COMPANY BACKGROUND:
SLINGCO is an award-winning supplier of high-quality tools and accessories for the installation and handling of cable, with over 40 years of industry heritage. We serve customers in over 70 countries worldwide from our head office in Lancashire, UK, and bases in Georgia, USA, and Bengaluru, India.
Our products are used in safety critical applications for a wide range of markets. With sectors including oil & gas, civil engineering, aerospace, transport, utilities, marine/offshore and the military – there’s no room for error. That’s why we do everything with the utmost care and precision.
We design and manufacture to the highest specifications and test to destruction. If our products don’t meet and exceed the most stringent national and international standards, they’re not good enough for our customers.
At Slingco, our goal is to create innovative high-quality products that our customers can depend on, whilst providing a positive experience for our customers and our employees. Every aspect of our work, culture and commitment to innovation is driven by our core values.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Product Manager is responsible for the market success of Slingco’s power utility and overhead line tooling portfolio. This role translates customer needs, field intelligence, and market trends into clear product requirements — bridging engineering, sales, manufacturing, and end users to ensure Slingco products are competitive, compliant, and commercially ready.
The ideal candidate brings experience in mechanical product development within utility tooling, industrial lifting/rigging, overhead line hardware, or related heavy-duty applications. Familiarity with manufacturers such as Hastings, Hubbell Chance, or Buckingham is valued but not required.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Market Intelligence & Voice of Customer
Own the collection and synthesis of VOC insights from utilities, contractors, distributors, and field users
Conduct competitive benchmarking and monitor industry trends to identify gaps and opportunities in Slingco’s portfolio
Translate market intelligence into actionable product requirements and recommendations for the roadmap
Product Requirements & NPD Inputs
Serve as the voice of the market inside the NPD process — owning the commercial and customer inputs that feed Stage 0 & 1
Define product performance and compliance requirements based on VOC, standards review, and competitive analysis
Build business cases with cost/feasibility inputs to support go/no-go decisions
Partner with the Lead Application Engineer and Design Engineering to ensure market requirements are correctly translated into product specifications
Commercial Readiness & Launch
Develop product positioning, feature messaging, and go-to-market inputs in collaboration with sales
Lead the internal product launch process — training, documentation, pricing inputs, and customer approval submissions
Support utility standards registration and Approved Vendor List (AVL) processes
Field Support & Lifecycle Management
Act as the primary technical escalation point for field issues, product evaluations, and failure investigations.
Translate field feedback into continuous improvement initiatives and communicate priorities to engineering.
Support value engineering efforts with both technical and commercial framing.
Industry & Standards Engagement
Represent Slingco as an active participant in relevant technical organizations (IEEE, ASTM, NESC)
Monitor evolving standards and regulatory requirements affecting the utility tooling market
Attend key trade shows and customer visits to maintain market presence and relationships
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships
Commercially aware with a customer-focused approach and strong analytical skills
Self-motivated, proactive and able to manage multiple priorities effectively
Collaborative team player with the ability to influence and work across cross-functional teams
Adaptable, organised and committed to delivering high-quality outcomes
Professional, resilient and able to exercise sound judgement and discretion
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in product management, application engineering, or technical product development in industrial tooling, utility products, lifting/rigging, or comparable markets
Demonstrated ability to write product requirements, build business cases, and present to cross-functional stakeholders
Strong working knowledge of mechanical design principles, steel fabrication, and material selection for high-load outdoor environments
Familiarity with ASTM, ANSI, IEEE, or OSHA standards relevant to utility tools
Strong project management and communication skills
Direct experience with T&D utilities, electrical contractors, or utility tool distributors
Experience with Autodesk Inventor or equivalent 3D CAD (for concept review, not necessarily design execution)
Background in product launch, pricing support, or go-to-market planning
Experience with failure analysis and root cause investigations
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Business Administration, Industrial Distribution, or a related field with relevant technical experience
PMP (Project Management Professional) or Pragmatic Institute (PMC/PMMC) certification preferred
Membership in, or active participation with, professional organizations such as IEEE or ASTM is preferred
TRAVEL:
