Lab Director - Sporting Goods

JLB Search has been retained by a fast-growing sporting goods manufacturer to find someone to build and own a hands-on test lab, validating performance and safety across its expanding range of hardgoods.

This isn't an academic or back-room QA role. You'll run the lab day to day — from setting up and calibrating equipment to defining test protocols and feeding clear, actionable data straight into product development. You'll sit close to the product and design teams, helping them make faster, better-informed decisions using real-world performance and durability data.

What you'll be doing

Owning day-to-day lab operations, equipment, SOPs and sample flow. Developing and refining test methods for core categories like bats and protective equipment, translating standards such as ASTM and NOCSAE into practical internal procedures. Running test programs, analyzing results and turning them into reports the wider team can act on. Working closely with product, design, sourcing and ops, and helping shape capital planning as the lab scales.

What we're looking for

3-8+ years in a physical test lab environment, ideally sporting goods, protective equipment or an adjacent field such as helmets, footwear, outdoor equipment or automotive components. Hands-on experience with mechanical or impact testing (drop tests, fatigue, durability, environmental conditioning), and a track record of owning test methods rather than just running someone else's scripts. Comfortable moving between the bench and the laptop — a relevant engineering or materials science degree is a plus, but strong lab experience counts for just as much.

This is a builder's role in a scrappy, high-growth environment, and you'll help define what the lab becomes as it scales.

Base Salary up to $110k per year deending on experience plus bonus, relocation allowance and benefits.

Full-time and on-site, with occasional travel to factories and partner sites.

If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out in confidence to Dan Burke at JLB Search.