Product Manager

This is an on-site position, NOT remote/hybrid

Travel: 15% (Domestic trade shows, supplier visits, athlete/coach insights)

Job Description

The Product Manager is responsible for owning the full product life cycle of Epoch Sports’ hard-goods equipment (e.g., lacrosse, hockey, and baseball/softball lines) from concept through end-of-life. Operating out of our Detroit headquarters and collaborating daily with Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, and Finance, the Product Manager will translate athlete insights and market analytics into profitable, best-in-class products that reinforce Epoch’s reputation for performance and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Road-Mapping

Build and maintain a 3-year product roadmap aligned with corporate strategy, category trends, and revenue/profit targets.

Conduct market segmentation, competitor benchmarking, pricing analysis, and consumer research to identify white-space opportunities

New Product Development (NPD)

Author product briefs with clear value propositions, feature sets, volumes, cost targets, and launch timing; secure cross-functional approval through stage-gate process.

Serve as the Program Manager for assigned NPD projects - driving timeline adherence, risk mitigation, and milestone communication.

Champion voice-of-customer (VOC) testing with athletes, coaches, and dealers; translate feedback into actionable design requirements.

Lifecycle Management

Monitor sell-through, margin, and inventory health post-launch; drive cost-reduction, line extensions, or end-of-life decisions.

Collaborate with Operations and Finance to manage SKU rationalization and maintain optimal inventory turns.

Commercial Readiness

Partner with Marketing to build go-to-market (GTM) assets - positioning statements, feature/benefit narratives, packaging, POP, and digital content.

Train Sales Reps, Customer Service, and Retail Partners on product knowledge, differentiation, and competitive advantages.

Source additional manufacturing equipment to bring products to market.

Financial Ownership

Own P&L for assigned categories - set pricing, forecast volumes, track COGS, and optimize gross margin.

Prepare business cases and ROI analyses for capital expenditures or tooling investments.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Stay abreast of emerging materials, technologies, and consumer trends; recommend patent or IP opportunities.

Facilitate cross-functional retrospectives to capture lessons learned and refine the Product Development Process (PDP).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Design, Sports Management, or a related field.

3–5 years of product management experience in consumer goods; sporting-goods or performance equipment strongly preferred.

Demonstrated success launching products from concept through commercialization with measurable revenue impact.

Proficiency in data analytics tools (Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar) and familiarity with PLM/ERP systems.

Strong project-management skills - ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage overlapping priorities, and hit aggressive timelines.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to executives, retailers, and end-users.

Passion for sports and understanding of athlete performance needs; lacrosse, hockey, or baseball background a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

MBA or Master’s in Product Design/Engineering.

Experience with Lean Product Development or Agile methodologies.

Knowledge of materials science (composites, polymers), protective equipment standards, or sports governing-body certification processes (NOCSAE, ASTM, CSA).

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Office, R&D lab, and production floor settings; may require occasional use of PPE

Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. for product samples/field testing

Willingness to attend weekend tournaments, clinics, and trade shows several times per year.