Product Development Manager

Position: Product Development Manager (Permanent)
About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Product Development Manager to lead the product development function across a portfolio of high-performance protective workwear.

With 7+ years’ experience in product development, this role blends people leadership, deep technical expertise, and hands-on product ownership. You will take full responsibility for Flame Resistant (FR) and Electric Arc ranges, with potential oversight of a highly specified, feature-led premium range.

Leading a team of Product Developers, you will ensure products are delivered to the highest standards of performance, compliance, quality, and commercial viability, while maintaining robust critical paths and on-time delivery. This is a senior role with significant influence over product strategy and execution.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development Leadership

Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Product Developers, overseeing workload, priorities, and performance.

Ensure effective delivery across product research, development, testing, certification, and bulk production.

Support the Head of Product / Technical function in maintaining best practice development processes, documentation, and technical accuracy.

Develop team capability through coaching, feedback, and structured knowledge sharing.

Range Ownership & Technical Expertise

Take direct ownership of FR and Electric Arc product ranges, acting as the technical authority throughout development and production.

Oversee a premium, feature-rich range, ensuring products meet performance, compliance, and commercial requirements.

Lead technical decision-making on complex materials, constructions, and performance specifications.

Ensure all products are fit for purpose and aligned with brand positioning and customer expectations.

Product Research & Innovation

Drive innovation through market research, competitor analysis, and evaluation of new materials, technologies, and garment features.

Work closely with fabric mills and suppliers to develop materials that enhance performance, durability, sustainability, and cost efficiency.

Oversee fabric treatments and advanced garment technologies where required.

Manage cost prices to achieve margin targets across all ranges.

Identify and mitigate technical risks early to protect compliance and delivery timelines.

Critical Path & Delivery Management

Own and manage product critical paths across all ranges.

Monitor progress across sampling, testing, certification, and production, proactively resolving risks and delays.

Provide regular status updates to senior leadership, adapting priorities as required.

Ensure strong cross-functional alignment with Operations, Sales, and Marketing to support successful product launches.

Product Documentation & Specification

Oversee the creation and accuracy of all product documentation, including BOMs, technical files, test reports, and certification records.

Ensure consistency, accuracy, and version control across all specifications and compliance documentation.

Support sampling, fit sessions, and pre-production approvals, particularly for complex or high-risk products.

Standards, Compliance & Ethics

Ensure compliance with relevant standards including EN ISO 20471, RIS 3279 TOM, EN 343, ISO 13688, and applicable FR and Electric Arc standards.

Maintain strong relationships with testing houses and certification bodies.

Monitor changes in regulations and standards, leading implementation across existing and future products.

Support organisational commitments to ethical, sustainable, and compliant product development.

Supply Chain & External Collaboration

Support the identification, onboarding, and qualification of factories and suppliers.

Build strong technical relationships with global manufacturing partners to ensure product consistency and quality.

Collaborate with trim and component suppliers on new developments and innovations.

Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Act as a key technical interface between Product Development and Sales, Marketing, and Operations.

Support Marketing with accurate technical product information for launches and campaigns.

Participate in product sign-off meetings, sales meetings, and internal presentations as required.

Skills & Experience

Proven experience in a senior Product Development role within protective workwear.

Essential expertise in FR and Electric Arc protective garments.

Strong knowledge of EN standards, certification processes, and technical file submission.

Experience leading and developing Product Developers or technical teams.

In-depth understanding of textile performance, garment construction, and testing for protective wear.

Commercial awareness, with experience managing costs, margins, and product viability.

Experience working with global supply chains across Asia, China, and Europe.

Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple ranges and complex critical paths.

Confident communicator, comfortable engaging with…