Product Manager

Job Responsibilities

• Identify market opportunities and define strategic plans for assigned product categories, incorporating customer insights, competitive analysis, and industry trends to maximize profitable growth.
• Lead new product development efforts from concept through commercialization, partnering with Suppliers and Engineering to translate market needs into innovative, manufacturable eyewear and PPE solutions.
• Own the full product lifecycle from concept to end-of-life, ensuring timely execution of product development, sourcing, and launch initiatives.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop go-to-market strategies, promotional campaigns, and product messaging.
• Collaborate with global sourcing teams and suppliers to ensure product quality, cost-effectiveness, and on-time availability. Manage excess and obsolete inventory plans.
• Coordinate with testing agencies on compliance and standards testing (e.g., ANSI Z87.1 and related industrial eyewear standards). Monitor and resolve customer complaints and quality issues.
• Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, and market data to guide forecasting and decision-making.
• Serve as the product advocate, aligning Sales, Engineering, Production, and Operations around shared product initiatives and business goals.
• Partner with Marketing and Sales on Voice of Customer (VoC) research, attend industry trade shows, and support field sales activities to gather market feedback and drive product adoption.
• Up to 25% travel within North America for field sales support, distributor meetings, and industry events. Occasional international travel to suppliers and sourcing partners may be required.

Core Skills & Competency Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in Product Management, preferably within an industrial, safety, or PPE-related business.
• Familiarity with industrial eyewear standards (e.g., ANSI Z87.1) or comparable PPE compliance frameworks is a plus.
• Proven ability to apply financial principles, market dynamics, and business strategy to drive product profitability and sustainable growth in an industrial setting.
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of partnering across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to deliver solutions.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate it into strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with PLM or ERP systems (e.g., SAP) a plus.
• Comfortable multitasking, working independently, and thriving in a fast-paced environment.