📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Product Lead (Retention & Growth)
🔹 Company: Takealot Group
🔹 Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Product Management
🔹 Date Posted: June 25, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote & On-site)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining and driving the product vision and strategy for retention and growth
- Leading the full product development lifecycle, from problem framing to execution
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional customer and business outcomes
- Leveraging data and experimentation to continuously improve the product
- Serving as the thought leader and champion of the digital customer experience within the domain
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, customer empathy, and analytical depth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering impact through exceptional product thinking and strong execution.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Define a compelling long-term product vision (3–5 years) and strategy for your product area, aligned with business goals and grounded in customer needs
✅ Own and maintain an actionable product roadmap that clearly prioritizes features, enhancements, and strategic initiatives
✅ Lead the full product development lifecycle, collaborating with cross-functional partners to run discovery, define requirements, drive delivery, support experimentation and user testing, and ensure high-quality outcomes
✅ Serve as the thought leader and champion of the digital customer experience within your domain, representing your product vision to internal stakeholders and senior leadership
✅ Drive alignment and collaboration across disciplines, including engineering, design, analytics, marketing, and other areas, to ensure coherence, scalability, and a seamless experience across the platform
✅ Leverage data and experimentation to continuously improve the product, analyzing performance, testing hypotheses, monitoring key metrics, and using customer insights to identify and deliver impactful optimizations
ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed above are essential for driving the success of the retention and growth pillar within the customer journey. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and thrive under pressure.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Minimum bachelor’s degree, preferably in engineering
Experience: 8+ years of product management experience, with at least 3–5 years focused on product leadership/strategy (Bonus if loyalty/growth related strategy)
Required Skills:
- Vision & Strategic Thinking: Defining a clear, ambitious product vision and translating it into a cohesive strategy across multiple teams
- Product Craft & Execution: Envisioning, building, and scaling customer-facing products, ideally in an online marketplace or e-commerce context
- Customer-Obsessed Problem Solving: Leading with curiosity and empathy, constantly seeking to understand user needs, pain points, and behaviors
- Commercial and Market Acumen: Using data, user insights, and competitive intelligence to assess opportunities and make informed decisions
- Analytical Rigor: Interpreting both quantitative and qualitative signals, with understanding of growth loops, funnels, A/B testing, and experimentation frameworks
- Thoughtful Leadership: Leading with humility, curiosity, and conviction, mentoring and developing product talent, fostering a high-performing, customer-focused culture
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with loyalty, growth, and retention strategy, growth models such as PLG (Product-Led Growth)
ASSUMPTION: The required and preferred qualifications listed above are essential for success in this role. Candidates should have a strong background in product management, with a proven track record of delivering impact through exceptional product thinking and strong execution.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The salary range for this role is market-related and allows for full flexibility according to the candidate's needs. The exact salary will be determined based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications.
Benefits:
- Staff Discount: Millions of products across 28 departments
- Birthday Leave: Cake Day all the way. Enjoy your day off - you deserve it
- Remote Working: Love water cooler chats and working from home? Takealot.com offers a hybrid working model for the best of both worlds
- Mentorship Programme: Learn from the best to become one of the best
- Online Learning: Share ideas and grow with global industry leaders, and upskill with free access to courses on MyAcademy, Udacity, Coursera, and more
- Confidential Counselling, Legal Support, and Financial Guidance: Free, anytime, anywhere
- Free Parking: No more 5km fun runs to your desk (unless you want to)
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range and benefits listed above are based on industry standards for a product lead role in South Africa. The exact salary and benefits will be determined based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: E-commerce and Online Retail
Company Size: 201-500 employees
Founded: 2014 (as Mr. Delivery, acquired by Takealot.com in 2014)
Company Description:
- Takealot.com is a leading South African online retailer, offering a wide range of products, including electronics, fashion, homeware, and groceries
- The company is part of the global internet group, Naspers, and operates as a subsidiary of Takealot Group
- Takealot.com is known for its exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and fast delivery options
Company Specialties:
- E-commerce and Online Retail
- Logistics and Delivery Services
- Customer Experience and Service
- Technology and Innovation
Company Website: takealot.com
ASSUMPTION: Takealot.com is a well-established and successful e-commerce company in South Africa, with a strong focus on customer experience and service. The company offers a wide range of products and services, making it an attractive employer for candidates seeking a challenging and rewarding role in the e-commerce industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid to Senior Level
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Product
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Remote & On-site) with flexibility for remote work
Growth Opportunities:
- Career progression within the Product Management function
- Expansion of responsibilities based on performance and company growth
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive significant business outcomes
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a real impact on the company's success. The ideal candidate will be proactive, ambitious, and eager to take on new challenges and responsibilities.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (Remote & On-site)
Office Location(s): 10 Rua Vasco da Gama St, Cape Town, Western Cape 8001, ZA
Geographic Context:
- Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, with a diverse and vibrant culture
- The city is known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, and wine regions, offering a high quality of life for residents
