Product Specialist
Head Office
Permanent
Product Planning
We are looking for a Product Specialist – ICAUR to join our product planning team and work closely with the Product Director to support the execution of our product development strategy and ensure the successful delivery of market-relevant vehicles for Chery International. In this role, the successful candidate will play a key part in gathering and analyzing market intelligence, consumer insights, and regulatory requirements to inform vehicle specifications and product positioning. The candidate will also contribute to cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Sales, and Manufacturing to translate market needs into actionable technical requirements. To succeed in this position, the ideal candidate should be analytical, detail-oriented, and deeply familiar with the South African automotive market. Strong communication skills and the ability to bridge technical and commercial teams are essential.
Duties and Responsibilites
- Conduct in-depth research with end users, dealers, and industry experts through field interviews, focus groups, and on-site observations.
- Build and maintain demand-side databases based on research findings.
- Analyze local consumer behavior, including feature preferences, price sensitivity, and usage scenarios, to define and refine product specifications.
- Design and distribute surveys across multiple channels, including email, web, in-app, social media, and phone.
- Monitor survey response rates and implement tactics to improve participation.
- Maintain an organized and up-to-date database of responses for ongoing trend analysis and reporting.
- Support the Product Director in obtaining national certifications (e.g., SABS, NRCS) and ensuring emissions compliance.
- Monitor and report on regulatory updates and policy changes, including SACU automotive standards, and their impact on product strategy.
- Track competitor activities (e.g., Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford), with a focus on pricing, product features, and market share movements.
- Prepare and present monthly reports in English: 'South African Automotive Market & Competitive Landscape Analysis.'
- Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Sales teams to translate market requirements into clear, technical product specifications.
- Lead and support local validation tests (e.g., high-temperature/high-altitude adaptation, road durability testing).
Experience and Qualifications
Requirements:
- Minimum 3 years of experience in automotive OEM product development or planning.
- Proven exposure to the full vehicle lifecycle.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the South African automotive market, including competitive positioning and regulatory environment (please provide specific examples in your application).
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Design, Business, or a related field (preferred).
Skills:
- Strong analytical abilities; proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Ability to correlate technical vehicle specifications (e.g., powertrain, infotainment systems) with consumer preferences and market performance.
- User Empathy: Able to build rapport with a wide range of stakeholders and uncover unspoken customer needs.
- Analytical Rigor: Comfortable interpreting both quantitative and qualitative data for decision-making.
- Communication: Skilled in conveying complex information between technical and business teams through clear and concise reporting and presentations.
Please forward your CV to recruitment@chery.co.za and use reference PRODUCTSPEC.