The Associate Brand Manager (ABM) will be responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of brand strategy and various marketing activities (including advertising, promotions, and innovation), to achieve specific brand objectives, including delivery of Sales, Share, and Household Penetration targets. The ABM will also assist in leading a cross-functional business team in the planning, execution, and analysis of various project and initiatives.

What are we looking for?

Education & Professional Qualifications

• MBA
• 3+ years of prior marketing experience, preferably within the Consumer Packaged Goods industry.
• Experience in the areas of strategy development and deployment
• Experience with digital, social media, e-commerce and/or data analytics a plus

Knowledge / Experience

• Strong communication skills (oral, written, listening). This includes ability to give effective presentations to all levels of management.
• High levels of interpersonal skills, specifically in the area of influencing without direct authority, resolving conflict, and creative problem solving.
• Proven analytic skills. Must be comfortable mining and analyzing data, then developing clear and actionable conclusions/recommendations turning consumer and social insights into strategic thinking.
• Proficient in managing complex projects. Well organized, good at prioritization, attentive to details, clear oral and written communicator.
• Biased toward action. Takes initiative, entrepreneurial, can hit the ground running and move projects forward right from the start.
• Resilient problem solver. Can build consensus even if all team members may not be in agreement. Can find creative solutions and common ground in order to move key initiatives forward.
• Ability to balance of art & science – ability to think creatively & strategically, with strong business mindset.
• Passion for brands and desire to leave a mark.  Bring a mindset of purpose & sustainability into product design and communication development.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Understand how to translate the brand compass into brand activities including creating marketing plans to increase brand awareness and ensuring brand presence in online and offline channels
• Lead inter-agency teams to develop multi-dimensional support plans behind key brand activations.
• Shape and implement promotional activity, including partnering with shopper marketing team members on customer specific initiatives, in support of brand objectives.
• Lead initiative and influence brand strategy and growth opportunity recommendations leveraging customer, consumer and brand data and insights.  
• Analyze and review brand, category & competitive performance to offer recommendations to increase effectiveness of plans and identify opportunities for growth.
• Represent marketing within their cross functional teams against the development and deployment of key brand initiatives and innovation.
• Monitor brand expenditures and manage the advertising and consumer promotions budget.
• Conduct post evaluation of activities, extracting insights to develop lessons learned and recommend changes for future brand activity.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.