What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Product Line Manager position at Safilo?
***This role is based in Portland, OR and requires a hybrid schedule in office at least 3-days/week
General Summary:
The Senior Product Line Manager is responsible for leading the technical development of our snow helmet and goggle product lines, including both original designs and OEM-based solutions. This role works cross-functionally with global teams, including internal and external manufacturing partners, to ensure timely delivery of innovative, high-quality products that meet performance, cost, and brand standards. This role also works closely with Design, Engineering, Operations, and Sourcing.
The core focus of this role is on managing the end-to-end development process - from concept, feasibility through production readiness - ensuring technical excellence and driving partners to help bring new products to market.
Essential Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Global Brand Manager to translate product strategy into executable development plans for helmets and goggles.
- Manage technical development of new designs and OEM products, ensuring alignment with brand standards, performance requirements, and cost targets.
- Own seasonal development calendars, tracking milestones and deliverables across multiple projects.
- Be a key conduit between design and engineering teams to validate product concepts, materials, and construction methods.
- Interface with external vendors and factories to communicate specifications, review prototypes, and ensure production accuracy.
- Coordinate with Operations and Quality Assurance to establish and maintain approved production specifications.
- Work closely with partners (external & internal) to ensure that all performance (safety, fit, comfort, usability, etc.) and quality requirements of each product are satisfied
- Support costing exercises, component sourcing, and vendor negotiations to meet margin goals.
- Collaborate with Creative & Marketing, to support product merchandising, packaging, and go-to-market content.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Product Development, Design Engineering or related field.
- 3–5 years experience in product development within the outdoor, sports, or consumer goods industry. European exposure highly valued.
- Proven ability to manage multiple development projects and communicate effectively on timelines, deliverables with precision to broad range of stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of technical materials, manufacturing processes (injection molding desired) and raw materials. Understanding of DFM/DFMA principles valued.
- Experience working with OEM partners and managing vendor relationships.
- Able to work efficiently with minimal supervision. Demonstrated ability to apply oneself to learning new tools, systems, and processes
- Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint & Project or similar; Illustrator or CAD tools a plus.
- Passion & participation for winter sports and recreation is preferred.
- Willingness to travel internationally <10%.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in the details, loves building products that perform in the toughest elements, and enjoys collaborating across disciplines to bring gear from sketch to slope.
***This role is based in Portland, OR and requires a hybrid schedule in office at least 3-days/week