Director Technical Services

Workwear Outfitters is the world’s workwear authority, and leading manufacturer of innovative work apparel and footwear. We serve the workers who dedicate their lives to making our world work better. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the company employs more than 5,800 people in facilities spanning the globe.
The Workwear Outfitters family includes trusted brands such as Red Kap®, Bulwark®, Image Authority®, Kodiak®, Terra®, Liberty®, Work Authority®, Workrite® Fire Service, Chef Designs®, Horace Small®, Criticore®, and OOBE®. The company is also the exclusive licensee for Dickies® apparel in the B2B channel.
Our Purpose: We champion and empower workers who make our world work better.
What You Will Do as a Director Technical Services:
The Director of Technical Services provides enterprise leadership for product compliance, technical standards, certification management, and product integrity across Workwear Outfitters' PPE product portfolio. This role ensures products meet global regulatory requirements, industry standards, customer specifications, and brand quality expectations while enabling innovation, speed to market, and profitable growth.
The Director serves as the organization's PPE technical authority and subject matter expert on product performance, risk management, certifications, testing protocols, restricted substances, and standards development. They work cross-functionally with Merchandising, Product Development, Brand, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sustainability teams to mitigate risk and strengthen competitive advantage through technical excellence, while also partnering with Legal to provide technical expertise supporting regulatory matters, customer disputes, product liability claims, and litigation activities.
Through technical leadership, industry engagement, and organizational expertise, the Director helps protect the company from compliance, product performance, and regulatory risk while strengthening WWOF's reputation as a trusted industry leader.
How You Will Make a Difference:
Technical Strategy & Governance
Establish and maintain technical standards, testing requirements, and compliance frameworks across PPE product categories.
Lead technical risk assessment activities and define product performance specifications, testing protocols, and supporting documentation.
Develop long-term strategies that improve product quality, compliance, and customer confidence.
Product Compliance & Certification
Own global certification programs and compliance requirements for PPE product categories.
Ensure products meet applicable federal, state, international, and customer-specific regulations and standards.
Oversee product safety requirements, certification maintenance, and renewal activities.
Product Integrity & Performance
Advise teams involved in PPE product development and lifecycle management on testing methodologies, test result interpretation, product validation, and performance verification.
Serve as the technical escalation point for complex product performance and compliance issues.
Identify and drive product improvement initiatives that enhance safety, durability, functionality, and customer satisfaction.
Legal Advisor
Serve as the primary technical advisor to the WWOF Legal team on product performance, compliance, certifications, standards, and technical risk matters.
Partner with WWOF General Counsel and external counsel to support litigation, regulatory inquiries, customer disputes, and product liability matters.
Prepare technical analyses, supporting documentation, and subject matter expertise for legal proceedings and risk assessments.
Represent WWOF as the company's technical subject matter expert during depositions, legal proceedings, and related matters.
Industry Leadership & Standards Development
Represent WWOF through active participation in industry associations, standards committees, and technical organizations.
Influence emerging industry standards, certification requirements, and regulatory developments.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with technical counterparts at key fiber, fabric, and trim suppliers.
Maintain strong partnerships with laboratories, certification bodies, and technical organizations.
Cross-Functional Business Partnership
Partner with Product, Design, Sourcing, Innovation, Sustainability, Quality, and Laboratory teams to ensure technical requirements are incorporated throughout the product development process.
Provide technical guidance supporting new product introductions, strategic initiatives, and innovation efforts.
Translate complex technical issues into actionable business recommendations for senior leadership.
Advise and support Sales, Business Development, and Customer Support teams on technical inquiries, product claims, market communications, and training needs.
Team Leadership
Lead and develop Technical Services personnel and external technical resources.
Build organizational capability in compliance, testing, certification management, and product performance.
Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, technical rigor, and continuous improvement.
Key Success Measures
Regulatory and certification compliance performance
Product quality improvement and customer claim reduction
Product testing cycle efficiency
Technical risk mitigation
Speed and effectiveness of certification approvals
Influence and leadership within industry standards organizations
Cross-functional partnership effectiveness and stakeholder satisfaction
Experience & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Textile Science, Materials Science, Engineering, Product Development, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive experience in technical services, compliance, quality, product integrity, testing, or related disciplines.
Deep knowledge of apparel, workwear, textile, PPE, and product compliance requirements.
Demonstrated leadership within industry standards organizations, certification bodies, or technical committees preferred.
Proven ability to influence across functions and translate complex technical concepts into business impact.
Strong communication skills with demonstrated success building relationships and collaborating across functions, departments and external stakeholders.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both professionally and personally, including:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Life and disability coverage
401(k) retirement savings plan
Tuition reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
And many additional employee benefits
This role is hybrid in Nashville