Strategic Product Manager

Justrite Manufacturing Co LLC; Wellsburg (WV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Flexible hours

Job summary

Justrite Safety Group is seeking a Strategic Portfolio Manager to lead expansion into lithium-ion safety product lines within the Chemical Safety BU. The role owns strategy, roadmaps, governance, and governance for growth programs across new platforms, extensions, and adjacent categories tied to safety solutions.

You will translate market needs into prioritized portfolios, define play-to-win moves, and drive cross-functional execution through stage-gate processes, collaborating with engineering,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred.
• 3+ years in portfolio/product/strategy/NPD leadership in industrial environments.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead lithium-ion safety portfolio strategy, roadmaps, and governance.
• Translate market needs into prioritized product requirements with clear use cases.
• Drive stage-gate execution with engineering, marketing, ops, and supply chain teams.
• Create business cases with pricing, margins, and investment needs.
• Launch planning and commercialization readiness with sales enablement and channels.
• Own portfolio performance: forecasts, KPIs, and variance management.

Skills

Portfolio management

Product management

Strategy

Cross-functional leadership

NPD leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business

MBA a plus

Job description

About Justrite Safety Group

At Justrite Safety Group, we're more than just a collection of industrial safety companies; we're a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting people, property, and the planet. Our ever-growing portfolio of companies collaborates to deliver advanced industrial safety solutions that set the standard for excellence.

As our business continues to grow, we continue to look for top talent to join our team as we lead the charge in revolutionizing industrial safety, ensuring that every worker returns home safe, every workplace remains secure, and our environment thrives for generations to come. With Justrite Safety Group, safety isn't just a priority-it's our passion.

The Contribution You'll bring to this Role:

The Strategic Portfolio Manager will lead JSG's expansion into new lithium-ion safety product lines within the Chemical Safety Business Unit. This role owns portfolio strategy, road mapping, and governance for a set of growth programs spanning new-to-the-world product platforms, line extensions, and adjacent categories tied to lithium-ion battery handling, storage, charging, incident mitigation, and compliance-driven safety solutions.

You will translate market and customer needs into a prioritized, value-creating portfolio; define where to play and how to win; and drive disciplined execution through JSG's stage-gate / NPD processes. Success requires strong cross-functional leadership across engineering, product management, marketing, operations, quality/regulatory, supply chain, and sales-often without direct authority.

About the Team:

As a member of our Product Management Team, you'll be at the helm of leading products that set the standard in the safety industry. As an innovator and category captain, Justrite is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, continuously developing products that meet the evolving needs of our customers. You'll have the opportunity to shape the future of safety solutions by working on cutting-edge products that are recognized as leaders in their categories. This role allows you to collaborate with top professionals, drive innovation, and make a tangible impact on the industry, ensuring that Justrite remains at the forefront of safety and protection.

What You'll Do at Justrite:

1) Portfolio Strategy and Roadmap Ownership

• Build and maintain the lithium-ion safety category strategy: customer segments, applications, competitive landscape, and differentiation thesis
• Define portfolio architecture (platforms, tiers, variants, accessories, services) to scale growth efficiently
• Develop and manage a multi-year roadmap aligned to BU and enterprise objectives (revenue, margin, SKU vitality, risk)
• Own prioritization decisions and resource recommendations across programs (engineering capacity, capex, supplier development, testing bandwidth)

2) Market Intelligence, VOC, and Opportunity Assessment

• Lead VOC and insight generation through customer interviews, site visits, channel input, service/incident data, and win/loss learning
• Translate insights into opportunity spaces, concepts, and product requirements with clear use cases and buying triggers
• Track emerging trends (battery chemistries, regulations, insurance requirements, facility safety standards, fire suppression/containment practices) and convert into actionable portfolio moves
• Create business cases with pricing corridors, cost targets, margin models, and investment needs

3) Program Governance and Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead portfolio reviews and governance rhythms (monthly operating reviews, quarterly roadmap reviews, gate readiness)
• Ensure rigorous stage-gate execution: problem definition, requirements, risk assessment, validation plans, and launch readiness
• Drive cross-functional alignment on scope, schedule, cost, and risk; manage tradeoffs and elevate decisions when needed
• Create standard work for portfolio management: dashboards, KPIs, templates, decision logs, and lessons learned

