Global M&Ms Brand Director

Location: USA-Illinois-Chicago

Job Title: Global M&M'S Brand Director

Location: On site in Chicago

M&M’S is on a journey to its next phase of transformative growth with a bold vision to double the business. As consumer expectations evolve, we are expanding how people engage with M&M'S in more intentional ways to truly unlock cultural participation at scale whether from the product itself to immersive, connected brand experiences. This will be achieved through a "One M&M’S" approach, designed to fully unlock and amplify the unique ecosystem across our core CPG Brand and Retail business.

To help drive this transformation, we are seeking a Global M&M’S Brand Director, who will be responsible for shaping our marketing and growth agenda for one of the world’s most beloved brands. This leader will play a critical role in shaping our M&M’S mid-to-long term marketing agenda and brand strategy, inclusive of driving our vision (in partnership with markets, agency partners, and Brand & Content) from key campaign briefings to activation. This role is a part of the Global M&M’S Marketing and Growth Strategy team, reporting into the Senior Director of Global M&M’S Ecosystem.

Qualifications: What are we looking for?

Bachelor's degree is required, Master's degree is preferred

10+ years of relevant experience in brand marketing, with strong expertise in brand building, experiential and digital marketing, stakeholder engagement, balancing strategy with high execution and learning agility

Demonstrated success managing cross-functional stakeholders and agency partnerships

Proven record of strategic brand planning and brief development, driving/unlocking consumer-led growth agendas, team and people leadership development, and ability to navigate matrixed organizations and inspire associates/communities

Experience working within global or multi-market organizations, prior region or market level experience a plus

What will be your key responsibilities?

Develop and drive M&M’S brand strategy globally: help lead the global brand direction via driving co-creating and ensuring alignment on our ambition, positioning, brand world identity, and brand portfolio architecture

Shape our growth agenda to unlock cultural participation at scale: drive the brand positioning in an intentional, connected and consistent way across M&M’S ecosystem via strong consumer insight/data driven briefs, culturally relevant audiences, and partnering on the development of content/activation ideas

Connect the Dots: drive orchestration and engagement across key markets and ecosystem touchpoints on priority strategic brand initiatives, helping to drive brand governance and seamless execution

Build and Develop M&M’S Community: key leadership role in shaping the agenda and acting as a critical thought partner for our M&M’S global community, M&M’S quarterly Brand Boards, Mars Snacking Senior Leader forums, and M&M’S Retail Leadership Team via cross-sharing knowledge, co-creating strategic outcomes, professional development upskilling, and developing/deploying clear internal communication narratives that inspire and guide the rest of the M&M’S brand team and our cross-functional community to deliver our growth transformation agenda

Brand Governance Oversight: support the team and cross-functional partners in maintaining strong global brand governance oversight in adherence to our policies and guidelines

Drive Execution via Portfolio Management Review: help ensure strong M&M’S ecosystem and Retail portfolio resource prioritization and activation of key initiatives as a critical ‘Brand owner’ in periodic PMR M&M’S Retail forum

Stakeholder Influence & Alignment: Clearly communicate strategies, results, and learnings to build alignment across senior leadership and cross-functional partners globally, acting as senior single-point of contact across our priority brand ecosystem activations

Successful candidates will demonstrate

A passion for being at the heart of transformation that inspires innovation, creativity, cultural participation and memorable brand moments

Deep understanding of brand building, consumer engagement, and ability to help guide multiple brand and consumer touchpoints into cohesive connected ecosystem experiences

Ability to translate consumer and business insights into compelling brand strategy, briefs, and stakeholder narratives that drive measurable results

Strong strategic thinking coupled with operational excellence that lands data-driven decisions at pace

Exceptional stakeholder management, communications, and influence skills, with experience leading highly cross-functional initiatives in matrixed global organizations

A passion for professional development and leadership capability building

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with diverse 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.

A strong focus on 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.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 169,840.00 - USD 233,530.00