Job Description:
This Strategic Business Communications Director is responsible for engaging, inspiring and mobilizing Mars Snacking North America Associates through strategic business communications. Mars Snacking is going through a significant transformation, integrating the legacy Kellanova business into Mars, bringing together 12,000 Associates across the region. Providing strategic clarity through clear consistent messaging and engaging content is core to our success, as is ensuring the Leadership Team maintains a pulse on the Associate sentiment, needs and interests.
Strategic Business Communications Director and their team lead a range of communication channels including existing newsletters, townhalls, leadership meetings and in-person events, and should bring innovation to our communications strategy to leverage technology and non-traditional channels to deploy best-in-class communications.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Engage all Mars Snacking North America Associates regarding the regional priorities of the business to increase engagement, advocacy and business performance.
- Be proactive in creating polished and highly professional communication materials, including communications to our leadership group and general Associate population.
- Own, populate and implement a pipeline of communications. Utilise the full range of communications channels available to reach Associates in the right place, at the right time, and leveraging digital tools for scale, modernity and efficiency.
- Townhall and event readiness includes drafting key messages and coaching leaders to ensure strong delivery so that our leaders build trust, clarity and confidence amongst audiences.
- Leverage data and insights about Associate sentiment to inform the communications strategy and provide input to the Leadership Team to ensure tone, messaging and visibility represents Associates’ needs.
- Partner with Senior Leaders to support their communications and internal visible leadership
- Collaborate seamlessly with the global and cross-segment colleagues to elevate the awareness for Mars Snacking North America and our milestone achievements, to learn best practices and to enhance the context shared with MSNA Associates.
- Partner with third parties such as event management providers, film crews and production teams to ensure high-quality delivery of communications materials.
- Manage SharePoint and Teams Channels to house materials and empower others through access to consistent materials.
- Lead the strategic business communications team to plan, develop and deploy the responsibilities of the internal communications function.
- In collaboration with the external communications team, generate Associate Ambassadorship for our brands, products and MSNA as a great place to work.
What are we looking for?
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Business or related field; in-house and agency experience a plus
- 10+ years’ experience across internal and/or external communications.
- Ability to respond quickly and support others in the team.
- Approach challenges with a proactive, problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to effectively manage and work within ambiguity to prioritise business needs.
- Leads project steps within a broader project.
- Able to work independently.
- Uses data to iterate and improve.
- Comfort around higher management.
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.
- 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.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 169,840.00 - USD 233,530.00Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in communications, business, or a related field
- 10+ years of experience across internal and/or external communications
- Ability to respond quickly and support team members
- Proactive problem-solving attitude
- Ability to manage ambiguity and prioritize business needs
- Ability to lead project steps within a broader project
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to use data to iterate and improve
- Comfort working with senior management
- In-house and agency communications 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.
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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.
