The posting
Amazon South Africa is building out its Retail Operations and Initiatives function. This role owns the selection funnel: the path a product takes from being listed to being purchasable, discoverable, and delivered. Every friction point in that path is yours to find and fix. You will define the governance mechanisms, build the automation, and drive the cross-functional accountability that determines whether customers can buy what vendors make available. The model exists in peer markets; you are building it here from scratch with full ownership and direct visibility to country leadership.
Key job responsibilities Own the end-to-end selection funnel and the weekly diagnostic that identifies where it leaks
Build the buyability defect taxonomy, the intake mechanism, and the triage SLAs from zero
Design and implement governance mechanisms for demand promise accuracy; migrate manual processes to automated, rules-based systems
Translate demand signals, competitive gaps, and funnel data into prioritised actions for Vendor Managers and In-Stock Managers
Partner with data engineering to build the intelligence layer that makes the funnel visible and actionable
Present funnel performance to store leadership; escalate blockers with clear business impact
Embed AI and automation into detection and governance workflows to scale without scaling headcount
A day in the life Morning: the funnel. Conversion rates, defect queue, aged orders. You triage, escalate, and clear. Mid-morning: governance review with CS and In-Stock Management; you set the rules, they execute. Afternoon: deep in the data with your engineering partner, refining detection logic or reviewing a new dataset that just landed. Late afternoon: the vendor engagement loop; which products have demand but no supply, which suppliers need a nudge, what needs to change structurally. You close the day presenting the weekly diagnostic to leadership. No two days are the same. Most involve data, decisions, and moving something from blocked to buyable.
About the team Retail Operations and Initiatives (RO&I) is the mechanism factory for Amazon South Africa. We build the scalable systems that remove operational friction from the retail pipeline, liberate commercial teams to focus on growth, and create the conditions for vendors to invest. The function is established in peer markets across Latin America, North America, and Europe. Small team, high ownership, zero tolerance for process debt. If you want to define how a marketplace operates rather than operate within someone else's definition, this is the role.
- 5+ years of product or program management, product marketing, business development or technology experience - Experience owning/driving roadmap strategy and definition - Experience working with Excel, reporting tools, and large-scale data mining tools, such as Power BI, Python, SQL, or Tableau, or experience using financial models, KPIs, and data analysis to inform business decisions with proven business impact (e.g., financial savings, operational improvements, or customer benefits) - Experience in e-commerce, retail or advertising, or experience in logistics - Experience in influencing senior leadership through data driven insights
- Experience working across functional teams and senior stakeholders - Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. Amazon requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
