, with experience in a B2C firm with responsibility for initial requirements, R&D, prototype, field trial, product launch and reporting.
International experience.
Technical attributes and competencies
Customer Centricity & Strategic Marketing-- Anticipates and meets the needs of customers; understands competitive landscape and keeps up-to-date; achieves quality end-products; is committed to improving products & services.
Engineering & Technology-- Knowledge of engineering concepts, principles, and practices, and of equipment, tools, mechanical devices, and their uses to produce energy, light, motion, technology, and other applications. Extremely comfortable with Information Technology.
Critical Thinking-- Using structure, logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communication- Strong oral and written communication skills in English. Comfortable presenting to senior management and large groups.
Behavioral attributes and competencies
Pro-activeness- Energetic self-starter who demonstrates strong resourcefulness and personal initiative. Requires little hand-holding to deliver complex tasks. High level of energy and motivation.
Judgment and Decision Making- Consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions, choosing the most appropriate one.
Teamwork- Strong team work skills and ability to motivate diverse cross-functional teams without having direct authority over them
Flexibility- Adaptable and comfortable in fast-changing start-up environment. Comfortable in uncertain and/or ambiguous situations. Fast learner. Willing to contribute in areas beyond formal job description.
Cross-cultural skills- Ability to operate effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
Uncompromising integrity
Job Requirements
Required education
: Bachelor's degree
Required relevant work experience
: 3 years
Required languages:
English (Spoken: fluent | Written: fluent)
Mandatory attachments
Please have a scan or photo of these documents ready when you start the application:
Self-prepared CV file
- the employer wants to see a CV that you have prepared yourself
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