Sr. Associate Brand Manager, Crackers Innovation

Job Description:

Sr. Associate Brand Manager Innovation- Crackers

Chicago, IL

Office-based

The Senior Associate Brand Manager Innovation- Crackers will help shape and deliver what’s next for one of America’s most-loved snack brands. As Senior Associate Brand Manager, focused on Innovation, you will help define and deliver the innovation for Cheez-It, along with a portfolio of heritage brands including Club, Town House, Toasteds, Zesta and Carr’s. This role leads line extensions and LTOs from ideation through launch using both, internal and competitive data and insights to strengthen the innovation pipeline. Working across Marketing, Sales, Customer Marketing, and channel teams the Sr. ABM-Innovation will lead projects aligning partners, managing project timelines and budgets, and identifying gaps and opportunities to maximize their projects’ potential for success. The ideal candidate is a marketer with strong leadership skills that is analytical and action-oriented who can manage complex projects and translate insights into clear recommendations.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree required. MBA preferred
• 3+ years’ Marketing work experience required, preferably within CPG industry.
• Previous experience with Nielsen
• Strong communication skills (oral, written, listening). This includes ability to give effective presentations to all levels of management.
• Solid commercial and financial business acumen to identify opportunity areas and craft viable and profitable projects.
• High levels of interpersonal skills, specifically around 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.
• Proficient in managing complex projects. Well organized, successful 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 agree. Can find creative solutions and common ground to move key initiatives forward.

What will your key responsibilities be?

• Lead Cracker brands extensions from ideation through launch using the stage-gate process, aligning projects to business goals and managing timelines, budgets, and execution.
• Measure and report in-market innovation performance, translating results from prior launches into clear, actionable lessons.
• Manage day-to-day design budgets for the Cracker brands.
• Help shape the Crackers innovation pipeline by delivering data and insights for dig sites and recommending whether the pipeline is sufficient to meet business goals.
• Serve as the key liaison to the Multipack, Away From Home, and Convenience teams, driving alignment and collaboration across channels.
• Partner with Customer Marketing to engage Sales teams and support key customer conversations.

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.

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.