Manager, Strategic Partnership (OEM)

Socket.dev; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Mechanix Wear seeks a Manager, Strategic Partnerships (OEM) to lead strategy, growth, and execution of OEM programs in high-hazard apparel. You will align partner ecosystems with product, compliance, and customer-safety priorities to drive profitable expansion.

This role requires deep PPE standards experience, cross-functional leadership, and complex negotiations to scale OEM engagements across industrial sectors.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in OEM management, strategic partnerships, or business development within PPE, technical textiles, industrial safety, or related sectors.
• Deep understanding of high-hazard apparel standards, testing protocols, and certification processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships and deliver revenue growth.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with product, engineering, supply chain, and compliance teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the OEM strategy for flame-resistant, arc-rated, chemical-resistant, and other high-hazard apparel categories.
• Maintain and build strategic partnerships across customers and supplier network.
• Own OEM revenue targets and manage growth across high hazard apparel in line with business objectives.
• Evaluate market trends in PPE adoption, regulatory shifts, and competitive technologies to inform decisions.
• Partner with finance and operations to forecast demand, optimize margins, and ensure supply continuity.
• Collaborate with OEM strategic partners to build annual plans and multi-year roadmaps.
• Define positioning and channel strategy for OEM products vs branded offerings.
• Protect Mechanix Wear brand equity while expanding OEM reach.
• Communicate differentiation and technical attributes across OEM and branded portfolios.
• Ensure delineation decisions support long-term growth, compliance, and customer clarity.
• Manage life cycle through SKU and program maintenance.
• Serve as primary liaison for OEM partners including fabric mills, suppliers, and manufacturers.
• Lead joint development initiatives for new protective apparel systems aligned with NFPA, ASTM, ANSI, ISO standards.
• Onboard new OEM accounts with standardized SOPs covering due diligence, compliance verification, and audits.
• Coordinate cross-functional onboarding with product, R&D, supply chain, quality, and legal teams.

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Manager, Strategic Partnerships (OEM) leads the strategy, growth, and operational execution of OEM partnerships within the high-hazard apparel sector. This role is responsible for maintaining and expanding the company’s footprint through integrated product solutions, customer relationships, and safety-driven solutions with strategic partners. The Manager ensures that all OEM programs meet industry standards, support customer safety requirements, and drive profitable growth across industrial, utilities, oil & gas, manufacturing, and other high-risk environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential functions of the job are listed below. Other responsibilities may also be assigned. Please note that the essential functions may vary depending on department size, organizational structure and/or geographic location. Reasonable accommodation may be made to allow differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the OEM strategy for flame-resistant, arc-rated, chemical-resistant, and other high-hazard apparel categories.
• Key stakeholder tasked with maintaining and building strategic partnerships across our customers and supplier network
• Own OEM revenue targets and manage growth across high hazard apparel in line with the business objectives
• Evaluate market trends in PPE adoption, regulatory shifts, and competitive technologies to inform strategic decisions.
• Partner with finance and operations to forecast demand, optimize margins, and ensure supply continuity.

Product Strategy & Portfolio Delineation

• Collaborate with OEM strategic partners to build annual plans as well as multi-year roadmaps that align with product innovation, compliance requirements, and customer safety expectations.
• Create clear delineation and strategic context between OEM products and company-branded offerings, including fabrics, materials, technologies, and finished goods—through a structured rollout matrix that defines positioning, value propositions, and channel strategy.
• Where feasible, develop frameworks that ensure OEM programs complement (rather than compete with) branded product lines, protecting Mechanix Wear brand equity while expanding market reach through OEM channels.
• Partner with product, marketing, and sales teams to communicate differentiation, technical attributes, and intended use‑cases across both OEM and branded portfolios.
• Ensure all delineation decisions support long-term growth strategies of Mechanix Wear, regulatory compliance, and customer clarity in high-hazard environments.
• Manage life cycle management of products through sku and program maintenance.

OEM & Partner Management

• Serve as the primary liaison for OEM partners including fabric mills, component suppliers, 3rd party manufacturing partners, and safety-equipment integrators.
• Negotiate long‑term customer and supplier agreements covering terms, material sourcing commitments, product integration, and compliance obligations.
• Ensure all OEM account products are fully supported in Assent platform
• Review the National Account Private Label Lines for cost savings synergies and strategic portfolio placement.
• Collaborate to identify material synergies across OEM and Commercial programs for cost savings
• Evaluate and monitor Tier 2 suppliers who support OEM products
• Lead joint development initiatives for new protective apparel systems, ensuring alignment with NFPA, ASTM, ANSI, ISO, and industry-specific standards.
• Establish a standardized SOP for onboarding new and existing OEM accounts and suppliers, covering due diligence, compliance verification (NFPA, ASTM, ANSI, ISO), technical integration requirements, quality audits, and commercial alignment.
• Lead cross‑functional onboarding workflows with product, R&D, supply chain, quality, and legal teams to ensure seamless partner activation and accelerated time‑to‑market.

Product & Compliance Collaboration

• Work closely with product management, R&D, and engineering to influence product design based on OEM partner capabilities and end‑user hazard profiles.
• Ensure all OEM products meet or exceed relevant safety standards, certification requirements, and any contractual specifications
• Collaborate with quality and compliance teams to maintain rigorous testing, documentation, and audit processes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are the minimum qualifications that an individual needs in order to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Please note that the minimum qualifications may vary based upon the department size and/or geographic location.

EDUCATION

A bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Engineering, or Supply Chain or a combination of experience and education.

EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of experience in OEM management, strategic partnerships, or business development within PPE, technical textiles, industrial safety, or related sectors.
• Deep understanding of high-hazard apparel standards, testing protocols, and certification processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships and deliver revenue growth.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with product, engineering, supply chain, and compliance teams.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Background in flame-resistant textiles, protective apparel manufacturing, or safety-equipment integration.
• Experience with global OEM partners and international regulatory frameworks.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

In accordance with applicable policies/procedures and Federal/State laws, may perform the following supervisory responsibilities: Interviewing, hiring, orienting, coaching and developing employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising, managing and rewarding performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly uses verbal and written communication skills and must be able to hear and speak clearly. The role requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, as well as frequent use of hands to grasp, handle, and manipulate objects.

This position may also require periods of standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing, as necessary to perform job duties.

The employee must be able to occasionally lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 15 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

TRAVEL

Occasional

OVERALL WORK ENVIRONMENT

The office is clean, orderly, properly lit and ventilated. Noise levels are considered low to moderate. Field conditions vary.

Mechanix Wear is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Mechanix Wear are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Employment with Mechanix Wear is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law