Manager, Earned Influence & Brand PR

Loyalty Rules; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

AD&D insurance

Employee assistance program

Short-term disability

Long-term disability insurance

Voluntary income protection including

401(k) with company contributions

Pro-rated benefits for part-time

Job summary

Kellanova is seeking a Manager, Earned Influence & Brand PR to lead earned and influence-led brand initiatives across US and Canada for Tasty & Wholesome brands including Eggo, Rice Krispies Treats and Pop-Tarts. This onsite Chicago role collaborates with Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Sustainability and agencies to drive reputation, awareness and growth through data‑driven insights.

The role focuses on brand storytelling, media relations, executive visibility and proactive/crisis communications,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field.
• Strong experience in external communications, brand public relations, journalism or related disciplines.
• Agency and/or brand PR background, with consumer‑packaged goods (CPG) industry experience strongly valued.
• Strong experience in agency management, cross‑functional leadership and operational delivery, including working with internal and external stakeholders in a large, highly matrixed organization.
• Proven ability to develop and execute culturally relevant brand campaigns with measurable impact, along with exceptional writing, editing and storytelling capabilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while demonstrating sound editorial judgment, discretion and attention to detail.
• Experience supporting executive communications and reputation management, with the ability to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Brand Communications & Earned Media – Support integrated brand communications, strategic partnerships, programming and sustainability initiatives that increase awareness of Mars and its portfolio of Tasty & Wholesome brands. Serve as the earned media & influence expert across brand IATs and internal cross‑functional forums, supporting proactive and reactive media relations, strategic partnerships, content creator engagement, event opportunities and earned‑first storytelling.
• Media, Culture & Reputation Management – Maintain a strong understanding of current and emerging media trends with a growth and digital‑first approach. Monitor industry trends, consumer feedback and insights, emerging topics and reputational risks, while supporting communications planning, social listening and media reporting during issues and crisis situations.
• Content, Editorial & Internal Engagement – Own the Brand Communications editorial calendar, ensuring content and planning timelines are aligned internally and externally. Develop, edit and distribute communications materials including press releases, key messaging and Q&A documents, media statements, social posts, presentations and speeches, while identifying opportunities to amplify key brand moments internally and drive Associate pride.
• Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership – Support executive visibility opportunities for Tasty & Wholesome leaders by identifying opportunities to position leaders as credible voices on important topics and developing messaging, media interview materials, speaking briefings and leadership communications assets.
• Agency Partnership & Awards – Manage and inspire agency partners to deliver earned‑first storytelling, cultural intelligence and reputation impact. Lead the awards process, including maintaining the target awards calendar, partnering with agencies, tailoring submissions to individual award opportunities and ensuring reviews and applications are completed on time.
• Measurement, Insights & Performance – Serve as the system owner and strategic lead for the measurement and monitoring platform, championing standardized KPI frameworks for the direct team and partnering with regional markets to drive tool adoption, share best practices and maximize North America utilization. Manage Brand PR budget tracking, inputs and monthly reporting processes.

Skills

Brand communications

Earned media

Agency management

Cross-functional leadership

Storytelling

Project management

Executive communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or related field

Job description

Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova Learn More

Title: Manager, Earned Influence & Brand PR

Country/Region: US

State: IL

City: Chicago

Workplace: Onsite

Description

Accelerator is Mars Snacking's growth engine, focused on unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands. The Better For You portfolio includes KIND ® , RXBAR ® , Nutri-Grain ® , Special K Bars ® , and Pure Organic ® , while the Tasty & Wholesome portfolio includes Eggo ® , Rice Krispies Treats ® and Pop Tarts ® . Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a growth business, Accelerator is driving innovation, accelerating performance, and transforming the way work gets done through data, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Corporate Affairs, the Manager, Earned Influence & Brand PR leads earned- and influence‑led brand initiatives that drive reputation, awareness and growth across the Tasty & Wholesome portfolio, including Eggo ® , Rice Krispies Treats ® and Pop Tarts ® , in the US and Canada. This role is responsible for earned media, strategic partnerships, brand storytelling, internal engagement, executive visibility, content creation and reputation management, developing high‑impact campaigns informed by data‑driven insights and cultural relevance that strengthen brand equity and drive growth.

