IT Product
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. The estimated monthly salary is R37,000 – R55,500 ZAR. This role is suited for mid-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
IT Product OwnerLocation: RemoteTimezone: US Mountain TimeSalary: $2,000/pm - $3,000/pmHours: 35–40 hours per weekOverview
We are seeking a highly detail-oriented IT Product Owner to support the development of complex enterprise systems for sales organizations and multi-level marketing (MLM) companies. These projects involve custom-built platforms for affiliate tracking, referral systems, sales representative management, commission structures, and Shopify integrations.
This role is internal-facing and works closely with the Lead Project Manager, development teams, designers, and QA to transform high-level product visions into well-defined product requirements, user stories, and technical tickets. The ideal candidate has strong experience in MLM and direct sales ecosystems, excels in product definition and backlog management, and ensures that engineering teams have the clarity needed to execute efficiently.
Primary Objective
To own and manage the product backlog, define product requirements, and translate business objectives into structured technical documentation and actionable development tickets that support seamless execution across design, development, and QA teams.
Key Responsibilities
1. Product Ownership & Backlog Management
* Own and manage the product backlog for enterprise MLM and sales platform projects.
* Convert high-level business concepts, epics, and workflows into detailed user stories and actionable development tickets.
* Define functional requirements, acceptance criteria, edge cases, and expected system behaviors.
* Prioritize features, enhancements, and bug fixes in alignment with project goals and sprint objectives.
* Continuously refine and update backlog items as business requirements evolve.
* Ensure development teams have complete and accurate documentation before work begins.
2. MLM & Sales Organization Systems
Apply strong knowledge of MLM and direct sales business models, including:
* Compensation plans
* Genealogy structures
* Rank advancement logic
* Commission and bonus calculations
* Affiliate and referral tracking systems
* Sales representative management
Ensure complex MLM business rules are accurately translated into product requirements and technical specifications.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Work closely with the Lead Project Manager to align priorities, sprint planning, and project execution.
* Collaborate with developers, designers, and QA teams to clarify requirements and remove ambiguities.
* Attend internal meetings, capture detailed notes, and convert discussions into actionable tasks.
* Facilitate communication between business stakeholders and technical teams.
* Support agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and review sessions.
4. Product Definition & Quality Assurance
* Bridge the gap between business vision and technical execution.
* Ensure features are fully defined prior to development.
* Create clear testing criteria and acceptance standards for QA validation.
* Identify gaps, risks, dependencies, and inconsistencies within requirements.
* Support successful product delivery by minimizing development rework caused by unclear specifications.
5. Leadership & Growth Potential
* Take ownership of documentation, backlog structure, and product organization across large enterprise projects.
* Support coordination across multiple projects and divisions.
* Demonstrate leadership potential to manage future product initiatives and teams as the organization scales.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Experience
* 3+ years of experience as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or Technical Product Specialist.
* Proven experience working with MLM or direct sales organizations (highly preferred and top priority).
* Experience translating business requirements into technical specifications and development-ready tickets.
* Background in enterprise software, SaaS platforms, or custom system development.
* Experience working in agile or scrum environments.
Technical & Operational Skills
* Strong expertise in backlog management, ticket creation, and product documentation.
* Experience using Notion, Jira, or similar project management tools.
* Strong understanding of affiliate, referral, and commission tracking systems.
* Ability to interpret UI/UX designs and convert them into technical requirements.
* Shopify experience is beneficial but not required.
* Familiarity with enterprise workflows and custom platform development.
Personal Attributes
* Exceptionally detail-oriented and process-driven.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Proactive, self-directed, and highly organized.
* Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
* Able to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
* Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Communication Skills
* Strong written communication skills with the ability to create clear technical documentation.
* Comfortable collaborating with cross-functional
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
At R37,000/month, this role is competitive with the average South African remote salary. The USD equivalent ($2,000/mo) benefits from the favourable exchange rate.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 686 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →