Assistant Director, Product Management Managed Services

Job Overview

The Assistant Director, Product Management - Managed Services is responsible for driving the growth, profitability and market positioning of the organisation's Managed Services portfolio, including Managed Network and Managed Security Services.

The role oversees the end-to-end product lifecycle, from product strategy, market analysis and business case development to solution design, launch, commercialisation and ongoing performance optimisation. Working closely with customers, technology partners, engineering, operations, sales and marketing teams, the incumbent will develop innovative service offerings, establish strategic partnerships and deliver differentiated solutions that enhance customer experience, expand market share and achieve revenue and profitability targets.

The incumbent will also lead and develop the Product Management team, shape product roadmaps and go-to-market (GTM) strategies, and identify new business opportunities to support sustainable growth and strengthen the organisation's competitive position in the managed services market.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Strategy and Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute product strategies to drive growth, profitability and market expansion across the Managed Network and Managed Security Services portfolio.

• Identify new growth opportunities, emerging market trends, customer needs and industry developments to develop innovative products and services.

• Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from conceptualisation, product modelling and planning to development, launch, commercialisation and ongoing optimisation.

• Develop and maintain product roadmaps aligned with business objectives, market demand, customer requirements and technology developments.

• Identify opportunities to enhance existing offerings, address product gaps and develop differentiated solutions that strengthen market positioning and customer value.

• Define market segmentation, target customer profiles and product positioning to maximise market penetration and portfolio growth.

• Translate product strategies into clear product requirements, service specifications and execution plans.

2. Business Development and Commercial Management

• Develop comprehensive business cases and market analyses to evaluate product feasibility, commercial viability, investment requirements and growth potential.

• Take ownership of product budgets, pricing strategies, revenue targets, profitability and overall P&L performance.

• Develop competitive pricing, product differentiation and value propositions to support successful product commercialisation.

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, market segments and industry verticals to expand the Managed Services portfolio.

• Monitor product performance against business objectives, financial targets and market expectations, implementing corrective actions where necessary.

• Evaluate market trends, competitor offerings and customer feedback to identify opportunities for revenue growth, improved margins and increased market share.

• Establish appropriate product processes and performance measures, ensuring effective execution and accountability across relevant stakeholders.

3. Go-to-Market Strategy and Product Commercialisation

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies, including product positioning, pricing, market segmentation, targeting and commercialisation plans.

• Drive the successful launch and adoption of new products and services, ensuring alignment across sales, marketing, engineering, operations and customer support teams.

• Build internal stakeholder alignment and secure buy-in for product strategies, roadmaps and business initiatives.

• Equip sales and customer-facing teams with the necessary product knowledge, value propositions and supporting materials to drive market adoption.

• Act as a product advocate, promoting awareness and understanding of the Managed Services portfolio among internal stakeholders, customers and partners.

• Engage customers to gather feedback, understand evolving requirements and identify opportunities to improve existing services or develop new offerings.

4. Solution Development and Strategic Partnerships

• Identify, design and develop differentiated managed services solutions, including integrated solution platforms, ecosystem offerings and industry-specific solutions.

• Oversee the development and enhancement of Managed Network Services, including Managed WAN/LAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN and firewall solutions, as well as Managed Security Services.

• Work closely with engineering and technical teams to translate business requirements into viable, scalable and commercially sustainable service offerings.

• Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with technology vendors, service providers and ecosystem partners to enhance solution capabilities and deliver differentiated value propositions.

• Evaluate partner capabilities, emerging technologies and potential collaboration opportunities to strengthen the organisation's service portfolio.

• Coordinate with internal teams, including operations, billing, marketing and customer support, to ensure effective service delivery and a smooth customer experience.

5. Product Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor product performance, service quality, customer satisfaction and commercial results against established targets.

• Identify performance gaps and initiate corrective actions to improve service quality, operational efficiency and customer experience.

• Establish and monitor product management processes, ensuring that key stakeholders adhere to agreed workflows, delivery timelines and quality standards.

• Drive continuous improvement across the product lifecycle, incorporating customer feedback, market insights and operational learnings into product enhancements.

• Assess product risks, resource requirements and implementation challenges to ensure successful execution and sustainable service delivery.

6. Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing Product Management team, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation and professional growth.

• Establish clear team objectives, priorities and performance expectations aligned with the organisation's business goals.

• Provide strategic direction and guidance to product managers throughout the product lifecycle.

• Build effective working relationships with senior management, customers, technology partners and internal stakeholders.

• Influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment across engineering, operations, sales, marketing, finance and customer support to achieve business outcomes.

• Represent the organisation in customer and partner engagements, gathering market intelligence and identifying opportunities for strategic collaboration and business growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Telecommunications or a related discipline.

• Extensive experience in product management, preferably within telecommunications, ICT, managed services, cloud, networking, cybersecurity or technology services.

• Proven track record in developing, launching and growing a portfolio of Managed Network and/or Managed Security Services.

• Demonstrated experience managing the full product lifecycle, from ideation and business case development to launch, commercialisation and performance optimisation.

• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in business case development, pricing, budgeting, revenue forecasting and P&L management.

• Proven ability to develop product strategies, roadmaps and go-to-market plans that drive revenue growth, profitability and market share.

• Experience identifying new market opportunities, developing differentiated service offerings and establishing strategic technology partnerships.

• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, executive management, customers and technology partners.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, sales, marketing, finance and customer support.

• Prior people management experience, with the ability to lead, mentor and develop high-performing product management teams.

Knowledge and Skills

Business and Commercial Acumen

• Strong understanding of managed services business models, recurring revenue streams and service commercialisation.

• Proficiency in business case development, financial modelling, pricing strategy, budgeting, forecasting and P&L management.

• Strong capabilities in market analysis, competitive intelligence, customer segmentation and portfolio planning.

• Commercial negotiation skills and experience managing strategic vendors and partners.

Product Management

• In-depth knowledge of product management methodologies, lifecycle management and service development best practices.

• Ability to translate business strategy and customer needs into product requirements, roadmaps and execution plans.

• Experience developing product positioning, pricing, differentiation and go-to-market strategies.

• Strong understanding of customer experience and customer-centric product development.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and drive product initiatives from concept through to commercial delivery.

Technical and Industry Knowledge

• Strong understanding of Managed Network Services, including WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN and firewall solutions.

• Knowledge of Managed Security Services and cybersecurity service offerings.

• Familiarity with telecommunications infrastructure, ICT platforms, cloud technologies, enterprise networking and related technology solutions.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical teams to develop scalable, secure and commercially viable managed services.

Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Strong leadership, team development and performance management capabilities.

• Ability to influence stakeholders, secure buy-in and drive cross-functional collaboration.

• Excellent relationship management skills, including experience engaging customers, vendors and strategic partners.

• Ability to lead initiatives in a matrix environment and align diverse stakeholders towards common objectives.

Personal and Communication Skills

• Strategic thinker with a strong growth, innovation and entrepreneurial mindset.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

• Results-oriented, with strong execution discipline and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Creative and commercially minded, with the ability to develop differentiated solutions and identify new business opportunities.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to prepare and present business cases, product strategies and commercial recommendations to senior management.

• Strong customer-facing and product evangelism capabilities, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts in clear business terms.