TITLE: Product Manager
REPORTING: Program Director
DEPARTMENT: Technology
DISCIPLINE: Ogilvy One
AGENCY: Ogilvy Africa, Kenya
LOCATION: Nairobi
SCOPE: In- Market
OGILVY AFRICA – COMPANY AND ROLE OVERVIEW
Ogilvy Africa is the largest network agency on the continent catering to more than 40 countries with a team of 900 people across Central, East and West Africa. Our regional office is based in Nairobi – Kenya, where we house a portfolio of over 100 brands for clients such as AB InBev, Airtel, Bajaj, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Equity Bank, European Union, KFC, Mastercard, NCBA, Nestle, Philips, PWC, Total Energies, UNICEF, Unilever and WWF amongst others.
Our distinctive positioning and proposition are key for times, when clients desire a partner to help them realize their growth ambitions or to get back to growth. No one knows Africa like we do, with a footprint to deliver in countries that matter to our clients.
This proposition is anchored on true shared value, what our world needs now, creating human (societal) value, employee value and commercial value. This proposition cuts across our key mega-businesses ABC (Advertising, Branding and Content), Experience (including CRM and e-commerce), PR & Influence and Media (focussed on performance marketing).
In addition, we’ve created proprietary marketing products in areas such as real-time marketing, social intelligence, performance marketing, e-commerce enablement and content hubs. Our unique operating model, One Ogilvy, allows clients and brands to cut the complexity of agency structures and create seamless omni-channel experiences for their consumers, across touchpoints. Fuelled by the holy trinity of content, data, and technology; Ogilvy Africa strives to be the best-practice agency model, for Developing & Emerging markets.
In our 20+ years in Africa, we have won the highest number of regional and global awards for the region including Cannes Lions, Clio awards, Dubai Lynx Festival, SABRE Awards (Global and Africa), Loeries and WARC, to name a few.
Ogilvy is a leading global network of WPP. Launched by David Ogilvy over 75 years ago, it is referred-to as the Agency of Giants, by several industry experts. 2023 WARC rankings named Ogilvy, the #1 creative network in the world.
JOB SUMMARY:
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product Manager to join our Technology team. You will be responsible for the full product lifecycle, from ideation and market research to launch and post-launch analysis. You will define the product vision, develop the roadmap, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products to market. This role requires a deep understanding of user needs, market trends, and technical feasibility.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Product Vision & Strategy
Define and articulate a compelling product vision and strategy that aligns with the overall company goals. This includes identifying target audiences, understanding their needs, and defining the product’s unique value proposition.
• Internal and External Buy-in
Champion the product vision and secure buy-in from key stakeholders across the organization, including executive leadership, engineering, sales, and marketing. Build consensus and effectively communicate the product’s value proposition to external partners, such as distributors, retailers, or strategic alliances.
• Product Roadmap
Develop and maintain a strategic product roadmap that outlines the product’s development plan, including key milestones, timelines, and resource allocation. Prioritize features and functionalities based on market analysis and user feedback.
• Product Development
Collaborate closely with software engineers, UX designers, QA testers, and marketing teams throughout the entire product development lifecycle. Ensure that the product meets the defined requirements and adheres to quality standards.
• Market Research
Conduct thorough market research to understand user needs, competitive landscape, and emerging trends. Utilize various research methodologies, including user interviews, surveys, and competitive analysis.
• Product Pricing and Positioning
Develop comprehensive product pricing and positioning strategies that are competitive, data-driven, and align with the product’s value proposition and target market. Analyze market data, competitor pricing, and customer willingness to pay to determine optimal pricing models and positioning within the market.
• Requirements and Prototypes:
Translate the product strategy into detailed requirements and prototypes that clearly articulate the desired functionality, user experience, and technical specifications. Work closely with design and engineering teams to ensure feasibility and alignment with the overall product vision.
• Product Evangelism
Act as a passionate product evangelist to build awareness and understanding of the product both internally and externally. Develop compelling messaging and communication materials to effectively communicate the product’s value proposition and benefits to target audiences.
• Customer Engagement
Represent the company by visiting customers and potential customers to solicit feedback on company products and services. Gather insights on user needs, pain points, and competitive offerings to inform product development and improvement efforts.
• Product Releases
Plan and execute product releases, including defining launch strategies, coordinating with marketing and communications teams, and managing post-launch activities.
• Cross-functional Collaboration
Work effectively with various teams across the organization, including sales, marketing, customer support, and operations, to ensure alignment and support for the product vision.
• Communication:
Effectively communicate the product vision, roadmap, and progress to stakeholders, including executive leadership, internal teams, and customers. Deliver compelling presentations and maintain clear documentation.
• Metrics and Analysis:
Define and track key product metrics to measure success and identify areas for improvement. Analyze data to understand user behavior and inform product decisions.
PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field. MBA is a plus.
• 3+ years of experience in product management, preferably in a technology-driven environment.
• Proven track record of successfully launching and managing software products.
• Strong communication, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.
• Experience with Agile work management methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban).
• Solid technical background with understanding and/or hands-on experience in software development and web technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to roll up one’s sleeves to get the job done.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for technology and innovation.
OGILVY AFRICA BELIEFS
• People need regular OS upgrades: Even the best OS will be obsolete tomorrow unless its constantly upgrades. same is true for people.
• We need more cows than milk men: We are a culture of practitioners, not manager. We contribute before we comment.
• Creative about creativity: Creativity is, and will always be, our differentiator. Creativity now includes holy trinity of Data -Content -Tech
• Diversity is a competitive advantage: New profiles, new skills, new styles of leadership make us a stronger company.
• Collaborative advantage > Competitive advantage: Find partners who are on top of their game at the skillset we need. It’s the only way to scale at the speed without pretending to have all the answers.
• Team Individual: You get a lot more done when everyone stops worrying about who gets credit at the end. Teams Succeed, individuals fail.
• Fail often, fail fast: We see intrapreneur in all our people and encourage a culture of pilots. Test, succeed and scale; or fail-fast learn, learn from the failure and start something new.
HOW TO APPLY
Ogilvy Africa is an equal opportunity employer that believes in diversity as a competitive advantage. We are committed to a fair and inclusive hiring process. To minimise unconscious biases from our hiring process, we’ve taken on an initiative to #RightTheCV (find out more by clicking here)
If your career aspirations match this exciting opportunity, please complete this application form to apply.