Senior Product Manager

Location: Woodmead, Johannesburg

Senior Product Manager - L'Oréal Luxe

Hello, we’re L’Oréal. L’Oréal is present in 150 markets on five continents. For more than a century, L’Oréal has devoted itself solely to ‘Create beauty that moves the world’; it is now the industry world leader with €42 billion consolidated sales. Together, we solve complex challenges at scale, while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

A Day in the Life

As a Senior Product Manager for L'Oréal Luxe, you will be a key player in driving the success of our luxury beauty brands in the South African market. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, you will lead the development and execution of product strategies that resonate with our discerning consumers. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of luxury beauty, working with a passionate and diverse team.

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Define and implement a robust brand strategy for the assigned portfolio, ensuring total alignment with the global brand identity and the divisional objectives set by the General Manager and Marketing Manager.
• Act as a strategic partner to the business, ensuring all brand activities contribute to long-term equity and commercial growth
• Formulate forecasts aligned to the project strategies, retailer promotions, peak trading periods and developing trends.
• Analyse market trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.
• Manage the portfolio lifecycle from ideation to launch, ensuring seamless execution and optimal performance.
• Build an A&P budget and track activities to ensure the brand profit delivery.

Portfolio Innovations:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to launch innovative and differentiated portfolios that meet local consumer needs and preferences.
• Collaborate with R&I teams to conduct market research and testing to validate portfolio concepts, claims and optimize communication to the consumer on the formulations.
• Monitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.
• Work closely with the sales team to ensure effective portfolio distribution and merchandising.
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Campaign Management and Execution:

• Independently develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns as well as evaluate post-campaign performance to drive brand awareness, trial, and sales.
• Manage the portfolio budget and track key performance indicators to measure campaign effectiveness.
• Ensure brilliant execution across all touchpoints by fostering seamless cross-functional collaboration with other métiers (Digital, PR, Commercial, and Supply Chain).
• Collaborate closely with the CMO team to maximize Share of Voice (SOV) and ensure the brand remains at the forefront of the consumer's mind through innovative and cost-effective media strategies.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration:

• Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including brand teams, sales teams, and external agencies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and effective execution of portfolio strategies.
• Communicate portfolio performance and key initiatives to N+1 and N+2.
• Craft and deliver high-impact retailer strategy presentations, utilizing storytelling and data to build compelling business cases for our trade partners.
• Proactively support the N+1 in the preparation of materials for top management meetings, ensuring the brand is represented with clarity and excellence at a senior level.
• Act as a mentor and leader for N-1 and Interns, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the team.

Financial Stewardship & Performance

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Advertising & Promotion (A&P) budget, making data-driven investment choices that optimize brand performance and ROI.
• Lead the annual budget planning and forecasting process, identifying market trends to ensure the brand remains agile and responsive.

We Are Looking For

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Product Manager with a passion for luxury beauty and a proven track record of success. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• A Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Management, or a related field.
• Proven experience in portfolio management, preferably within the luxury beauty industry.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret market data, consumer insights, forecasts and manage a brand P&L
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with stakeholders at all levels.
• A passion for luxury beauty and a deep understanding of consumer trends and preferences.

Who We Are

L’Oréal Luxe is the global leader in luxury beauty and fine fragrance. With more than 35,000 luxury beauty experts across the globe, our mission is to craft the best luxury beauty products and experiences in fragrance, skincare and makeup. Through a portfolio of 25 aspirational and complementary brands, L’Oréal Luxe expresses its unique vision for luxury beauty: La Culture de l’Écart.

We’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and to advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.