Manager, Strategic Partnership (OEM)

Mechanix Wear•Skokie, IL

5d•$120,000 - $147,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.