Job Description:
Title: Communications Specialist
Location: Franklin, TN
Workstyle: Onsite/ In Office
Mars does not sponsor visas for this role. This position is not eligible for relocation benefits
The Communications Specialist role will work with the External Affairs team to help execute a reputation strategy, communications programs, brand PR initiatives, and sponsorships and partnerships that drive increased awareness, relevance and growth of Mars Pet Nutrition and its brands in North America. Work will include planning and executing external activations, developing communications materials and supporting thought leadership strategy and content to elevate the profile of the company and support the organization’s priorities, all in support of the company’s purpose: A Better World for Pets.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Support Corporate and Brand initiatives that increase awareness and relevance of Mars’ portfolio of Pet Nutrition North America brands, and Purpose, including but not limited to: Corporate Communications, Brand PR, Mars Volunteer Program (MVP), Community Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Sports Collaborations, and Communications and Programming.
- Maintain a strong understanding of current and new media trends which can help influence reach or target audience, with a growth and digital-first approach.
- Support planning and execution of Brand PR, corporate communications, and BETTER CITIES FOR PETS initiatives in collaboration with the External Affairs and Marketing teams.
- Partner with Director of Brand Communications and agencies to execute communications strategies and activations for select brands in the Mars PNNA portfolio.
- Develop, write, edit, and distribute communications materials including press releases, internal story alerts, corporate statements, corporate materials, presentations and speeches.
- Execute charitable contribution requests, ticket and sponsorship deliverable management and allocation, and samples distribution, collaborating with internal and external partners.
- Support team budget management, including opening Purchase Orders and maintaining budget tracker.
- Monitor company and competitor news to identify emerging issues and storylines and deliver regular monitoring updates to Corporate Affairs team.
- Support proactive and reactive media relations, and event opportunities.
- Lead workstream to develop cross-team processes to improve efficiency of EA team and ability for team to partner effectively across Pet Nutrition North America.
· Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism or associated profession is required, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- 1-3 years relevant professional experience in brand, corporate or internal communications or project management with proven success developing and managing communications programs.
· Must have strong oral and written communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience working with internal and external stakeholders in a large organization
- Digitally savvy.
- Agency experience a plus
- Ability to travel
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with over 130,000 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.
- 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.
#RW-Onsite
#LI-RW1
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent education, training, and experience.
- 1–3 years of relevant professional experience in brand, corporate, or internal communications or project management.
- Strong oral and written communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience working with internal and external stakeholders in a large organization.
- Digital proficiency and familiarity with digital-first communications.
- Ability to travel.
- Agency experience.
Mars Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mars and has not been reviewed or approved by Mars.
-
Healthcare Strength — The benefits package is positioned as comprehensive, with broad medical coverage and additional protections like life insurance and short- and long-term disability. Mental health support is emphasized, including free mental health services and wellbeing programming under initiatives such as Mars Be Well.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is highlighted as market-leading in the U.S., with an example of 18 weeks fully paid for both parents. Additional family-related leave types such as sick time for caregiving and bereavement leave are also described as part of the overall package.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are described as strong, including 401(k) matching (with a 6% match cited) and pension plans in some cases. The broader package also references retirement savings options and contributions aligned to local market practice, supporting long-term financial security.
Mars Insights
Similar Jobs
.png)
What We Do
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, MILKY WAY®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, SKITTLES®, WHISKAS®, COCOAVIA®, and 5™; and take care of half of the world’s pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, Pet Partners™, and VCA™. We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
