Application Guide
How to Apply for Head of Global Product Strategy
at Tomra
🏢 About Tomra
TOMRA is a global leader in advanced sensor-based sorting and collection systems that optimize resource recovery, directly enabling the circular economy. Unlike generic recycling companies, TOMRA designs intelligent systems that maximize material purity and value, making it a mission-driven innovator at the intersection of technology and sustainability. Working here means contributing to tangible environmental impact on a global scale.
About This Role
As Head of Global Product Strategy for TOMRA Collection, you will define and prioritize the strategic direction for the entire solution portfolio, balancing customer needs, competitive dynamics, and TOMRA's long-term ambitions. This role is impactful because you'll shape the next generation of reverse vending and collection systems that directly influence how millions of consumers participate in the circular economy worldwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve analyzing competitive intelligence reports on global collection trends, facilitating a workshop with Product Managers to align on solution roadmaps, and preparing a strategic briefing for the Solution Board on portfolio trade-offs. You could also join a key account meeting with a major retail chain to discuss future solution needs, followed by refining customer value vision documents for internal stakeholders.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Tomra Is Looking For
- A strategic decision-maker with 10+ years in B2B product/portfolio strategy, specifically in complex hardware-software integrated systems or industrial technology.
- Demonstrated ability to translate sustainability metrics (like material recovery rates) into commercial product priorities and profitable business cases.
- Proven experience facilitating collaboration between geographically dispersed Product Units, Business Areas, and executive boards to align on solution roadmaps.
- A communicator who can articulate technical solution visions to major retail or municipal key accounts while internally championing portfolio trade-off decisions.
📝 Tips for Applying to Tomra
Quantify your experience with 'portfolio thinking'—describe a specific instance where you prioritized a suite of physical/digital products under constraints like lifecycle cost and sustainability performance.
Highlight any background in circular economy, waste management, or resource recovery industries; if none, demonstrate how you've balanced commercial drivers with mission-oriented outcomes in past roles.
Tailor your resume to show progression in global strategy roles, emphasizing work with 'Solution Boards' or similar governance bodies that align business units.
Research TOMRA's existing Collection solutions (like reverse vending machines) and propose one strategic question or insight about their future direction in your cover letter.
Prepare examples of engaging with 'major customers' in key account settings to discuss solution roadmaps, not just sales.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your methodology for integrating customer needs and competitive insights into a clear, actionable global product strategy—cite a relevant past achievement.', "How you balance commercial drivers (cost, profit) with sustainability performance and innovation in portfolio decisions, referencing TOMRA's circular economy mission.", 'Your approach to stimulating collaboration across Business Areas and Product Units to drive unified solution direction, with a brief example.', "Why TOMRA's specific focus on sensor-based collection systems for resource recovery excites you strategically, linking to their technology or market position."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → TOMRA's 2023 Annual Report and sustainability targets to understand their business model and circular economy commitments.
- → Their Collection product portfolio—especially TOMRA Reverse Vending solutions—and recent announcements about digital innovations or key partnerships.
- → The competitive landscape: key players in resource recovery technology (like recycling sortation) and deposit return systems globally.
- → TOMRA's organizational structure, focusing on 'Business Areas' and 'Solution Board' mentions in press releases or leadership bios.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting generic product strategy experience without examples in hardware-digital integrated systems or B2B industrial markets.
- Focusing solely on commercial outcomes without addressing how you incorporate sustainability performance into product decisions.
- Demonstrating a top-down leadership style instead of emphasizing collaboration and enabling growth in teams across Business Units.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!