Product Manager – Kite

The Role

At North Actionsports, home to iconic watersports brands like North Kiteboarding, North Foils, North Windsurfing, and Mystic, we design and build world-class gear for riders who demand the best. We are looking for a Product Manager – Kite to be the operational engine behind our kite range by translating category strategy into clear product briefs, structured development plans, and commercially strong kite assortments. You will own the full product lifecycle to ensure every kite meets rider needs, performance targets, cost and margin goals, and hits the water on time while working at the intersection of R&D, Design, Sourcing, Marketing, and Sales.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Production

• Lead the end-to-end development of the kite range from concept through production readiness.
• Own development timelines, milestones, and workflows in close collaboration with engineering and design.
• Translate product briefs into structured development plans covering materials, construction, and performance targets.
• Coordinate prototyping, testing, and iteration cycles to support performance-driven decision making.
• Manage the handover from development to production by ensuring specifications, BOMs, and quality standards are approved.
• Monitor progress and drive corrective actions to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Partner with quality and technical teams to validate production readiness and certification compliance.

Supplier & Cost Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to drive performance and continuous improvement.
• Own cost targets and support value engineering and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Conduct supplier reviews covering cost, quality, delivery, innovation, and compliance.

Quality, Compliance & Sustainability

• Ensure products meet North’s standards for quality, safety, and performance.
• Collaborate with compliance and sustainability teams to support ethical sourcing and sustainable material choices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Align closely with Category, Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain on priorities, launches, pricing, and forecasting.

Requirements

• Engineering background with 5–7 years of experience in product management, preferably in action sports or technical consumer products.
• Strong affinity with technical textiles and materials.
• Solid understanding of construction techniques across materials such as carbon fiber, aluminium, glass fiber, EVA, plastics, and stainless steel.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes including casting, injection and form molding, 3D printing, milling, welding, sewing, and gluing.
• Basic knowledge of relevant standards such as ASTM, JIS, and NEN.
• Strong affinity with watersports; kiteboarding experience is a big plus.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional, international teams.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary and good pension scheme.
• Working in a dynamic, fast-growing company active in over 70 countries.
• Attractive staff discount on our products.
• Annual staff outing and monthly Thursday drinks.
• Company lunch, gym, and wellness options (boxing, massage, table tennis, table football, pool billiards).
• A role with real ownership, impact, and room to grow professionally and personally.