Product Manager - Ditch Witch (Compact Equipment)

Product Manager I or II, Compact Equipment - Ditch Witch

Who Are We?

Ditch Witch is a premier division of The Toro Company. At Ditch Witch in Perry, Oklahoma we pride ourselves on being the leading manufacturer in the underground pipe and cable market. Our plant in Perry stands out because it's a place for people to learn and thrive. We enjoy coming to work because our plant is our community, we see our teammates not only as coworkers but as neighbors and family members. All of our locations build the intricate network of machinery that contributes to The Toro Company. We contribute to building communities, cities, and the world. We invite you to apply and join a team of highly skilled and highly passionate people.

Product Manager, Compact Equipment at Ditch Witch:

This position supports the Ditch Witch Division’s multi-brand product strategy for an assigned product portfolio through its entire lifecycle. Product Managers must have an in-depth knowledge of the construction industry, customer segments, and consistently demonstrate a strong business acumen. Key functions include identifying best solutions for customer needs, providing insight into growth opportunities, and leading new product priorities. They are responsible for product specifications, setting financial targets, and understanding market timelines. Product Managers are key advisors to both leadership and cross-functional teams guided through their insights that shape product positioning, go-to-market strategies, competitive landscapes, and value-add innovation. Their influence ensures alignment between business objectives, customer needs and market responsiveness through the global multi-generational product planning process (MGPP), day-to-day management and the ability to provide clear direction. This position represents the company strategically serving as an industry expert both internally and externally.

What Will You Do?

In order to grow and build a successful career with the Ditch Witch Division, you will:

• Manage assigned product portfolio throughout the entire product lifecycle to maximize ROI.

• Lead global Voice of the Customer (VOC) activities and other market research to fully understand customer requirements and drive decisions for assigned product line(s) that position us as leader in the industry.

• Develop, present, and execute an annual MGPP for assigned product portfolio. Define the market needs, trends, and customer expectations. Develop the product and strategic vision. Develop, communicate, and execute clearly defined product strategies to meet the company’s corporate goals. Create and develop business cases for new products based on market knowledge, competitive landscape, emerging technology, and customer needs.

• Champion of new product development, utilizing the 1PDS stage gate process, serving as the advocate for the customer and communicating clear product specifications, performance requirements, and identifying necessary financial targets.

• Collaborate with engineering and test functions to ensure appropriate design criteria, serviceability and test plan for quality and lowest warranty.

• Develop product launch plans in collaboration with marketing, training, and sales teams.

• Engage in the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process, with primary responsibility for new product annual sales, inventory projections, as well as transition planning.

• Plan and deliver product sales training for launches, including participation in live training events and recorded product webinars.

• Provide internal teammates and dealer channel with timely and accurate product positioning information. (i.e. Product launches, discontinuations, enhancements, stop shipments, regulation changes, or other key communications.)

• Monitor and analyze market share, retail indicators, and order activity to understand performance and competitive positioning.

• Collaborate with sales and finance teams regarding product pricing strategies.

• Support industry trade shows, customer experience events, and other key divisional events, activities, and initiatives as the subject matter expert.

• Cross team collaboration for the broader portfolio to effectively support strategic priorities and provide comprehensive jobsite overview.

• Complete other special assignments, duties, and tasks as required.

• Be the industry expert that represents the company’s interest in the assigned portfolio.

• Key advisor that builds and maintains strong relationships with engineering, sales, customer care, operations, dealer channel and DW leadership team.

Note: The responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the company.

What Do You Need?

To be considered for this role, an individual should meet the following minimal requirements:

Product Manager I

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, marketing, or related field.

• 4+ years of experience in construction or industry related experience.

• Relevant knowledge in profit and loss statements and strong analytical skills.

• Ability to understand target markets, clearly articulate customer needs, and propose product concepts that create stakeholder buy in, while meeting market and divisional objectives.

• Identifies unmet customer needs and growth opportunities, conveying these via MGPP.

• Champion new products through the gate process ensuring alignment with customer needs, financial targets, and marketing timelines.

• Strong technical aptitude enabling communication, understanding and collaboration with engineering.

• Proven self-starter with a bias for action and ability to simultaneously lead multiple project teams.

• Effectively launches new products and coordinates daily product management tasks.

• Works closely and regularly with customers, dealers, and internal representatives to drive product strategy, acceptance and decision making for best-in-class products.

• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written are vital to ensure product line success.

• Ability to represent the portfolio as a leader in presentations, media, conferences, and events.

Product Manager II

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, marketing, or related field.

• Minimum 6+ years in Underground Construction Division or industry related field.

• Successfully conducting MGPP efforts that generate confidence from stakeholders aligning strategies with division and corporate objectives.

• Seen as the industry expert for an assigned portfolio that has defined the market needs, trends, and customer expectations at a strategic, long-term level.

• Understanding market, competition, and user requirements at a depth that creates trust, and an ability that inspires followership.

• Champion new product innovation that sets high standards for value-add and customer satisfaction.

• Proven leader when problems arrive developing solutions by collaborating across engineering, product support, sales, and dealer channel.

• Ability to represent the portfolio as an industry expert in presentations, media outlets, conferences, and events.

• Fosters a culture of collaboration with design team managers and cross functional teams.

• Excellent communication, delivery, and persuasion skills to effectively manage and align various stakeholders with the production direction.

Work Location / Environments:

• This opportunity is Monday-Friday onsite at the Ditch Witch® division headquarters in Perry, OK.

• Rapidly changing demands, schedules, and deadlines. Workdays are often defined by customers’ job requirements.

• Participate in on-call rotation for after-hours emergency support.

• This position requires office environment part of the time, regular trips to the shop, outside work, in test fields, at dealerships, and on customer worksites.

• The shop and outdoor environments include physical hazards such as utilities (typically gas, electric, and water lines), powered vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic, sharp objects, and moving machinery.

• Outdoor environment includes work in all kinds of weather, and construction site conditions such as open excavations, unimproved land, incomplete structures, etc.

• Working with hazardous materials, including fuels, lubricants and batteries.

• Regular, extended use of the telephone.

• Travel 30%-40% (air and highway, domestic and international). Must be willing to obtain/maintain an active, valid, non-expired US Driver's license and US Passport. The employee regularly drives rental and Ditch Witch vehicles.

What Can We Give You?

At Ditch Witch, we are always working to make sure our employees know just how valued they are. In addition to a competitive salary, an affordable and top tier medical/dental/vision plan, 401k, and many other great benefits – Ditch Witch offers employees at our Perry, OK location a variety of perks, including:

• Dress for your day - We know you're more productive when you're comfortable, which is why employees are encouraged to take advantage of our casual, office-plant blended environment.

• Wellness - In addition to physical well-being, TTC offers a variety of mental health, financial health, and other types of resources to every full-time employee.

• Growth Opportunities – TTC prides itself on giving our employees the chance to grow their careers. Tuition reimbursement, opportunities to move into new areas of interest, and promotion opportunities are a few examples.

• Competitive Salary – A reasonable estimate of the annual pay range is between $83,800-$118,100. The pay range takes into account skills, experience, education, and location. It is not common to be hired at or near the top of the range; compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Cash compensation is one piece of our competitive total rewards package. If you need to, you can access your pay early with the One@Work app, formerly the Even app.

The Toro Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees.