Careers at Toughjobs

Do work that actually ships.

We build marketing, websites, and brands for the people who keep the lights on, the water running, and the roofs overhead. If you want your work in the real world — on trucks, in search results, in a tradesperson's growing business — you'll fit right in.

See open roles Life at Toughjobs
Who we are

A marketing shop built
for the trades.

Toughjobs is a Central Illinois & Quad Cities marketing company that works exclusively with home-service and trade businesses — electricians, plumbers, roofers, HVAC techs, and the crews behind them. We're not a generalist agency chasing every industry. We know this world, we respect the people in it, and we build the websites, ad campaigns, vehicle wraps, and brands that help them grow.

What we value

How we work

01

Own the outcome

We don't hand off "deliverables" and walk away. We care whether the phone actually rings for our clients. Results are the job.

02

Straight talk

No jargon, no fluff, no vanity metrics. We say what we mean — to each other and to the tradespeople we serve.

03

Craft & speed

We ship real work fast, and we sweat the details. Good enough to be proud of, out the door when it matters.

Why you'll like it here

The good stuff.

✓

Real ownership

Small team, big responsibility. Your work is visible, and your ideas actually get built.

✓

Growth & mentorship

Learn every lever of modern marketing — SEO, paid, web, brand — not just one narrow slice.

✓

Flexible, human schedule

We care about output, not clock-watching. Life happens, and we work like adults.

✓

Purpose you can see

Help local, family-owned businesses win. Your work changes real people's livelihoods.

✓

Give-back culture

We set aside time every week to help under-resourced entrepreneurs get off the ground.

✓

Room to grow

As we grow, you grow. Early team members shape where this company goes next.

Open roles

Where you might fit.

Web Developer

Full-timeQuad Cities / RemoteWordPress · PHP

Build fast, lead-generating websites for trade businesses. WordPress, custom themes, and a mobile-first, SEO-ready mindset.

Apply

Paid Media Specialist

Full-timeHybridGoogle · Meta Ads

Own Google & Facebook ad campaigns that turn spend into booked jobs. Analytical, creative, and obsessed with ROI.

Apply

Graphic / Brand Designer

Full-timeQuad CitiesBrand · Vehicle Wraps

Design logos, vehicle wraps, and print collateral that make small trade shops look like the biggest name in town.

Apply

Don't see your role?

Always hiring good people

If you're great at something that helps trade businesses grow, tell us. We build teams around talent, not just titles.

Reach out
Now hiring

AI Marketing Roles
(Work from Home Available)

AI Marketing Automation Director

$140K – $200K · Senior

Leads enterprise-wide AI automation strategies across campaigns, customer journeys, and personalization at scale.

Tech: Salesforce Einstein, Adobe Sensei, HubSpot, Zapier AI

Apply Now

AI Growth Marketing Lead

$130K – $190K · Senior

Uses predictive insights and automation to drive customer acquisition, conversion, and revenue growth.

Tech: HubSpot, Amplitude, Google Analytics 4, Mutiny

Apply Now

Autonomous Campaign Manager

$115K – $170K · Mid-Level

Builds AI-powered campaign systems that self-optimize targeting, creative, and spend in real time.

Tech: Marketo, Adobe Campaign, HubSpot, Madgicx

Apply Now

Data-Driven Creative Director

$140K – $200K · Senior

Guides creative strategy using AI-powered testing models, performance analytics, and audience insights.

Tech: Adobe Creative Cloud, Midjourney, Figma, GA4

Apply Now

AI Advertising Copy Director

$95K – $145K · Mid-Level

Oversees AI-crafted ad copy and performance messaging across channels and audience segments.

Tech: Copy.ai, Jasper, Surfer SEO, Grammarly Business

Apply Now

AI Social Media Optimization Manager

$85K – $140K · Mid-Level

Applies AI tools to automate posting, analyze engagement trends, and predict high-performing content.

Tech: Sprout Social, Lately AI, Buffer, Hootsuite

Apply Now

AI Prompt Engineer (Marketing)

$90K – $140K · Mid-Level

Crafts, tests, and refines prompts for generative AI tools to produce on-brand marketing content.

Tech: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, Jasper

Apply Now

AI Brand Experience Architect

$130K – $185K · Senior

Creates intelligent, AI-assisted brand touchpoints across digital experiences and customer journeys.

Tech: Figma, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, Salesforce

Apply Now
What to expect

Our hiring process.

1

Say hello

Send your resume, portfolio, or just a note about what you're great at.

2

Quick chat

A relaxed conversation to see if there's a real fit — both ways.

3

Show your work

A small, practical exercise or portfolio walkthrough. No trick questions.

4

Welcome aboard

Offer, onboarding, and your first real project — fast.

Let's build something great.

Send your resume and a quick note about what you do best. We read every application — and we move fast.

Email [email protected]
More than marketing

Two ways we give back

01 / PARTNERSHIP

Go independent, backed by us

You bring the truck, tools, and skill. We hand you the website, brand, systems, and marketing to turn one truck into a real company.

Explore Partnership
02 / HELPING HANDS

A hand up when budget is tight

One day a week we help people with more grit than budget get a business off the ground — honest guidance, real direction, no pressure.

Explore Helping Hands
Toughjobs tradesman on the job