Technical Product Manager

The Technical Project Manager serves as the organization’s primary technical and strategic resource for flame-resistant (FR), high-visibility, and occupational safety apparel programs. This role combines deep industry expertise with market insight to support product strategy, regulatory compliance, customer education, and business growth initiatives across key industrial and commercial market segments.   The ideal candidate possesses extensive knowledge of safety apparel standards, textile technologies, PPE applications, and evolving industry trends within sectors such as Utilities, Energy, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation, and Industrial Distribution. This individual partners cross-functionally with Sales, Merchandising, Product Development, Marketing, Operations, Sourcing, and Vendor Partners to deliver compliant, innovative, and customer-focused safety apparel solutions. This position plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s commitment to worker safety, regulatory compliance, product integrity, operational excellence, and long-term market growth.   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties and responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned: Product & Technical Expertise * Serve as a key resource for FR apparel, high-visibility garments, industrial workwear, PPE apparel & footwear solutions, and related occupational safety products. * Provide technical guidance regarding garment performance, thermal protection, certifications, compliance requirements, and proper product selection. * Research, evaluate, and recommend new fabrics, materials, technologies, and product innovations based on industry trends, customer demand, and evolving safety requirements. * Maintain expertise in garment construction, textile technologies, laundering considerations, durability standards, and end-user applications. * Support product lifecycle management activities including product selection, line reviews, new product launches, product optimization, and end-of-life evaluations. * Assist internal and external stakeholders with technical product inquiries and customer-specific apparel solutions. Safety & Regulatory Compliance * Maintain an advanced working knowledge of applicable standards and regulatory requirements including: * OSHA * ANSI * ASTM * NFPA 70E * NFPA 2112 * NFPA 1975 * NFPA 1977   * Assist internal teams and customers with hazard assessments related to: * Arc flash hazards * Flame resistance * Electric utility protection * Visibility requirements * Cut resistance * Task-specific PPE considerations * Ensure all product recommendations and program offerings align with applicable customer specified safety requirements, regulations, and certifications.   * Maintain familiarity with UL, SEI, ASTM, and NFPA certification programs, testing methodologies, compliance documentation, and labeling requirements.   * Assist with audits, compliance reviews, and safety program evaluations as needed. Vendor Relations & Product Development * Develop and maintain relationships with manufacturers, textile mills, suppliers, testing laboratories, and strategic vendor partners.   * Evaluate vendor capabilities, certifications, warranties, sourcing opportunities, and compliance documentation.   * Collaborate with sourcing and merchandising teams on product assortment planning and category development. * Assist with product testing, wear trials, and quality assurance evaluations to validate performance and compliance standards. * Identify opportunities for product innovation, supplier optimization, and strategic partnerships. * Assist in identifying sourcing opportunities, material innovations, and strategic vendor partnerships. * Support quality assurance initiatives and product performance evaluations. Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration * Act as a liaison between Sales, Merchandising, Product Development, Marketing, Customer Service, Operations, and vendor partners.   * Develop and deliver technical training related to safety apparel standards, garment selection, proper wear and care, and industry best practices.   * Support customer presentations, sales meetings, vendor reviews, trade shows, and strategic business initiatives.   * Provide field support and technical expertise to sales and customer-facing teams. * Translate technical information into practical customer solutions and business recommendations. Business Strategy & Market Intelligence * Monitor market trends, competitive activity, pricing strategies, customer demands, and emerging technologies within the industrial safety apparel market * Assist with forecasting, product planning, category management, and go-to-market strategies.   * Compile and maintain competitive market intelligence regarding products, certifications, vendors, and market positioning.   * Collaborate with leadership to support strategic growth initiatives, revenue opportunities, and customer retention efforts. Administrative * Utilize Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to prepare documents, manage schedules, create reports, organize data, and support daily departmental operations. * Maintain effective email communication by responding promptly to internal and external inquiries, drafting professional correspondence, and organizing messages using Outlook tools such as calendars, tasks, and folders. * Attend meetings (in-person or via Microsoft Teams), prepare and share documentation as needed, and follow up on assigned action items using task‑management tools such as Teams Tasks or Planner. * Create, update, and maintain records, spreadsheets, databases, reports, and other office documentation to support departmental processes and ensure accurate information tracking. * Communicate professionally with coworkers, leaders, customers, and visitors, both verbally and in writing, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and a high level of customer service. * Support teamwork by participating in shared projects, providing assistance to colleagues, and contributing to a respectful, collaborative workplace culture. Data & Analytics * Analyze purchasing trends and product utilization. * Recommend assortment optimization. * Monitor conversion success. * Evaluate compliance rates. * Support product rationalization. Customer Discovery * Conduct customer PPE assessments. * Visit facilities. * Observe job functions. * Identify hazards. * Recommend complete apparel systems. Apparel Customization * Recommend decoration methods. * Ensure embroidery/screen print maintains compliance. * Evaluate logo placement on FR garments. * Approve customer artwork locations. Required Key Skills and Qualifications:  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Required Qualifications * Bachelor’s degree in business, Occupational Safety, Textile Technology, Industrial Distribution, Product Development, Engineering, or related field preferred.   * Minimum 5+ years of experience in FR apparel, PPE, industrial workwear, textile manufacturing, occupational safety products, or related industry.   * Combination of related experience and education that provides necessary knowledge base. * Strong understanding of FR apparel standards, fabric technologies, hazard protection requirements, and regulatory compliance.   * Experience working with industrial customers, safety professionals, manufacturers, contractors, or distribution channels.   * Demonstrated ability to collaborate across multiple departments and business functions.   * Excellent communication, technical presentation, analytical, and organizational skills. * Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.   Preferred Qualifications & Certifications * Associate Safety Professional (ASP) * Certified Safety Professional (CSP) * OSHA certifications * NFPA affiliation * ASTM affiliation * Textile or apparel-related technical certifications * Experience participating in safety committees or standards organizations * Experience within industrial distribution, utility apparel programs, or managed PPE programs Preferred Soft Skills * Strong relationship-building and interpersonal communication skills. * Ability to present technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. * Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and customer focus. * High attention to detail and commitment to product accuracy and compliance. * Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously. * Collaborative mindset with strong cross-functional partnership capabilities. * Problem-solving mindset with the ability to evaluate complex situations and develop practical solutions. * Adaptability and willingness to stay current on evolving regulations, products, and technologies. * Strong organizational and project management skills. * Passion for worker safety, product excellence, and continuous improvement. Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: Working Condition Examples: This position operates in a hybrid office, customer-facing, vendor collaboration, and industrial field. The role requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, as well as to move throughout the various environments. Noise levels are generally low to moderate; but maybe high at times. The employee is expected to maintain availability during agreed‑upon business hours and attend required meetings via in-person, video or teleconference. Remote schedules must not interfere with normal interactions between the employee, their supervisor, coworkers, or customers, and must support the team’s ability to meet business needs. Confidential information must be handled securely at all times, including proper storage, password protection, and adherence to company security protocols. Employees must ensure their remote environment supports safe, compliant work practices and upholds Company standards for professionalism, communication, and responsiveness. Performance expectations for remote employees are consistent with onsite roles, including meeting deadlines, attending meetings, and maintaining regular communication with leadership. The employee is expected to maintain a neat, clean, and professional workspace and follow company guidelines for workplace appearance and conduct. The role may require occasional adjustments to support business needs, such as attending in‑office meetings, collaborating with colleagues onsite, or participating in video calls where professional on‑camera appearance is expected. Travel Requirements * Travel is required for customer meetings, vendor visits, training sessions, product evaluations, trade shows, and industry conferences. * Overnight travel will be required up to 50% of the time. * Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds occasionally.