Product Marketing Manager

General Manager – Product & Marketing

Location: South Africa (Remote or Hybrid Work Flexibility)

Department: Sales & Marketing

Reports To: Regional/Global Head of Sales & Marketing

Job Purpose:

The GM, Product & Marketing Manager will lead product strategy and end-to-end marketing execution in the South African market for a global automotive leader. This role bridges the gap between OEM global product strategy and local execution, driving vehicle launches, marketing campaigns, and product lifecycle performance. The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking, deep automotive product knowledge, and a strong command of digital and traditional marketing to grow brand presence and market share.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Management:

• Act as the key interface with the global product team, ensuring regional alignment on product features, positioning, and lifecycle plans.
• Analyze market trends, consumer demand, and competitive activity to recommend product mix, inventory levels, and pricing strategies.
• Lead vehicle launches across South Africa, ensuring readiness across dealerships, marketing, and sales teams.
• Provide in-depth product training to internal stakeholders and dealers to ensure strong product knowledge and effective selling points.
• Support long-term product planning, volume forecasting, and portfolio management aligned with business goals.

Marketing Strategy & Execution:

• Develop and implement comprehensive go-to-market strategies for vehicle models, including above-the-line and below-the-line campaigns.
• Manage local marketing budgets, media plans, and agency partnerships for advertising, PR, and events.
• Drive digital initiatives: manage website content, SEO/SEM, social media, and digital media performance.
• Analyze campaign effectiveness using data dashboards and KPIs to ensure optimal return on marketing investment.
• Organize and lead product activations, test drive events, exhibitions, and dealer engagement programs.

Customer Insights & CRM:

• Leverage customer data and insights to tailor marketing messages and support retention and loyalty programs.
• Collaborate with sales and aftersales teams to build seamless customer experiences across the entire purchase journey.
• Oversee CRM usage and ensure customer lifecycle communications are timely, relevant, and brand-aligned.
• Gather VOC (voice of customer) feedback to influence product refinements and future campaign strategies.

Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Automotive Management or related field (MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in automotive product and/or marketing management, ideally within OEMs or dealerships.
• Proven success in leading product launches, campaign management, and team collaboration.
• Deep understanding of automotive retail environments, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes in South Africa.
• Strong grasp of digital marketing channels, CRM tools, campaign analytics, and consumer engagement platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.