Product Lead (Dark Store Fulfilment Systems)

Takealot Group, a prominent force in South Africa's e-commerce landscape, is seeking a strategic and experienced Product Lead to spearhead the development and enhancement of its dark store fulfilment systems. This pivotal role is central to Takealot's commitment to delivering ultra-fast delivery services by optimising its network of hyper-local micro-fulfilment centres. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping the technological backbone that enables seamless, rapid order processing and dispatch.

About the role

This position requires a dynamic individual to take ownership of the strategic roadmap and functional requirements for Takealot's burgeoning dark store fulfilment network. You will act as the crucial interface between operational teams, commercial stakeholders, and the engineering department, ensuring that technology directly supports and drives the business's rapid delivery objectives. Your expertise will be vital in translating complex operational needs into effective product solutions.

Your responsibilities will span several critical areas of dark store fulfilment. A significant part of your remit will involve the evaluation, selection, and implementation of a scalable Warehouse Management System (WMS) specifically designed for the demands of rapid picking in a dark store environment. This will necessitate ensuring seamless integration with Takealot's existing core systems.

Furthermore, you will define and own the product requirements for the critical workflows that govern stock movement between main distribution centres and local dark stores. This includes developing the business logic for automated replenishment, triggered by inventory velocity and predefined minimum stock levels, ensuring optimal stock availability.

A key focus will also be on delivering real-time stock availability information to Takealot's online platforms. You will establish service level agreements for data freshness and implement business rules to ensure that what customers see online accurately reflects what is available in the dark stores. This will involve close collaboration with engineering to prioritise solutions that can handle high transaction volumes with low latency, while remaining scalable.

Preventing overselling is paramount for customer satisfaction. You will therefore define the rules for dynamic inventory safety buffers and stock caching mechanisms to ensure that the system accurately reflects the availability of fast-moving items, thereby minimising instances of out-of-stock orders.

Finally, you will take ownership of the digital workflow that facilitates the smooth handover of a packed order from the picking station to the on-demand delivery driver, optimising the final mile of the fulfilment process.

What they're looking for

To excel in this role, you will need a Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in a relevant field, coupled with a minimum of seven years of experience in software product management or equivalent project exposure.

A strong background in warehouse technology is essential, with at least five years of product management experience specifically involving enterprise WMS, Inventory Management Systems (IMS), or localised fulfilment software. You should possess a deep understanding of inventory management principles, encompassing stock transfer processes, replenishment triggers, safety stock calculations, and allocation logic.

Crucially, you will need proven experience in technical integration, particularly with complex APIs, middleware, and ERP systems. Familiarity with platforms such as Oracle WMS or custom microservices architectures would be advantageous. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Takealot gives preference to applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and individuals with disabilities.

In South Africa, roles like this often require a blend of technical acumen and operational understanding, particularly within the fast-paced logistics and e-commerce sectors. Companies like Takealot are at the forefront of adopting advanced fulfilment technologies to meet growing consumer demand for speed and convenience. Career progression in this field can lead to broader product leadership roles within supply chain or operations technology.

• Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in a related field with at least 7 years of software product management experience or exposure (through projects or responsibilities).
• Warehouse Tech Expertise: 5+ years of Product Management experience handling enterprise WMS, Inventory Management Systems (IMS), or localized fulfillment software.
• Stock Management Expertise: Deep understanding of inventory management principles, including stock transfer workflows, replenishment triggers, safety stock calculations, and allocation logic.
• Technical Integration: Strong experience working with complex APIs, middleware, and ERP system integrations (e.g., Oracle WMS, or custom microservices).