- Job Title: Product Marketing Associate - The Toro Company
- Company: The Toro Company
- Location: Bloomington, MN, USA
- Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (3 days on-site, 2 days remote)
- Category: Marketing
- Date Posted: 2025-05-29
- Experience Level: Entry to Mid-Level (0-2 years)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing licensing and accessory products for The Toro Company's Landscape and Contractors Group.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and launch new products.
- Conducting market research and analyzing product performance.
- Ensuring products align with brand vision and meet market demands throughout their lifecycle.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proactive approach, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment. It also involves some travel, up to 25% domestically and internationally.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Product Management: Manage assigned licensing and accessory products, ensuring they align with brand vision and meet market demands.
- Product Development: Lead and assist in new product development projects, ensuring customer requirements are met, and schedule and financial targets are achieved.
- Product Launch: Launch new products crisply and successfully.
- Market Research: Conduct market research and analyze competitive landscape to identify trends and customer needs.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, marketing, sales, and legal, to ensure successful product launches.
- Compliance: Coordinate with licensing partners to ensure compliance with brand guidelines and contractual obligations.
- Performance Analysis: Analyze product performance and gather feedback to inform future product development.
- Documentation: Support product documentation creation, including specifications, packaging, and marketing materials.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration and requires strong communication skills to work effectively with various teams and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
- Experience: Prior experience or internships in product management or licensing are a plus.
- Required Skills:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Basic understanding of financial principles, including ROI and profit margins.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
- Preferred Skills:
- Prior marketing experience in licensing and accessories in a related industry.
- SAP and/or Salesforce product knowledge and configurations.
ASSUMPTION: While a degree in marketing or a related field is required, The Toro Company values relevant experience and skills over formal education. Candidates with a strong background in product management or licensing are encouraged to apply.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $57,000 - $67,000 per year. This range takes into account skills, experience, education, and location. Actual compensation will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.
- Benefits:
- Affordable and top-tier medical, dental, and vision plans.
- 401k plan.
- Onsite café and fitness facility.
- Mental and financial health resources.
- 20 hours of paid volunteer time.
- Flexible summer hours (leave by noon on Fridays during summer).
- Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with some flexibility for a hybrid work arrangement.
ASSUMPTION: The Toro Company offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including perks such as an onsite café and fitness facility, to attract and retain top talent.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: The Toro Company operates in the machinery manufacturing industry, focusing on outdoor environment solutions, including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, and underground utility construction.
- Company Size: With over 10,000 employees, The Toro Company is a large organization that offers opportunities for career growth and development.
- Founded: The company was founded in 1914 and has since grown into a global leader in its industry.
- Company Description: The Toro Company represents a portfolio of global brands that span various markets, industries, and geographies. The company is committed to transforming how jobs get done by delivering market-leading innovation that is thoughtfully engineered and grounded in solving real human challenges and needs.
- Company Specialties: The Toro Company specializes in outdoor environment solutions, including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, irrigation, and outdoor lighting solutions.
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: This role is an entry to mid-level position within the marketing department of a large, global organization.
- Reporting Structure: The Product Marketing Associate will report directly to the Product Marketing Manager for the Landscape and Contractors Group.
- Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days on-site and 2 days remote, with the possibility of 5 days on-site as needed.
- Growth Opportunities: As a large organization with a diverse portfolio of brands, The Toro Company offers opportunities for career growth and development within the marketing department and across the company.
ASSUMPTION: This role provides an excellent opportunity for an entry-level or junior marketing professional to gain experience in product marketing and licensing within a large, global organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: The Toro Company's headquarters in Bloomington, MN, offers a casual, corporate environment with a focus on employee comfort and productivity.
- Office Location(s): Bloomington, MN (headquarters).
- Geographic Context: Bloomington, MN, is a suburb of Minneapolis, offering a mix of urban and suburban living with easy access to cultural attractions, outdoor recreation, and a strong job market.
