Project Manager - Gear

Gear Project Manager

The Gear Project Manager sits at the intersection of technical product knowledge and customer execution. Gear — power tools, hand tools, safety equipment, and jobsite essentials — is one of the most volume-driven, relationship-dependent categories in our portfolio. Contractors count on us to have what they need, when they need it, without friction. That starts here.

This is not a catalog-quoting role. You own the project lifecycle for gear procurement from initial quote through delivery, managing vendor relationships, tracking availability, resolving substitutions, and keeping every stakeholder aligned. You are the reason a job site does not shut down waiting on tools — and the reason a contractor calls Shepherd before anyone else the next time.

You will work closely with outside sales, purchasing, and directly with customers. The work requires product depth, timeline ownership, and the kind of proactive communication that keeps surprises from becoming problems.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises:

You own the project schedule and customer commitments. If a lead time shifts, a product is discontinued, or a delivery is at risk — you know before the customer does and you have already started solving it. Your reliability is what earns the next order.

We Stay Hungry:

The tools market moves fast — new manufacturers, updated specs, pricing changes. You stay current. You bring product knowledge that helps customers make better decisions, and you proactively identify better or more available solutions before they ask.

We Grow Together:

You work across sales, purchasing, and project teams — and you treat those handoffs as shared accountability, not as someone else's problem. Your wins are team wins, and you help the broader team get smarter about gear along the way.

We Own It:

When a project goes sideways — wrong spec, back-ordered item, missed delivery window — you do not wait for someone else to intervene. You surface it early, own the recovery, and document what to do differently next time.

We Go Above & Beyond:

You anticipate the follow-up before it is asked. You flag the long-lead item before it becomes a delay. You notice that the spec has a conflict, and you tell the customer before they find it on the job site. That is what separates a great Gear PM from an order taker.

Key Outcomes

Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

Project Ownership & Execution

• Own the full lifecycle of gear projects — from quote review through procurement, tracking, and delivery — with clear documentation at each stage
• Coordinate with customers, sales reps, and vendors to ensure orders are placed accurately, lead times are confirmed, and approvals are obtained on time
• Track long-lead and high-demand items and flag risks to the sales team and customer before they become schedule problems
• Manage order releases, phased deliveries, and job site staging requirements with attention to sequencing and site readiness
• Maintain organized, accessible project files so anyone on the team can pick up where you left off without asking you where things are

Customer Relationship Management

• Build and maintain direct relationships with contractors, project owners, and foremen — you are their go-to at Shepherd for gear and tools
• Anticipate customer needs and communicate proactively — status updates, availability changes, substitution recommendations — before they ask
• Represent Shepherd's reliability in every interaction, especially when things do not go as planned
• Support outside sales by providing accurate, professional quotes and product guidance that helps close business and retain customers

Product & Technical Expertise

• Develop and maintain working knowledge of gear and tool product lines — power tools, hand tools, safety equipment, fasteners, and jobsite accessories — to advise customers and identify better solutions
• Translate project requirements into accurate bill-of-materials and procurement plans, catching conflicts or omissions before they create field problems
• Identify cost-effective substitutions or alternatives when specified products are unavailable or long-lead, and obtain approval from the…