Development Lab Manager Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

***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.