- Work Schedule: The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility and a better work-life balance, with the possibility of working remotely two days per week.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and flexible work schedule at The Toro Company's headquarters provide employees with a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote work.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: The interview process for this role may include phone or video screens, followed by on-site interviews with the hiring manager and other team members. A final round may involve a presentation or case study.
- Key Assessment Areas: Candidates will be assessed on their analytical skills, communication skills, and cultural fit with The Toro Company's values and work environment.
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the product marketing and licensing processes, as well as your ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Research The Toro Company and its products to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and the organization.
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is designed to assess candidates' technical skills, cultural fit, and potential for growth within the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- SAP and/or Salesforce (preferred)
- Product lifecycle management software (e.g., Arena, PLM 360)
- Market research tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for the product marketing and licensing industries, with a focus on collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: The Toro Company values caring relationships, innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to helping customers build, shape, and care for the world around us.
- Work Style: The Toro Company offers a casual, corporate environment with a focus on employee comfort and productivity. The organization values collaboration, open communication, and a positive team dynamic.
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with The Toro Company's values, particularly caring relationships and a commitment to helping customers?
- How comfortable are you working in a hybrid team environment, collaborating with both on-site and remote team members?
- How do you approach problem-solving and decision-making in a team setting, and how do you ensure that your ideas are effectively communicated and implemented?
ASSUMPTION: The Toro Company values a diverse and inclusive work environment, and candidates who can demonstrate their alignment with the organization's values and work style will be well-suited to this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Role-Specific Challenges: This role may require working with tight deadlines and managing multiple projects simultaneously, requiring strong time management and organizational skills.
- Company-Specific Challenges: As a large, global organization, The Toro Company may have complex internal structures and processes that can be challenging to navigate for new employees.
- Industry-Specific Challenges: The machinery manufacturing industry can be competitive and fast-paced, requiring adaptability and a strong understanding of market trends and customer needs.
- Location-Specific Challenges: Bloomington, MN, can experience cold winters, which may impact outdoor work and travel for this role.
ASSUMPTION: While there may be challenges specific to this role, The Toro Company offers a supportive work environment and opportunities for professional growth and development to help employees overcome these obstacles.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Career Level: This role is similar to other entry to mid-level product marketing and licensing positions within the machinery manufacturing industry.
- Industry-Specific Context: The machinery manufacturing industry is competitive and fast-paced, requiring strong analytical skills, communication skills, and adaptability.
- Career Path Comparison: This role provides an excellent opportunity for career growth and development within the marketing department and across the organization.
ASSUMPTION: While this role is similar to other entry to mid-level product marketing and licensing positions, The Toro Company's large, global organization offers unique opportunities for career growth and development within the marketing department and across the company.
📝 Sample Projects
- Product Development: Lead a new product development project from concept to launch, ensuring that customer requirements are met, and schedule and financial targets are achieved.
- Market Research: Conduct market research and analyze competitive landscape to identify trends and customer needs, and develop data-driven product strategies.
- Product Launch: Launch a new product crisply and successfully, coordinating with cross-functional teams and ensuring compliance with brand guidelines and contractual obligations.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are representative of the key responsibilities and required skills for this role, and provide an insight into the day-to-day tasks and challenges faced by the Product Marketing Associate.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Role-Specific Questions:
- How does this role fit into the overall product marketing and licensing strategy for The Toro Company's Landscape and Contractors Group?
- What are the most pressing challenges facing the product portfolio, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?
- Team-Specific Questions:
- How does this role collaborate with other teams, such as design, engineering, marketing, sales, and legal, to ensure successful product launches?
- What is the dynamic like within the product marketing and licensing team, and how does this role contribute to a positive team environment?
- Company-Specific Questions:
- How does The Toro Company support the professional growth and development of its employees, particularly in the marketing department?
- What are some of the unique aspects of working for a large, global organization like The Toro Company?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions during the interview process will help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the organization, and demonstrate their interest and enthusiasm for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
- To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link: [Application URL]
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare for the interview process by researching The Toro Company and its products, and practicing your responses to common interview questions.
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the role.
- If you are offered the position, be prepared to discuss your salary expectations and benefits requirements.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
