Executive: Product Operations

Posted 7 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Cape Town, Western Cape, ZAF
In-Office
Senior level
Fashion • Retail
The Role
Leads the Product Operations portfolio, overseeing governance, quality, compliance, supplier performance, product lifecycle execution, systems, sourcing strategy, transformation initiatives, and cross-functional integration. The role drives operational excellence, regulatory adherence, supplier partnerships, tender governance, continuous improvement, and strategic business outcomes across a retail product environment.
Summary Generated by Built In

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for operational excellence? Reporting to the Chief Executive: Product, you'll lead our Product Operations portfolio, driving quality, compliance, supplier performance, and operational excellence.

If you're driven by creating value through operational excellence, quality leadership, and meaningful partnerships, and want to play a key role in bringing value to life for our customers, we'd love to hear from you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

You’ll be accountable for:

  • Strategic leadership and Portfolio Governance: Provide strategic leadership and governance across the Product Operations portfolio, ensuring organisational performance, risk management, leadership capability, and alignment to business objectives.

  • Quality, Compliance & Technical Governance: Provide strategic oversight of product quality, regulatory compliance, technical standards, and governance frameworks to ensure consistent product excellence, customer satisfaction, and adherence to business and legislative requirements.

  • Product Operations Execution: Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle by driving effective execution of the product calendar, critical path, and operational transformation initiatives to enhance speed to market, product quality, compliance, and business performance.

  • Product Systems & Processes: Custodian of key Product systems, including Centric, as well as the documentation, implementation and continuous improvement of Product processes, including training and adoption across the teams.

  • Supplier & Sourcing Strategy: Define the supplier and sourcing strategy, fostering strategic partnerships that optimise quality, capability, innovation, cost efficiency, and long-term business performance.

  • Cross-functional integration: Ensuring Product processes and systems are effectively aligned and integrated with key stakeholders, particularly Supply Chain and Marketing.

  • Projects & Transformation: Oversight and delivery of key Product projects and initiatives that support the broader Product strategy.

  • Tender Governance: Oversight of the tender process post product development and Trend Manager handover, ensuring strong governance, commercial rigour and execution through to supplier award.

JOB RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

  • A minimum of 8 years' senior leadership experience, including 3 years at Executive or General Management level.

  • Proven success leading multiple product, sourcing, quality, or operational functions within a retail environment.

  • Strong expertise in product quality, textiles, laboratory standards, and supplier quality management.

  • Experience overseeing end-to-end product lifecycle management, critical path execution, and supporting business systems.

  • Significant global sourcing experience, including supplier management, commercial agreements, and compliance requirements.

  • A strong understanding of ESG, ethical sourcing, EPR, and regulatory frameworks.

  • A proven track record of driving operational transformation, change leadership, and continuous improvement.

  • The ability to build high-performing teams, strengthen governance, and deliver strategic business outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

  • A relevant degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Retail, Textiles, or a related discipline, with a postgraduate qualification preferred.

If you ready to lead with heart, inspire with product and help shape the next chapter of our brand, we’d love to hear from you.

Applicants will need to be prepared to undergo evaluations / assessments and interviews if and as required.

POLICY: In terms of Company policy for appointments and promotions, preference will be given to candidates who will enhance the diversity of the team and contribute to employment equity within the Company provided that the competencies and minimum requirements for the position have been met.

Skills Required

  • Minimum 8 years of senior leadership experience
  • At least 3 years at Executive or General Management level
  • Experience leading multiple product, sourcing, quality, or operational functions within a retail environment
  • Expertise in product quality, textiles, laboratory standards, and supplier quality management
  • Experience overseeing end-to-end product lifecycle management and critical path execution
  • Experience supporting business systems, including Centric
  • Significant global sourcing experience
  • Experience with supplier management, commercial agreements, and compliance requirements
  • Understanding of ESG, ethical sourcing, EPR, and regulatory frameworks
  • Track record driving operational transformation, change leadership, and continuous improvement
  • Ability to build high-performing teams, strengthen governance, and deliver strategic business outcomes
  • Relevant degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Retail, Textiles, or a related discipline
  • Postgraduate qualification
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The Company
15,254 Employees
Year Founded: 1916

What We Do

Ackermans is a South African value-fashion retailer, founded in 1916 and now operating more than 850 stores across five countries. It sells affordable clothing and related products for women, men, children and babies, alongside homeware, cellular offerings and selected financial products. Guided by its “Bringing Value to Life” purpose, the company focuses on accessibility, affordability, customer value and family-oriented retail.

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