Job Description:
The Head of Corporate Affairs & One Mars Affairs for Canada is responsible for leading an integrated Corporate Affairs agenda across internal communications, external communications, brand public relations, and public affairs. This role shapes and protects the company’s reputation in Canada by delivering clear, consistent, and strategic communications that support business priorities, strengthen stakeholder trust, and reinforce corporate purpose.
The role leads Corporate Affairs for Mars Snacking Canada and provides cross-segment leadership for One Mars Canada, working closely with leaders across Mars Snacking, Food & Nutrition, and Pet Care. The Head serves as strategic advisor to senior leaders and plays a critical role in navigating issues, policy, and reputation management in a dynamic external environment.
The position reports directly to the President and General Manager, Mars Snacking Canada, with the dotted reporting line to SVP, Corporate Affairs Mars Snacking North America. The Head of Corporate Affairs will also work closely with the Head of One Mars US (United States), the General Managers of all Mars segments in Canada, and the VPs of Corporate Affairs for the Mars segments in North America. The role will be a key member of the Mars Snacking Canada Leadership Team and the Mars Snacking CA (Corporate Affairs) North American Leadership Team.
What are we looking for?- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Business, Marketing or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in a corporate affairs, communications, public relations, or public affairs within a complex organization.
- Proven experience leading integrated communications strategies across internal, external, brand, and public affairs.
- Strong background in issues and crisis management, reputation management, and executive counsel.
- Demonstrated success partnering with senior leaders and influencing across functions.
- Successful experience in leading, managing and developing a team.
- Ability to operate with an enterprise mindset, balancing segment priorities with broader corporate objectives.
- Lead Canada’s Corporate Affairs strategy, integrating internal communications, external communications, brand public relations, and public affairs to protect and enhance the company’s reputation.
- Serve as the senior communications advisor to Canadian leadership, providing strategic counsel on reputation, issues management, stakeholder engagement, and executive visibility.
- Oversee internal communications to ensure Associates are informed, engaged, and connected to business priorities, change initiatives, and corporate purpose.
- Drive proactive external communications and brand PR, including corporate storytelling, media relations, and executive positioning, in close partnership with Marketing.
- Lead public affairs and government relations in Canada, aligning with regional and global priorities to support freedom to operate and manage policy risk.
- Own issues and crisis management across Canadian offices and sites, including preparedness, response, and leadership communications.
- Represent Corporate Affairs on the Canada Leadership Team, bringing an enterprise mindset and strong cross-functional collaboration.
- Build and lead a high-performing Corporate Affairs team, developing talent and capability for the future.
- Serve as the nucleus for the new Corporate Affairs team in Canada, including external communications lead, internal communications lead and newly instituted Government Relations and Public Policy position.
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.
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.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-SL1
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between the below range CAD 169,766.00 - CAD 222,817.00. Please note: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. AI is used as a supporting tool in our recruitment process.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in communications, business, marketing or related field
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in corporate affairs, communications, public relations, or public affairs
- Experience leading integrated communications strategies across various platforms
- Strong background in issues and crisis management
- Experience partnering with senior leaders and influencing across functions
- Experience in leading, managing and developing a team
- Ability to operate with an enterprise mindset
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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.
