Product Development Manager
Location: Worcester
Permanent, Full Time
Hours: Monday-Friday, 37.5 hours per week
Hybrid: 1 day per week working from home/flexible hours
Salary: £(phone number removed)K
About the Role
My client designs and manufactures high-visibility, protective clothing for industries like rail, construction, and infrastructure and is seeking an experienced Product Development Manager (7+ years in Product Development) to lead their product development function across their high-performance protective workwear ranges.
This role combines people leadership, technical expertise, and hands-on product ownership, with specific responsibility for our Flame Resistant (FR) and Electric Arc ranges, and potential oversight of the Evolution range, which represents Pulsar's most highly specified and feature-led products.
You will manage and support a team of Product Developers, ensuring products are developed to the highest standards of performance, compliance, quality, and commercial viability, while maintaining robust critical paths and on-time delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development Leadership
Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Product Developers, overseeing day-to-day workload, priorities, and performance.
Ensure Product Developers are effectively delivering their responsibilities across product research, development, testing, certification, and bulk production.
Supporting Head of PECS in best practice standards for product development processes, documentation, and technical accuracy.
Support the professional development of the Product Development team through coaching, feedback, and knowledge sharing. Range Ownership & Technical Expertise
Take direct ownership of Pulsar's FR and Electric Arc product ranges, acting as the technical authority throughout development and production.
Oversee the Evolution range, ensuring highly specified, feature-rich products meet performance, compliance, and commercial requirements.
Ensure all products are fit for purpose, meet relevant industry standards, and align with brand positioning and customer expectations.
Lead technical decision-making for complex products, materials, constructions, and performance requirements. Product Research & Innovation
Drive innovation across assigned ranges through market research, competitor analysis, and exploration of new materials, technologies, and garment features.
Work closely with fabric mills and suppliers to source and develop materials that improve performance, durability, sustainability, and cost efficiency.
Oversee fabric treatments and advanced garment technologies where required.
Ensure cost prices are reviewed and managed to achieve margin targets across all ranges.
Identify and mitigate technical risks early in the development process, ensuring compliance and on-time delivery. Critical Path & Delivery Management
Manage the product critical paths across all ranges, ensuring Product Developers maintain agreed timelines.
Monitor progress across sampling, testing, certification, and production, proactively addressing risks, delays, and bottlenecks.
Provide accurate weekly updates to the Head PECS on development status, risks, and mitigation plans. Implement changing prioritises as required by the Head of PECS.
Ensure 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 documentation.
Ensure consistency and accuracy of specifications, labelling, and compliance documentation across all ranges.
Support and review sampling, fit sessions, and pre-production approvals where required, particularly for complex or high-risk products.
Ensure robust version control and data accuracy across product documentation. Standards, Compliance & Ethics
Ensure all products comply with relevant standards including EN ISO 20471, RIS 3279 TOM, EN 343, ISO 13688, and applicable FR and Electric Arc standards.
Maintain strong working relationships with testing houses and certification bodies.
Monitor changes in standards and regulations, assessing impact and leading implementation across existing and future products.
Work closely with the Head of PECS to ensure products align with Pulsar's ethical, sustainability, and compliance commitments. Supply Chain & External Collaboration
Support the identification, onboarding, and qualification of new factory partners and suppliers.
Maintain strong technical relationships with global factories to ensure manufacturing accuracy and product consistency.
Work with external trim and component suppliers on new developments and innovations.
Support 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 technical product information, ensuring accuracy and alignment with launch plans.
Participate in sales meetings, product sign-off sessions, and internal presentations as required. Skills & Experience
Proven experience in a senior Product Development role within protective workwear.
Demonstrable expertise in FR and Electric Arc protective garments (essential).
Strong understanding of relevant EN standards, certification processes, and technical file submission.
Experience managing and developing Product Developers or similar technical teams.
In-depth knowledge of textile performance, fabric and trim testing, and garment construction for protective wear.
Commercially aware, with experience managing costs, margins, and product viability.
Experience working with global supply chains, including Asia, China, and Europe.
Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple ranges and complex critical paths.
Confident communicator, able to work effectively with senior stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners.
High attention to detail and a proactive approach to risk management and continuous improvement.
Strong interest in sustainability, compliance, and ethical product development. Benefits:
25 days holiday (plus an additional 5 days after 10 years’ service)
Company pension scheme
Free onsite parking
If you wish to be considered for the role, please contact Joanne Harris on (phone number removed) or email your cv to (url removed)