Manager, Retail Consultancy

Mars United Commerce; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Care

Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility aid

Pet adoption support

Tuition assistance

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Mars United Commerce in the Chicago area seeks a Manager to lead Customer project execution from briefing to media and creative development, timelines, budgets, and client/vendor relationships. This role requires hands-on leadership across cross‑functional teams.

The Manager supports the Director on strategic retailer media plans, coordinates with retail partners, monitors performance data and reporting, and ensures timely execution for programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field.
• 5-7 years’ experience in marketing or media at retail.
• Proven Project Management experience.
• Experience working with retail media networks and media vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects end to end from briefing to media and creative development, including timelines and budgets.
• Manage client and vendor relationships and ensure clear communication across teams.
• Oversee execution of approved programs and tagging/reporting requirements with Ad Ops.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop strategies and tactics for retailers.
• Measure post-promotion results using client and agency data and drive improvements.

Skills

Project Management

Retail media networks

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field

Job description

Company Description

Mars United℠ Commerce is a global commerce marketing practice that aligns people, technology, and intelligence to make the business of our clients better today than it was yesterday. Our worldwide capabilities coalesce into four key disciplines — Strategy & Analytics, Content & Experiences, Digital Commerce, and Retail Consultancy — that individually deliver unmatched results for clients and collectively give them an unparalleled network of seamlessly integrated functions across the entire commerce marketing ecosystem. These disciplines are powered by our industry-leading technology platform, Marilyn®, which helps marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activation, enabling them to make better decisions, create connected experiences, and drive stronger, measurable results. Learn more at https://www.marsunited.com/.

Mars United℠ Commerce is a global commerce marketing practice that aligns people, technology, and intelligence to make the business of our clients better today than it was yesterday. Our worldwide capabilities coalesce into four key disciplines — Strategy & Analytics, Content & Experiences, Digital Commerce, and Retail Consultancy — that individually deliver unmatched results for clients and collectively give them an unparalleled network of seamlessly integrated functions across the entire commerce marketing ecosystem. These disciplines are powered by our industry-leading technology platform, Marilyn®, which helps marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activation, enabling them to make better decisions, create connected experiences, and drive stronger, measurable results. Learn more at https://www.marsunited.com/.

Overview

The Manager is the owner of duties needed to support Customer project execution including leading projects end to end from briefing to media and creative development, timeline management, client and vendor relationships, communication, budget/financial management and activation including managed service. Additionally, the Manager is leading tactic specific creative development, timeline management, client and vendor relationships & communications.

The Manager supports the Director on the development of strategic retailer media plans, and acts as a key liaison to retail vendor partners facilitating needed executional elements. The Manager collects past performance data, understands benchmarks, suggests program optimizations and provides oversight for tactic and program reporting.

Candidates must reside within a commutable distance to the Mars United Commerce office in Cincinnati or Chicago for a hybrid work schedule.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with the internal cross-functional teams (Strategic Planning & Analytics, Marilyn, Media, Client Leadership and Creative) to develop optimal and actionable strategies, concepts and tactics
• Oversees and directs the work of the Sr. Account Executive and/or Account Executive assigned to the business, ensuring they are clear on assigned duties and timelines
• Manage the implementation of key client projects
• Build strong working relationships with assigned retailer client contacts
• Manage execution of approved programs through team including ensuring all Ad Ops/tagging requirements and reporting are being executed by ad ops specialist
• Work with external client vendors/agencies to execute projects as assigned
• Activate and manage partnership relationships with other manufacturers or properties
• Identify retailer direct and manufacturer platforms
• Develop and manage project timelines and budgets
• Proactively manage communication of project status and budget to client teams
• Work hand-in-hand with internal teams on planning and implementation of retail marketing extensions of brand and category programs (national retainer clients)
• Manage client approval process
• Measure post-promotion results using agency and client-provided data
• Some travel required

Skill Sets Required

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field
• 5-7 years’ experience in marketing or media at retail
• Proven Project Management experience
• Experience working with retail media networks and media vendors
• Strategic thinking in the development of Shopper Marketing programs and management of day-to-day business
• Sound decision making skills based in industry knowledge
• Passion about business – always thinking of ways to improve/grow assigned client/business
• Strong listening skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal skills
• Desire to dig in and do what’s needed to get the job done right

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best‑in‑class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

Mars United℠ Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: USD $75,050.00 - USD $107,835.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 9/6/2026.