Product Manager – Cloud and Data Center Services

Departments
Enterprise Products & Innovation Department Enterprise Business Unit. 
Reporting Senior Manager- Cloud and Data Services
Job Purpose The role holder is responsible for propositions development, packaging, and go-to-market (GTM) activities in support of Safaricom Business cloud and data centre services strategy in the Enterprise Business development team of the Enterprise business unit. The individual will be responsible for identifying market size, preparation of business plans, and assisting in pricing recommendations for the defined product and service portfolio. He or she will also develop and deliver the strategy and roadmap for the cloud and data centre services products portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
• Develop and deliver the strategy and roadmap for the cloud and data center services products portfolio;• Create and manage winning partnerships with key stakeholders including Technology and service vendors, commercial partners and internal support teams to create and deliver end-to-end innovation value chains for enterprise customers;• Stays updated on relevant industry, technology and market trends and combines this with a needs analysis of prospective customers and market segments to identify winning propositions that deliver to the business unit objectives of revenue, retention, innovation and CDI;• Formulate, direct and coordinate products marketing activities and policies to promote products and services, working with advertising and promotion managers;• Identify, develop, and evaluate Go to market strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, cost and markup factors;• Implement market definition and discovery studies and analysis of the findings;• Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, return-on-investment and profit-loss projections;• Locates or proposes potential business deals by contacting potential partners; discovering and exploring opportunities;• Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction;• Ensure transfer and sustenance of products knowledge among the Enterprise and Customer support teams including account managers, client service managers, deployment and support teams before launch and thereafter during the product lifecycle; • Use sales forecasting and strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends;• Perform needs analysis of prospective customers and market segments to identify winning propositions for a products portfolio that delivers to the business unit objectives of revenue, retention and innovation CDIs;• Manage new features or product development projects following internal Time to Market (TTM) methodology;• Establish and maintain good relationships with IT & Network to analyze actual Product’s performances, possible improvements, new features or services;• Manage the products portfolio by: Preparing end of Product life; Improve existing Product with new features, services, options and Launch new Product developments.• Ensure high levels of quality and customer experience in launched products through documented, simple, and well tested sales, provisioning and support processes;
Role requirements;
• Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university preferably in Marketing and Sales; • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems;• Experience in ICT projects management. Certification by a recognized professional body will be an added advantage;• Experience in managing cloud and or data centre products portfolio is an added advantage;• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods; • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction;• Excellent written and verbal communication skills coupled with good listening and critical reasoning skills.