Product Manager - Eyewear

The Product Manager is responsible for the strategic management and growth of the industrial eyewear and protective products portfolio. This role oversees the product lifecycle from concept through commercialization, leveraging market insights, customer feedback, and competitive analysis to guide product strategy and business decisions. Working closely with cross-functional teams, the Product Manager drives innovation, portfolio optimization, and profitable growth while ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. The position requires strong product management expertise, with experience in personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or industrial eyewear serving as a valuable asset.

Job Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Development: Identify market opportunities and define strategic plans for assigned product categories, incorporating customer insights, competitive analysis, and industry trends to maximize profitable growth.
• New Product Development: 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.
• Lifecycle Management: Own the full product lifecycle from concept to end-of-life, ensuring timely execution of product development, sourcing, and launch initiatives.
• Sales & Marketing Collaboration: Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop go-to-market strategies, promotional campaigns, and product messaging.
• Supplier & Inventory Management: Collaborate with global sourcing teams and suppliers to ensure product quality, cost-effectiveness, and on-time availability. Manage excess and obsolete inventory plans.
• Quality & Compliance: 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.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, and market data to guide forecasting and decision-making.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Serve as the product advocate, aligning Sales, Engineering, Production, and Operations around shared product initiatives and business goals.
• Customer & Market Engagement: 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.
• Travel: 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.