Project Manager

ABOUT US:At RLS, we develop products that save lives. As pioneers in the cycling industry, we are on a mission to redefine what is possible in head protection. We go home every day knowing that our products make the world a safer place. Our state-of-the-art facility includes advanced high speed impact testing, full prototyping suite, wet lab and automated production capabilities. Our team buzzes with creativity and innovation. We are looking for a Project Manager to bring rigour, clarity, and momentum to one of the most rewarding product journeys in safety technology.
JOB DESCRIPTION:We're looking for a highly organised and proactive Project Manager to sit at the heart of our product operations—keeping our complex, multi-partner helmet integration projects on track, on time, and moving forward with precision.
This role can be onsite in London or fully remote, with regular travel to London and periodic visits to manufacturing partners in Asia, as we are committed to building a company that supports the best people—wherever they are.
RLS is an ingredient brand. We supply our patented safety technology to helmet manufacturers around the world—which means our projects are inherently collaborative and our timelines are shared. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable leading a meeting, chasing a milestone, and maintaining world-class communication with internal teams and external brand partners simultaneously.
You will be the connective tissue between our Head of Product, Head of Production, and Asian Technical Manager—ensuring that every project moves through our process without dropped handoffs, missed reviews, or avoidable rework. You will be the person who notices when something is going off track before anyone else does, and who speaks up clearly and constructively when it matters.
Great note-taking and disciplined follow-through are non-negotiable. So are our relationships. For many of our brand partners, this person will be the face of RLS—the voice on the weekly call, the name in their inbox, the presence at the factory. You can’t run great projects without great relationships, and we’re looking for someone who understands that instinctively.
The processes you’ll be managing, improving, and in some cases building from scratch are still maturing. For some people, that’s frustrating. For the right person, that's the whole point. This is a rare opportunity to help shape how a fast-growing, mission-driven safety technology company operates—and to leave your mark on the systems, standards, and culture that will carry RLS forward for years to come.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES:Project & Timeline ManagementOwn and maintain master project timelines across all active helmet integration projects, from initial brand partner engagement through first shipment.Proactively identify risks and delays—escalating promptly to the Head of Product or COO with a proposed path forward.Ensure all internal process steps are completed in sequence: design reviews, form-fit-function reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and production sign-offs.Manage project documentation with diligence—maintaining clear records of decisions, revisions, and approvals throughout each project lifecycle.Drive cross-functional alignment between the Product and Production teams at every stage to eliminate surprises downstream.
Partner Communication & Customer ServiceComfortable being the face of RLS for brand partners on project progress, timeline updates, and open actions—ensuring no message goes unanswered.Triage inbound requests from brand partners and ensure they reach the right person in the business quickly and with full context.Maintain a consistently high standard of communication and hospitality—leaving every partner confident in RLS and eager to work on the next project.Support the Head of Product in onboarding new brand partners and introducing them to the RLS process and standards.
Asia Manufacturing CoordinationLead regular communication with brand partners' chosen helmet factories in Asia—including weekly calls to track progress, address open items, and keep tooling and production schedules on track.Work closely with our Asian Technical Manager to coordinate DFM feedback, tooling timelines, T1 sample reviews, and pilot production milestones.Plan and undertake periodic visits to manufacturing sites in Asia throughout the year to support critical project phases and build strong factory relationships.
Internal Process & Continuous ImprovementMaintain and improve project management tools and templates to give the wider team clear visibility of workloads, milestones, and contingency options.Capture and share lessons learned at project close to ensure we continuously improve and don't repeat the same mistakes across projects.
Reporting & CollaborationReport directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).Join the weekly Heads of Department meeting alongside the COO, Head of Product, Head of Production, and Asia Technical Manager.Provide clear, concise project status updates to leadership—flagging risks, blockers, and decisions required in a timely and well-organised way.
Travel RequirementsPeriodic travel to manufacturing locations in China/Vietnam and potentially other sites across Asia, typically aligned to key project milestones (T1 samples, pilot production, etc.).If not based in London, regular travel to the RLS head office to collaborate in person with the team.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:Exceptional organisational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously without losing detail.An effective communicator—clear, personable, and responsive—whether writing a project update, leading a factory call, or navigating a difficult conversation with a partner. You’ll represent RLS in rooms and on calls where the impression you leave really matters.Confident in holding others to account with clarity and professionalism—you'll address a missed deadline or a slipping timeline directly, and you'll do it in a way that keeps the team moving forward.Outstanding note-taking and follow-through—you document everything and nothing falls through the cracks.A process-oriented mindset, with a genuine passion for structure, improvement, and operational rigour.Experience in a product development, manufacturing, or supply chain environment—ideally within consumer products, sporting goods, or a related hardware industry.Familiarity with Asian manufacturing operations and the dynamics of working with factories across time zones.Comfortable working with project management tools (e.g. Monday.com, Asana, Notion, or similar) and keeping them maintained and useful.A degree in Engineering, Product Design, Business, or a related field is preferred but not required—relevant experience and demonstrable skills matter more to us.3 years experience in project management, helmet development or other related consumer products.
BENEFITS:Significant option package in a high value potential and growing technology company25 days holiday in addition to national holidaysPrivate Healthcare
HOW TO APPLY:Send your resume and a cover letter to tony@releaselayer.com