VP Marketing, North America Food & Nutrition

Job Description:

The Vice President of Marketing is responsible for leading the Ben's Original and Seeds of Change brand portfolio and the associated marketing organization comprised of brand management, shopper marketing, and digital marketing/dCom. The key focus of the role includes:

1. Developing the strategic cell value creation strategy and go to market plans.
2. Owning marketing plan development and implementation.
3. Creating innovation masterplan in collaboration with R&D/innovation team.
4. Delivering omnichannel transformation across shopper marketing and dCommerce.
5. Engaging a team of 6 direct reports and 7 indirect reports.

The VP of Marketing is also responsible for facilitating regional alignment with the Canadian market to maximize synergies and scale up activities. This role must build new capability for "Seed Quadrant" insurgent brands, including an alternate demand model and digital commerce, in addition to accelerating growth of the scale brand Ben's Original.

This role sits on the Food NA leadership team reporting to the Food NA Regional President. The successful candidate should have strong people leadership and enterprise leadership skills that can bring to life Mars’ 5 Principles and set the right vision for our Associates and product portfolio. They should have experience across brand management, innovation, and shopper marketing with demonstrated success across multiple businesses/categories. The candidate should be a results-oriented strategic leader who can collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on a local, regional, and global level.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and manage the P&L, including topline and bottom line, collaborating with the full enterprise (Supply, Commercial, Demand Planning, Sales, Finance) to meet regional KPIs.
• Increase overall portfolio growth and earnings objectives as measured by NSV, category and penetration growth, market share, operating profit, and ROI on marketing investments. Lead Regional S&OP+ Step 1 process to manage portfolio and innovation processes to ensure on-time and in-full launches.
• Drive analytical capability across the organization using advanced analytics to guide data-based enterprise decisions.
• Partner with sales to create value and role model best in class One Demand partnership.
• Be a key player on NA Food Management Team bringing an enterprise lens to deliver total NA Food objectives.

VALUE CREATION STRATEGY:

• Lead the 3-year value creation roadmap and annual operating plan process based on clear portfolio strategy, brand building, brand communication, digital transformation, and innovation pipeline.
• Develop the strategic cell value creation strategy and go to market plans for the portfolio, while translating consumer & customer insights into brand/portfolio building ideas and activities.

CAPABILITY BUILDING AND ASSOCIATE ENGAGEMENT:

• Develop a high-performance Marketing organization and ensure we have relevant current and future Marketing and Leadership capabilities.
• Lead and leverage NA dedicated global associates across key multifunctional teams (Innovation, CMI, Commercial, Supply, R&D, Marketing).
• Create a winning environment and culture through open communications, great leadership, and progressive associate development.
• Ensure that the Five Principles are integrated in everything that we do and that every associate understands the importance of our Five Principles and Associate Concept.

ENTERPRISE THINKING:

• Lead S&OP+ Step 1 (Portfolio Management Review).
• Role model collaboration with Global teams and stakeholders. In NA, role model partnership with Sales, demonstrating best in class model for One Demand Team.
• Drive analytical capability across the organization using advanced analytics to guide data-based enterprise decisions.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION:

• Unlock Food eCommerce growth via convergence of marketing, digital media, shopper marketing, and e-commerce to make our brands the leaders in digital transformation in the Food CPG industry.
• Partner with Mediacom, BBDO, and The Mars Agency to deploy best in class communications planning including Path to Dinner and accelerating digital growth opportunities.

MARKETING AND BRAND LEADERSHIP:

• Full funnel marketing leadership from Insights to Market Execution; Functional responsibilities Include: Consumer Market Insight (CMI), Media, Omnicommerce/Retail Media, Innovation across US and Canada.
• Lead multi-functional team through the Growth Planning process and annual Marketing Plans to deliver the growth, earnings, and market share expectations.
• Lead strategic resource allocation process for North America and influence globally to ensure the market receives fair share of necessary resources.
• Liaise across global marketing team to design, implement brand marketing content aligned with regional strategies.
• Partner with global R&D/innovation team to create robust innovation 3-year pipeline while championing a Test, Build, Scale innovation model for the organization.
• Accelerate eCommerce growth through convergence of marketing, digital media, retail media, content, and search.
• Manage external agency partners (advertising agency, media agency, shopper marketing, dCom, etc.).
• Drive increase in brand support by partnering with key retailers to create dedicated shopper and omnichannel programs through the shopper/digital marketing team and customer teams.
• Serve as a brand steward to ensure marketing strategy/positioning accurately represented in all marketing activities.

This role sits on the Food NA Leadership Team and reports to the Food NA Regional President. It requires very senior stakeholder management including the North America Food Management Team as well as Global President and Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. It will have 6 direct reports and a team of 7 indirect associates. The role works cross-functionally in a matrix environment across all functions - R&D, Sales, Supply, Finance, Corporate Affairs, P&O, etc.

Requirements:

• Undergrad degree: MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of marketing and brand management experience, including portfolio management ideally with successful food brands.
• Ideal candidate will have had scale brand marketing experiences in NA.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 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.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.