Product Manager - Site Automation Cape Town Johannesburg & Nairobi (12 months contract)

About the position

Our client is looking for a Product Manager - Site Automation who will be a specialist in this field, responsible for defining and implementing the strategy to fully automate our forecourts and shops businesses. The role will aid the identification of the right partners for hardware, software and support based on the business requirements and the deployment of the chosen solution across CO and DO sites. This role is critical to ensuring the continued growth of our Retail business as well as automation being a key dependency for data, insights, operational efficiencies and CVP deployments.

The prospective incumbent should have proven experience in the Fuels retailing business that has implemented Site Automation previously and therefore understands the challenges and has the experiences and best practice for us to follow.

This position is part of a broader initiative to enhance the Retail offer, ensuring the right customer experience across payments and loyalty. As such this role requires close collaboration with local OUs, technology partners, and internal stakeholders, primarily IT organisation responsible for project management, connectivity and support.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience and leadership in site automation choices and implementation in a global capacity.
• Bachelor's degree from a recognised University preferred
• Strong understanding of POS (Point of Sale) systems, terminals, BOS, HOS, Forecourt controllers, ATGs, payment networks, and loyalty program integrations.
• Experience working in a multi-country environment, preferably across Africa or other emerging markets.
• Hands-on experience with vendor management, procurement, and SLA negotiations.
• Strong project management skills, including stakeholder engagement, risk management, and reporting.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and ensure execution within tight timelines.
• Experience in change management and staff training for technology rollouts in a retail or fuel station environment.
• Willingness to travel as required to oversee deployments and support local teams.
• French Language skills would be an advantage

Desired Skills:

• Understanding and experience of site automation across the shop forecourt QSRs in the retail petroleum industry
• Have a strong working knowledge of site automation systems and solutions vendors strengths and weaknesses
• Experience in working with organisations across multiple geographies and languages and understanding the intricacies of project delivery across multiple cultures
• Ability to problem solve utilising a knowledge base focused on replication.
• Strong analytical problem-solving troubleshooting and resolution skills
• Proven ability to work with limited supervision whilst exhibiting strong time management skills and delivering with a sense of urgency and attention to detail
• Ability to demonstrate supportive relationships with peers customers and third parties.
• Ability to manage and extract maximum value from disparate teams
• Proven ability working in a complex and ever-changing environment

Desired Work Experience:

• 5 to 10 years

Desired Qualification Level:

• Degree