Product Associate/Product Manager I - Golf and Grounds Equipment - The Toro Company

The Toro Company•Bloomington, MN

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Toro Company is seeking a Product Associate/Product Manager I to support the global business objectives of the Commercial and International divisions by efficiently and effectively managing assigned product line(s) through their entire life cycle. This role involves identifying unmet customer needs and growth opportunities, leading new product development projects in partnership with Engineering, and collaborating with Marketing and Communications for successful product launches. The Toro Company, founded in 1914 and based in Minnesota, is committed to maintaining the environment and giving back to its communities, with a global presence in various landscapes.

Requirements

Associates Product Manager: Bachelor’s degree in product management, marketing or engineering and 0-4 years of applicable experience
Product Manager I: Bachelor’s degree in product management, marketing or engineering and 4+ years of applicable experience (or MBA with 2+ years applicable experience) in durable goods.
Ability to clearly understand target markets, clearly articulate customer needs, and propose product concepts and solutions to Toro internal personnel to drive incremental growth.
Experience to include new product development in durable, service-oriented goods
Ability to effectively participate in cross-functional teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects.
Strong analytical skills.
Experience managing profit and loss (P&L) statements.
Experience marketing through a business-to-business dealer/distribution system is highly preferred.
Excellent verbal/written communication skills and influencing ability.
Self-starter with a bias for action and ability to simultaneously lead multiple project teams.
Strong technical aptitude enabling communication, understanding, and collaboration with technical service and engineering.
Ability to quickly assimilate and synthesize a significant amount of complex information and work with team members to make sound business, product and financial decisions.
Strong analytical abilities to review and summarize data for presentation, direction and decision making.
Fluent in Microsoft Office suite of products.
Ability and confidence operating and training others on assigned product line(s).
Physical ability and willingness to perform product set up and operating adjustments.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a school/employment or any other visa, regardless of expiration date, now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience marketing through a business-to-business dealer/distribution system is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate global Voice of the Customer (VOC) activities and other market research to fully understand customer requirements and drive decisions for assigned product line(s).
Develop, present, and execute an annual Multi-Generation Product Plan (MGPP) for assigned product(s).
Lead new product development projects, utilizing Toro’s product development stage gate process, serving as the advocate for the customer, developing and communicating clear product specifications, functionality, capability and performance requirements, and identifying necessary accessories.
Contribute to monthly project review meetings and project stage gate approval meetings.
Collaborate with engineering and test functions to ensure appropriate design criteria and test plan for quality and lowest possible warranty.
Develop product launch plans in collaboration with market managers and marketing communications teams.
Engage in the global Sales Inventory Operations Planning (SIOP) process, with primary responsibility for annual sales and inventory projections, as well as model line-up transition planning and execution as appropriate.
Monitor and analyze retail sales, distributor order activity, and field inventory position.
Deliver against annual net sales, retail sales, and inventory goals for product line(s).
Collaborate with regional marketing managers, sales team, and finance team regarding market and product pricing strategies.
Prudently manage product line budget(s).
Regularly participate in product Design and Cost Improvement (DCI) team meetings.
Participate in Product Quality Initiative (PQI) team analysis, action plans, and reporting.
Build and maintain strong relationships with engineering, sales and customer care teams.
Provide Toro internal sales people and channel partners with timely and accurate product information.
Plan and deliver product sales training, including participation in live training events and recorded product webinars.
Develop content for sales training tools and marketing collateral materials.
Monitor competitive product activity, and develop competitive product comparisons for use in training Toro and distributor sales teams.
Support industry trade shows, customer experience events, and other key divisional events, activities and initiatives.