- Cape Town has a well-established tech industry, with numerous startups, incubators, and tech hubs
Work Schedule: Flexible, with the option to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: Cape Town offers a unique blend of urban and natural environments, making it an attractive location for professionals seeking a high quality of life and a dynamic work environment. The hybrid work arrangement provides flexibility for employees to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
- On-site or virtual interview with the Product Team
- Final interview with the Head of Product
- Background check and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and product vision
- Analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Customer empathy and user-centered design
- Leadership and team management skills
- Technical skills and product development expertise
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities
- Research the company and the product team to demonstrate your understanding of the business and the role
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with loyalty, growth, and retention strategy, as well as your familiarity with growth models such as PLG (Product-Led Growth)
ATS Keywords: Product Management, Retention, Growth, Strategy, Leadership, Customer Experience, E-commerce, Online Retail, Data Analysis, A/B Testing, Experimentation, User Testing, Product Development, Stakeholder Management, Team Management, Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving, Market Acumen, Customer Empathy, Loyalty, Growth, PLG
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, analytical skills, customer empathy, and leadership abilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in product management, with a proven track record of delivering impact through exceptional product thinking and strong execution.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Product Management: Asana, JIRA, Trello, or similar
- Data Analysis: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar
- User Testing: UsabilityHub, UserTesting.com, or similar
- Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar
- Design: Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, or similar
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed above are commonly used in product management roles. The ideal candidate will have experience with at least some of these tools and be willing to learn and adapt to new technologies as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric: Putting customers first in all decisions and actions
- Collaborative: Working together to achieve shared goals and drive success
- Innovative: Embracing change and continuously improving
- Accountable: Taking ownership and responsibility for our actions and outcomes
- Integrity: Acting with honesty, fairness, and transparency in all our interactions
Work Style:
- Agile and dynamic, with a focus on rapid iteration and continuous improvement
- Collaborative and inclusive, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
- Data-driven, with a focus on using data and analytics to inform decision-making and drive outcomes
- Customer-focused, with a deep understanding of customer needs, pain points, and behaviors
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Takealot.com's customer-centric value, and how have you demonstrated this in your previous roles?
- How do you approach collaboration and teamwork, and how have you contributed to a collaborative work environment in the past?
- How do you balance innovation and accountability in your work, and how have you demonstrated this in your previous roles?
ASSUMPTION: Takealot.com values candidates who are customer-centric, collaborative, innovative, accountable, and integrity-driven. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate these values in their previous roles and be a strong cultural fit for the organization.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing stakeholder expectations and balancing competing priorities
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines and high pressure
- Navigating a large, complex organization with multiple teams and cross-functional dependencies
- Adapting to change and embracing new technologies and processes
ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed above are common in product management roles, particularly in a large, dynamic organization like Takealot.com. The ideal candidate will be proactive, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on retention and growth within the customer journey, requiring a strong background in loyalty, growth, and retention strategy
- Similar roles in other companies may focus on different aspects of the customer journey, such as acquisition, onboarding, or engagement
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior product management roles, such as Head of Product or Chief Product Officer
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to specialize in retention and growth strategy within the customer journey. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in loyalty, growth, and retention strategy and be eager to take on this specialized role.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a loyalty program to increase customer retention and lifetime value
- Conducting user research and usability testing to identify and address pain points in the customer journey
- Optimizing the onboarding process to improve activation rates and reduce churn
ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed above are representative of the types of projects a Product Lead (Retention & Growth) might work on at Takealot.com. The ideal candidate will have experience with similar projects and be eager to take on new challenges and initiatives.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does Takealot.com approach retention and growth strategy, and how does this role fit into the broader product vision for the company?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does Takealot.com support the professional development and growth of its product management team?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the retention and growth pillar within the customer journey, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Takealot.com foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, and how can this role contribute to that culture?
ASSUMPTION: The key questions listed above are designed to help the candidate understand the role, the company, and the team better. The ideal candidate will be proactive, curious, and eager to ask insightful questions throughout the interview process.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities
- Research the company and the product team to demonstrate your understanding of the business and the role
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with loyalty, growth, and retention strategy, as well as your familiarity with growth models such as PLG (Product-Led Growth)
- Follow up with the Hiring Manager one week after your final interview to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
