Vacancy: Product Manager: Lenovo (Commercial)

Product Manager: Lenovo (Commercial)

Role Description

Location: Midrand, South Africa

Full-time and Office based

Reporting Line: Lenovo Business Unit Manager

Job Purpose

The Product Manager plays a vital role in aligning the product with business objectives while maximizing
the return on capital invested in Lenovo. This role involves managing stock levels and sellout strategies to
ensure the business meets its targets. Acting as the key liaison between sales and the vendor, the
Product Manager fosters collaboration and supports the overall business strategy.

Recruitment Specialist

[email protected]

• Business Strategy Development and Execution
  o Increase customer coverage/count for vendor and Pinnacle
  o Increase vendor product coverage for vendor
  o Increase geographic coverage for vendor
• Achieving required targets
  o Achieving monthly GP target
  o Order products as per the Lenovo strategy
  o Manage the sell-out target, set by Lenovo
  o Achieve sell-out target, set by Pinnacle
  o Achieve and drive stock and aged stock targets
  o Management of an OTB/Stock & Sellout Budget
• Order management
  o Ensure orders are placed on vendor timeously
  o Ensure quotes are fast and accurate
  o Monitor and update ETA and delivery information
• Produce and manage product support and reporting
  o Responsible for producing Lenovo costing/quotes for Commercial and
• Relationship customers
  o Provide reports and target tracking as required
  o Understand and implement Pinnacle strategy and policies in alignment with product
  o Provide full product support (including but not limited to: Market and Competitor Research, PDF Spec Sheets, Web Info, Sales Support, Sales Tools and Engagement)
  o Produce and review product pricing information.
• Manage the profitability of products
  o Assist sales team with quotations
  oUnderstand Lenovo’s compensation programs
  o Provide sales support to Pinnacle sales teams
• Training
  o Stay constantly updated with all developments and trends in the market
  oUnderstand technological roadmaps
  oProvide constant training for Pinnacle employees
• Logistics
  o Maintain ERP system ensuring system is up to date with product codes and pricing agreements
  o Attend weekly sales meetings and assist in resolving stock issues
• Manage stock efficiently
  o Manage stock within budget as well as weeks of inventory
  o Manage aging stock within budget
  o Drive active and aging stock
  o Understand the logistics process
  o Responsible for the order managing process to maintain both service and stock levels
  o Stock Profiling in line with business requirements
• Build and maintain internal and external relationships with all stakeholders
  o Manage vendor relationship and align strategically with the vendor
  o Manage retailer relationships and align with both the retailer and the internal sales team
  o Liaise with suppliers for promotional funds and materials
  o Maintain relationships with customers to understand their requirements and incorporate into the stock forecasting
  o Engage with all relevant stakeholders at Pinnacle and subsidiary companies
• Cross Departmental Engagement
  o Engage with different departments to ensure smooth interaction/collaboration on all levels of product experience (Technical, Warehouse, Sales, Management, Marketing)
• Vendor Sales Process Management
  o Deal registration
  o Discount management
  o Lobbying support for partners at the vendor
  o Margin management (ensuring the integrity of channel pricing)
  o Vendor sales funnel management & reporting funnel to management
  o Enlist vendor support to drive opportunity to closure
  o Maintain relationships with key vendor contacts
• Partner and Vendor Focus
  o Solution focus for each partner
  o Vendor focus on each product
• Financial and Inventory Management
  o Take ultimate responsibility for the GP, stock, and aging targets
  o Provide marketing plans and GTM plans for the sales team
  o Liaise with vendor and industry to understand product and market trends and amend plans accordingly to ensure efficient product life cycle management and maximize opportunities
  o Clearly communicate product, market strategy, and objectives
  o Monitor inventory (inventory turns, stock aging, stock days, obsolescence, stockouts)
  to meet all key performance indicators
  o Negotiate targets, rebates, co-op marketing funds, stock rotation, pricing, and supply
  o Manage back orders and warranty returns
• Customer Query Management
  o Ensure that customer-related queries are effectively dealt with and solved
• Team Support
  o Assist the team with other related functions when and where required
• Reporting
  o Submit weekly/monthly/quarterly reports as required by management, vendors, and analysts – including Excel: Requiring high analytical skills to analyze and present data effectively

Experience and Knowledge:

• 3+ years of IT Sales or Product Management experience is essential
• Previous IT Distribution experience will be an advantage
• Knowledge of CRM and ERP systems is preferred
• Knowledge of the process is in sales e.g., RMA’s & deliveries
• Stock profiling and ordering
• Previous experience selling and working with customers at all levels of an organization including high-profile customers
• Experience in identifying sales opportunities and using skill set to develop solutions
• Working experience in a customer service environment
• Experience preparing and presenting quotations 

Skills and Education:

• Matric with mathematics is essential
• A tertiary qualification and/or a relevant diploma in Sales, Marketing, Logistics or IT is preferred
• Advanced skills in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Must have MS Excel Skills at a minimum of an Intermediate level and be able to use formulas, calculations, pivot tables and V-Lookups in a spreadsheet
• Strategic thinker with strong planning and execution skills
• Proven sales skills/ability
• Excellent verbal and written business communication skills
• Good sales presentation skills
• Able to complete intermediate calculations (ability to work with numbers)
• Organized individual who is deadline-driven with good time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Good attention to detail
• Developed negotiation skills

• Able to work in a pressured environment, to chase and meet targets
• Passionate about sales
• Interested in IT products and technology
• Interested in continuously learning about technology products
• Confident, self-motivated, and display a high level of energy
• Customer service orientated
• Enjoy collaboration and able to work as part of a team
• High attention to detail
• Willing to go the extra mile to deliver the exceptional during month-end deadlines
• Strong administrative abilities
• Self-managed

Compliance Competencies

• Perform all duties with integrity, to the highest ethical standards, and in compliance with all relevant legal, contractual and other requirements as mandated by the Company Code of
  Conduct.
• Keep up to date with changes in applicable compliance obligations, controls and measures relevant to the role.

All applications in the form of a detailed CV must be forwarded to:

Recruitment Specialist
[email protected]