Technical Manager – Hardlines (Physical and Mechanical)

Job description

Job Summary

The Technical Manager is responsible for providing technical and regulatory expertise across a broad range of consumer product categories, including toys, juvenile products, furniture, sporting goods, DIY and home improvement products, housewares, and general merchandise.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert on consumer product safety, regulatory compliance, performance requirements, and testing requirements across multiple product categories. Interpret U.S. and Canadian regulations, standards, retailer requirements, and test methods to support clients and internal stakeholders. Monitor and communicate regulatory developments, standards revisions, enforcement actions, recall activity, and industry trends.

Provide technical support to sales, account management, and business development teams during client engagements, proposals, and strategic initiatives. Serve as a technical advisor for key clients, retailers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders on product safety and compliance matters. Prepare, review, and approve test plans, test protocols, and other technical documentation Collaborate with laboratory personnel to ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulations, standards, and test requirements.

Participate in Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and industry associations. Develop and deliver technical training programs, webinars, workshops, and presentations for clients, retailers, suppliers, laboratories, and internal teams. Create presentations, webinars, technical bulletins, guidance documents, and customer-facing educational materials. Mentor and provide technical guidance to other technical team members and laboratory personnel to support professional development and technical consistency.

Support initiatives and contribute expertise to technical service development and process improvement projects. Ensure projects are completed according to established timelines, and client expectations. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, retailers, industry associations, and regulatory bodies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline At least
• 8 years of experience in a testing laboratory, or consumer product compliance role
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in product safety, regulatory compliance, testing, quality assurance, or technical services associated with consumer products.

Strong knowledge of U.S. and Canadian consumer product regulations, standards, and compliance requirements across multiple product categories, including toys, juvenile products, furniture, sporting goods, home improvement and DIY products, housewares, and other general merchandise. Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying technical standards, regulatory requirements, and test methods. Active participation in standards development organizations (SDOs) and industry committees, such as ASTM, ISO, or similar organizations.

Experience collaborating with manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories, retailers, and regulatory agencies to address compliance and product safety requirements. Proven ability to assess product safety risks, investigate technical issues, and develop practical compliance solutions. Strong technical writing and communication skills, with experience preparing test protocols, regulatory interpretations, and customer-facing training materials.

Experience in preparing and delivering technical training and regulatory updates. Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously. Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.