4) Product Definition, Differentiation, and Value Proposition

• Own product positioning and value proposition development in partnership with BU marketing and product management
• Define competitive claim strategy and validation plan (test methods, protocols, thresholds, documentation)
• Partner with engineering to translate requirements into robust designs with clear safety factors, durability, and compliance considerations
• Build pricing and packaging strategies tied to customer value and total cost of ownership (TCO)

5) Operational Readiness and Launch Excellence

• Partner with operations and supply chain to ensure manufacturability, quality plans, supplier readiness, and capacity alignment
• Support make/buy decisions and supplier selection aligned to cost, quality, and lead-time needs
• Lead launch plans and commercialization readiness with sales enablement, channel strategy, and post-launch performance tracking

6) Financial and Performance Management

• Own portfolio-level performance: forecast assumptions, business case governance, investment tracking, and variance management
• Define and track KPIs such as: pipeline health, NPD throughput, time-to-launch, on-time gate performance, gross margin, mix, attach rates, and field quality

Key Outcomes (What Success Looks Like)

• A clear, aligned 12-36 month lithium-ion safety portfolio roadmap with measurable growth, margin, and share objectives
• A balanced pipeline (core / adjacent / transformational) with transparent investment choices and portfolio tradeoffs
• Faster cycle time and higher on-time/on-budget launch performance through strong governance and risk management
• Scalable platform thinking (modularity, common components, repeatable validation methods) that improves speed and profitability
• Strong VOC-driven product definitions with compelling value propositions and differentiated claims supported by test data
• "Launch-ready" programs that are operationally executable (capacity, tooling, quality controls, sourcing) and commercially enabled (pricing, channels, training, content)

Your Skills and Expertise:

To ensure your success from day one in this role, Justrite requires the following qualifications at a minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Engineering strongly preferred); MBA a plus
• 3+ years of experience in portfolio management, product management, strategy, or NPD leadership in industrial/manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional NPD portfolios through a stage-gate process
• Strong business case development skills (market sizing, pricing, margin modeling, investment tradeoffs)
• Proven ability to influence without authority; strong executive communication and stakeholder management
• Ability to travel ~25% to plants, test labs, customer sites, and corporate offices

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Experience in industrial safety, hazardous materials handling, chemical safety, EHS products, fire protection, or containment systems
• Exposure to lithium-ion battery safety applications (storage, charging rooms, thermal runaway mitigation, smoke/fire containment, compliant enclosures)
• Familiarity with relevant standards and compliance environments (e.g., OSHA/NFPA/UL or comparable frameworks)
• Experience launching platform-based products and building modular portfolios (common components, scalable variants)

Why This Role Matters

Lithium-ion adoption is reshaping safety requirements across industrial, commercial, and institutional environments. This role will be central to how JSG expands into new lithium-ion safety solutions-building a scalable, differentiated portfolio that protects people and facilities while driving meaningful growth for the Chemical Safety BU.

Compensation:

Actual base salaries will vary and may be above or below the recommended pay range based on factors such as but not limited to location, relevant experience and performance. Additionally, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan to enhance their overall total compensation package when Justrite Safety Group and their business units achieve annual business and financial targets.

Benefits:

• Our benefits package at Justrite Safety Group is designed to be the best in the industry, offering everything you need to support your career and personal well-being. You'll receive a competitive salary paired with an extensive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage. We provide flexible hours and alternative work arrangements designed to support a healthy work-life balance. These options vary depending on the specific roles and business needs.
• Your financial future is secure with our 401K plan, complete with a company match, and you're protected with company-paid short and long-term disability insurance. To ensure you're at your best, we also offer generous paid time off, personal days, and a robust employee wellness program that supports your overall health and happiness. At Justrite, our benefits package is designed to help you thrive both in and out of the workplace.

Why Choose Justrite Safety Group?

As a leading name in the safety industry, Justrite provides a platform where you can collaborate with some of the best professionals in the field, learning from experts and contributing to cutting-edge solutions. The company's commitment to excellence and innovation ensures that you'll be part of a team that is making a real impact. With a strong focus on career advancement, Justrite empowers its employees to thrive both personally and professionally, making it an ideal workplace for those looking to grow their careers in a meaningful and rewarding environment.

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to product excellence and making a positive impact in our company, and in our community!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.