Product Marketing Manager, Professional Turf Equipment - The Toro Company

About the position

The Product Marketing Manager, Professional Turf drives product strategy and market positioning for seated zero-turn and wide-area walk-behind mowers within the L&C business, elevating brand impact and customer engagement across Exmark, Spartan, and Toro brands. Development of new landscape contractor equipment and improved products to meet customer requirements. Leads the product prioritization and product project write-up process including return on investment financial analysis. Assists in overall business P&L management to ensure growth objectives are accomplished and operational improvement goals are achieved.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual and long range, multi-generational technology roadmap for professional seated zero turn and wide area walk behind mowers
• Obtain approval for long-range vision, goals and strategies for Product Management
• Develop business modeling of different customer types for the use of professional seated zero turn and wide area walk behind mowers
• Execute Voice of the Customer research in support of product development activities to translate present and future customer needs to define capabilities and long term competitive advantages - own requirements, specifications, and release plans
• Recommend and develop innovative new/improved products in conjunction with Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales and other key departments, to serve all end users
• Establish and maintain an effective method to determine customer satisfaction on new/current products and ensure timely corrective actions/changes are made where appropriate
• Monitor market share, inventory levels, profitability of product lines, and pricing strategy
• Collaborate across teams - create alignment between related products, engineering teams and other stakeholders
• Monitor quality levels of products, and put in place methods to improve quality and reduce warranty
• Develop and execute competitive benchmarking activities in order to ensure leadership in products and programs
• Support the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process to drive organizational excellence with phase in and phase out of product lifecycle
• Investigate, assess, and recommend new business and cost reduction/avoidance opportunities for the Division
• Build and maintain a high degree of understanding and cooperation between the departments, supporting functions, and customers served
• Represent the Division/Company at trade/civic functions as appropriate

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree is required, preferably in the field of marketing.
• 3-5 years' experience, in the outdoor power equipment industry preferred
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move items that are 50 lbs.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated superior interpersonal, supervisory, and leadership abilities for product/team management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, exhibit initiative and be a team player fully supportive of division and company objectives and culture.
• Prior demonstrated success with building strong cross-functional working relationships with Engineering, Sales and Customer Care departments.
• Strong customer orientation, including experience with Voice of Customer.
• Passion for providing market-leading products on time and within project scope

Nice-to-haves

• An MBA is preferred.
• 6+ years' experience in the outdoor power equipment industry preferred.
• Prior experience with the RLC (Residential, Landscape & Contractor) dealer channel preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Affordable and top-tier medical/dental/vision plan
• 401k
• Onsite café serving breakfast and lunch
• Complimentary use of onsite fitness facility
• 20 hours of paid time to volunteer in the community
• Flexible summer hours