Job Opportunity // Product Manager with Jenga

Job Opportunity // Product Manager with Jenga

Our member Jenga, is looking for a Product Manager who is passionate about building products that customers love to join their team and to drive their proprietary products.

In this role, you will join a dynamic and fast-paced environment and work with cross-functional teams to design, build and roll-out products that deliver our clients’ vision and strategy. You should be a team player with a keen eye for detail and problem-solving skills. Your goal will be to help our software engineers build efficient programs and systems that serve user needs.

Your key responsibilities will include owning the product vision, developing the product road map and manage the delivery of the product with a team of software engineers. In doing so, you will need to navigate interdependencies, team dynamics, and one-off challenges, while meeting a deadline with limited resources. Prior experience as a developer is a strong plus.

About Jenga

Jenga is a start-up focused on solving two major problems facing businesses globally and locally:

1. Bridge the global tech talent gap, one African developer at a time
2. Enable the growth of African companies through technology

To bridge the global talent gap, we identify talented Kenya software engineers, developers, and placing them to work on short or long-term engagements for global tech companies. Developers are trained on technical and soft skills before being placed and deliver for clients whilst working remotely from Jenga’s offices in Nairobi. In doing so, Jenga provides access to professional software engineering opportunities which Kenyan developers would otherwise not have.

When not working for global tech companies, Jenga developers are either engaged by local African companies to deliver web applications and ERPs or working on Jenga proprietary products and solutions empowering African businesses.

Responsibilities

• Define product vision/strategy and create buy-in for the product vision both internally and with key external partners. Act as a product evangelist to build awareness and understanding
• Translate product into a detailed product-map with requirements and prototypes which will serve as the plan for executing the product strategy
• Break the strategic-level plans down into actionable tasks, goals, teams, and deadlines. Scope and prioritize activities based on business and customer impact
• Deliver products that meet and exceed the expectations of your team, managers, and clients
• Work closely with engineering teams to deliver with quick time-to-market and optimal resources
• Drive product launches and manage product lifecycle
• Gain a deep understanding of customer experience, identify and fill product gaps and generate new ideas that grow market share, improve customer experience and drive growth for our clients. Visit customers to solicit feedback on clients’ products and services.
• Commit to continued professional growth
• Potentially represent the clients by visiting customers to solicit feedback on clients’ products and services
• Share your knowledge and positive approach to your fellow Jenga team members

Location: Our offices are at Nairobi Garage, Pinetree Plaza, Nairobi, Kenya (maps)

Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00-18:00

Requirements

Skills

You have:

• Proven work experience in product management
• A proven track record of managing all aspects of a successful product throughout its lifecycle
• A proven ability to develop product and effectively communicate recommendations to executive management
• A solid technical background with understanding and/or hands-on experience in software development and web technologies
• Had exposure to agile methodologies
• An in-depth understanding of the entire web development process (design, development and deployment)
• A proven ability to develop product and effectively communicate recommendations to executive management
• Outstanding problem-solving skills and willingness to roll up one’s sleeves to get the job done
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A degree in Computer Science, IT or a related field from an accredited university is a strong plus
• Prior experience as a developer delivering from clients is a strong plus

Traits

You:

• Enjoy collaborating and problem-solving. You are a strong team player you know how to get a team to work well together
• Have the ability to build rapport and communicate with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Have a vibrant personality and strong communication skills (English; verbal and written)
• Have strong opinions but are open to consensual decision-making
• Are humble (there is no room for brilliant jerks at Jenga)
• Have an ability to perform well in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Have the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and limited supervision
• Want to understand the commercial impact and play nicely with product
• Are strongly motivated by our mission and want to have a tangible impact on the African businesses and tech communities

Benefits

Why Jenga?

• Work in a team with diverse backgrounds and an open-communication culture
• Learn by being provided with regular and constructive feedback, mentoring, training opportunities and our in-house knowledge base
• Gain valuable experience through your involvement in projects across multiple industries and business sizes
• Thrive with a high level of autonomy and responsibility in a small, agile, and growing team, to demonstrate your skills and grow through merit
• Deliver a tangible impact on customer satisfaction, as Jenga is committed to finding the right solution for the right client and delivering it with the highest level of professional standards
• Promote the growth of African businesses, by equipping them with the right tools and support to unleash their potential
• Be yourself! We embrace difference and know that if you can be yourself at work, you’ll be happier, more motivated and creative. We want you to bring your whole self to work, to have your own perspective and know that you belong.

Job Benefits

• Competitive salary, that will grow as you grow
• 21 days holiday – and we will make you take it. Burnout is not big or clever.
• Limitless challenge and scope for development. You are joining us at a very exciting time and have the opportunity to take this role in your preferred direction as we grow.
• As much of our time as you need. You professional growth is important to us, and we want to help you to be awesome.
• Sensible problems that will add real value to real people. Work without impact is meaningless.
• More benefits to come as we grow – and as a team member, we’ll ask for your suggestions!

If this looks like you, get more details on how to apply for the position here