Strategic Project Manager

At Justrite Safety Group, we're more than just a collection of industrial safety companies; we're a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting people, property, and the planet. Our ever-growing portfolio of companies collaborates to deliver advanced industrial safety solutions that set the standard for excellence.

About the role

The Strategic Portfolio Manager will lead JSG’s expansion into new lithium-ion safety product lines within the Chemical Safety Business Unit. This role owns portfolio strategy, road mapping, and governance for a set of growth programs spanning new-to-the-world product platforms, line extensions, and adjacent categories tied to lithium-ion battery handling, storage, charging, incident mitigation, and compliance-driven safety solutions. You will translate market and customer needs into a prioritized, value-creating portfolio; define where to play and how to win; and drive disciplined execution through JSG’s stage-gate / NPD processes. Success requires strong cross-functional leadership across engineering, product management, marketing, operations, quality/regulatory, supply chain, and sales—often without direct authority.

About the team

As a member of our Product Management Team, you’ll be at the helm of leading products that set the standard in the safety industry. As an innovator and category captain, Justrite is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, continuously developing products that meet the evolving needs of our customers. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of safety solutions by working on cutting-edge products that are recognized as leaders in their categories.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Strategy and Roadmap Ownership
  • Build and maintain the lithium-ion safety category strategy: customer segments, applications, competitive landscape, and differentiation thesis
  • Define portfolio architecture (platforms, tiers, variants, accessories, services) to scale growth efficiently
  • Develop and manage a multi-year roadmap aligned to BU and enterprise objectives (revenue, margin, SKU vitality, risk)
  • Own prioritization decisions and resource recommendations across programs (engineering capacity, capex, supplier development, testing bandwidth)
• Market Intelligence, VOC, and Opportunity Assessment
  • Lead VOC and insight generation through customer interviews, site visits, channel input, service/incident data, and win/loss learning
  • Translate insights into opportunity spaces, concepts, and product requirements with clear use cases and buying triggers
  • Track emerging trends (battery chemistries, regulations, insurance requirements, facility safety standards, fire suppression/containment practices) and convert into actionable portfolio moves
  • Create business cases with pricing corridors, cost targets, margin models, and investment needs
• Program Governance and Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Lead portfolio reviews and governance rhythms (monthly operating reviews, quarterly roadmap reviews, gate readiness)
  • Ensure rigorous stage-gate execution: problem definition, requirements, risk assessment, validation plans, and launch readiness
  • Drive cross-functional alignment on scope, schedule, cost, and risk; manage tradeoffs and escalate decisions when needed
  • Create standard work for portfolio management: dashboards, KPIs, templates, decision logs, and lessons learned
• Product Definition, Differentiation, and Value Proposition
  • Own product positioning and value proposition development in partnership with BU marketing and product management
  • Define competitive claim strategy and validation plan (test methods, protocols, thresholds, documentation)
  • Partner with engineering to translate requirements into robust designs with clear safety factors, durability, and compliance considerations
  • Build pricing and packaging strategies tied to customer value and total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Operational Readiness and Launch Excellence
  • Partner with operations and supply chain to ensure manufacturability, quality plans, supplier readiness, and capacity alignment
  • Support make/buy decisions and supplier selection aligned to cost, quality, and lead-time needs
  • Lead launch plans and commercialization readiness with sales enablement, channel strategy, and post-launch performance tracking
• Financial and Performance Management
  • Own portfolio-level performance: forecast assumptions, business case governance, investment tracking, and variance management
  • Define and track KPIs such as: pipeline health, NPD throughput, time-to-launch, on-time gate performance, gross margin, mix, attach rates, and field quality

Key Outcomes

• A clear, aligned 12–36 month lithium-ion safety portfolio roadmap with measurable growth, margin, and share objectives
• A balanced pipeline (core / adjacent / transformational) with transparent investment choices and portfolio tradeoffs
• Faster cycle time and higher on-time/on-budget launch performance through strong governance and risk management
• Scalable platform thinking (modularity, common components, repeatable validation methods) that improves speed and profitability
• Strong VOC-driven product definitions with compelling value propositions and differentiated claims supported by test data
• “Launch-ready” programs that are operationally executable (capacity, tooling, quality controls, sourcing) and commercially enabled (pricing, channels, training, content)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Engineering strongly preferred); MBA a plus
• 3+ years of experience in portfolio management, product management, strategy, or NPD leadership in industrial/manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional NPD portfolios through a stage-gate process
• Strong business case development skills (market sizing, pricing, margin modeling, investment tradeoffs)
• Proven ability to influence without authority; strong executive communication and stakeholder management
• Ability to travel ~25% to plants, test labs, customer sites, and corporate offices

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in industrial safety, hazardous materials handling, chemical safety, EHS products, fire protection, or containment systems
• Exposure to lithium-ion battery safety applications (storage, charging rooms, thermal runaway mitigation, smoke/fire containment, compliant enclosures)
• Familiarity with relevant standards and compliance environments (e.g., OSHA/NFPA/UL or comparable frameworks)
• Experience launching platform-based products and building modular portfolios (common components, scalable variants)

Why this role matters

Lithium-ion adoption is reshaping safety requirements across industrial, commercial, and institutional environments. This role will be central to how JSG expands into new lithium-ion safety solutions—building a scalable, differentiated portfolio that protects people and facilities while driving meaningful growth for the Chemical Safety BU.

Pay

Actual base salaries will vary and may be above or below the recommended pay range based on factors such as but not limited to location, relevant experience and performance. Additionally, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan to enhance overall total compensation package when Justrite Safety Group and their business units achieve annual business and financial targets.

Benefits

• Competitive salary paired with an extensive benefits package
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible hours and alternative work arrangements
• 401K plan with company match
• Company-paid short and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off, personal days, and a robust employee wellness program