Product Development Specialist

Position Summary

The Product Development Specialist FIRE Division supports the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Lakeland's global FIRE product portfolio. This role serves as the technical expert for assigned product lines and works closely with Product Management, Research & Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, Quality, and Regulatory teams to successfully develop, launch, and maintain products throughout their lifecycle.

The Product Development Specialist is responsible for coordinating product development activities, maintaining technical product documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance, supporting product launches, and providing technical expertise to internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Review product certifications, technical documentation, and labeling to ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor changes to applicable standards including NFPA, ISO, CE, ANSI/ISEA, and other global regulations.
• Attend industry committee meetings, conferences, and standards organizations as assigned.
• Maintain technical certification records and supporting documentation

Product Development & Project Coordination

• Support the development and management of new and existing FIRE products throughout the product lifecycle.
• Coordinate product development projects on a global level, ensuring milestones, timelines, and deliverables are achieved.
• Work with cross-functional teams including R&D, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and Quality to support successful product launches.
• Assist in developing product roadmaps, project schedules, and implementation plans.
• Participate in product design reviews, prototyping, testing, and validation activities.
• Support continuous product improvements through customer feedback, field observations, and market analysis.

Technical Product Ownership

• Serve as the technical expert for assigned FIRE products.
• Develop and maintain Bills of Material (BOMs), SKU structures, manufacturing specifications, make sheets, packaging requirements, and product labeling.
• Maintain accurate technical files and documentation for all assigned products.
• Ensure manufacturing instructions and product documentation remain current and accurate.
• Support engineering change management activities..

Marketing & Technical Support

• Partner with Marketing to develop technical literature, product specifications, brochures, training materials, and sales support documentation.
• Review regional websites to ensure FIRE product information is accurate, complete, and current.
• Develop technical presentations, videos, and product training materials.
• Deliver product training to Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, distributors, and other internal stakeholders.
• Provide technical product support to internal teams and customers as needed.

Inventory & Product Lifecycle Management

• Analyze slow-moving inventory and identify root causes through data analysis.
• Recommend product rationalization, discontinuation, or obsolescence opportunities.
• Review inventory levels prior to new product introductions to minimize obsolete inventory.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Sales, and Marketing to develop transition plans for discontinued products and replacement product launches.
• Assist with product lifecycle planning from introduction through retirement.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to improve product quality, manufacturability, and cost efficiency.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives related to product development.
• Assist in identifying opportunities to improve product development processes and documentation.
• Maintain effective communication with global stakeholders regarding project status and product updates.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Product Development, Business, Manufacturing, Textile Engineering, or a related technical field required.

Experience

• 35 years of experience in product development, engineering, technical product support, manufacturing, or product management.
• Experience supporting products through the product lifecycle.
• Experience working within a manufacturing environment preferred.
• PPE, industrial safety, technical textile, or fire services industry experience is highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong project coordination and organizational skills.
• Understanding of product development and commercialization processes.
• Experience maintaining BOMs, SKUs, manufacturing documentation, and technical specifications.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards and product certification processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments and global teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP/Product Lifecycle Management systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.

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