The position serves as a key member of the Mars Snacking Accelerator Corporate Affairs Team, partnering closely with senior leaders and cross‑functional and regional teams, including Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Sustainability and Canada, as well as PR agency partners and the Integrated Agency Team (IAT). As part of the Accelerator division, this role plays an important part in shaping culturally relevant brand communications, identifying opportunities for brands to spark trends and start movements, and balancing proactive communications with issues and reputation management support.

A Taste of What You’ll Be Doing

• Brand Communications & Earned Media – Support integrated brand communications, strategic partnerships, programming and sustainability initiatives that increase awareness of Mars and its portfolio of Tasty & Wholesome brands. Serve as the earned media & influence expert across brand IATs and internal cross‑functional forums, supporting proactive and reactive media relations, strategic partnerships, content creator engagement, event opportunities and earned‑first storytelling.
• Media, Culture & Reputation Management –Maintain a strong understanding of current and emerging media trends with a growth and digital‑first approach. Monitor industry trends, consumer feedback and insights, emerging topics and reputational risks, while supporting communications planning, social listening and media reporting during issues and crisis situations.
• Content, Editorial & Internal Engagement – Own the Brand Communications editorial calendar, ensuring content and planning timelines are aligned internally and externally. Develop, edit and distribute communications materials including press releases, key messaging and Q&A documents, media statements, social posts, presentations and speeches, while identifying opportunities to amplify key brand moments internally and drive Associate pride.
• Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership – Support executive visibility opportunities for Tasty & Wholesome leaders by identifying opportunities to position leaders as credible voices on important topics and developing messaging, media interview materials, speaking briefings and leadership communications assets.
• Agency Partnership & Awards – Manage and inspire agency partners to deliver earned‑first storytelling, cultural intelligence and reputation impact. Lead the awards process, including maintaining the target awards calendar, partnering with agencies, tailoring submissions to individual award opportunities and ensuring reviews and applications are completed on time.
• Measurement, Insights & Performance – Serve as the system owner and strategic lead for the measurement and monitoring platform, championing standardized KPI frameworks for the direct team and partnering with regional markets to drive tool adoption, share best practices and maximize North America utilization. Manage Brand PR budget tracking, inputs and monthly reporting processes.

We’re Looking For Someone With

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Strong experience in external communications, brand public relations, journalism or related disciplines.
• Agency and/or brand PR background, with consumer‑packaged goods (CPG) industry experience strongly valued.
• Strong experience in agency management, cross‑functional leadership and operational delivery, including working with internal and external stakeholders in a large, highly matrixed organization.
• Proven ability to develop and execute culturally relevant brand campaigns with measurable impact, along with exceptional writing, editing and storytelling capabilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while demonstrating sound editorial judgment, discretion and attention to detail.
• Experience supporting executive communications and reputation management, with the ability to travel as needed.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $108,160–$141,960, which is based on various factors such as location, experience and skill. Discretionary bonuses based on company and individual performance are also available.

All applicants must have permanent legal authorization to work in the United States. Kellanova does not sponsor employment visas for this role.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program, short‑term disability coverage, and long‑term disability insurance.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• employee assistance program
• short‑term disability coverage
• long‑term disability insurance
• voluntary income protection benefits such as supplemental life, accident as well as a 401(k) plan with company contributions is available
• Part‑time employees may have access to benefits on a pro‑rated basis.

See KellanovaTotalHealth.com for more information.

Get to Know Us

We’ve always been driven to unleash the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our iconic, world‑class brands at Kellanova include Pringles, Cheez‑It, Pop‑Tarts, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Krave, Zucaritas, Tresor, Crunchy Nut, among others.

Mars, Incorporated has acquired Kellanova in a transaction that brings together iconic brands, storied legacies and outstanding capabilities with a view to shape the future of snacking. You can learn more here , and our hiring teams will be happy to discuss further questions if your application advances in the hiring process.

Let’s shape the future of snacking.
Kellanova is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to provide an inclusive work environment, a seat for everyone at the table, and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information regarding our efforts to advance Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, please visit our website here.