Sr. Manager, Global Strategy — Mars Food & Nutrition

Mars Incorporated in; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Senior Manager of Global Strategy for Mars Food & Nutrition to shape segment and portfolio strategy across brands and platforms. The role collaborates with Leadership and cross-functional teams to translate consumer, category, and financial insight into strategic choices and action while driving execution with accountability.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in corporate strategy or consulting, strong analytical and presentation skills, and a gritty owner’s mindset.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in corporate strategy or strategy consulting; consumer goods, food or nutrition experience preferred.
• Portfolio strategy experience including shaping category visions, defining brand roles, and guiding investments.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to structure ambiguous questions and turn data into recommendations.
• Outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills for senior leaders.
• Gritty owner’s mindset: hands-on, accountable, fast decision-maker.
• Track record of leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders.
• Comfort in lean, entrepreneurial environments with evolving priorities.
• Curiosity about consumers, categories, brands, operations; synthesize research into decisions.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Shape segment and portfolio strategy with leadership to drive end-to-end planning.
• Build perspectives on consumers, categories, competitors and value pools to identify wins.
• Translate insights into clear choices on where to play and how to win for brands.
• Design and facilitate strategy workshops with cross-functional teams.
• Lead high-priority strategic projects from framing to mobilization with clear owners.
• Evaluate opportunities and partnerships across core brands and growth platforms.
• Create clear, compelling materials for Mars leadership and Board.
• Strengthen competitive intelligence and build repeatable decision-making tools.

Skills

Portfolio strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Effective communication

PowerPoint proficiency

Excel proficiency

Strategic storytelling

Education

MBA or related bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Description:

The Senior Manager of Global Strategy for Mars Food & Nutrition will work across the business to help shape segment and portfolio strategy, strengthen the relevance of our brands, drive executional excellence and fuel performance across the segment. Reporting to the VP of Business Development & Strategy and working closely with the Global Food & Nutrition Leadership Team, this highly visible role will translate consumer, category, competitive and financial insight into clear strategic choices and action. The successful candidate will combine rigorous problem solving with a gritty owner’s mindset—rolling up their sleeves, moving quickly through ambiguity and taking accountability from the first question through execution.

What are we looking for?

• 7+ years of experience in corporate strategy or strategy consulting; consumer goods, food or nutrition experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience in portfolio strategy, including shaping category visions, defining brand and platform roles, and guiding resource allocation and investment choices
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure ambiguous questions, integrate large amounts of data and turn insight into practical recommendations
• Outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues and create compelling, decision-ready materials for senior leaders
• A gritty owner’s mindset: resourceful, hands-on and accountable, with the judgment to move quickly while maintaining high standards
• A track record of leading complex, cross-functional projects and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on formal authority
• Comfort operating in a lean, entrepreneurial environment where priorities evolve and strategy and execution are closely connected
• Intellectual curiosity about consumers, categories, brands, operations and value creation, with the ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative research, challenge assumptions and facilitate teams toward clear decisions
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
• MBA or bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics or a related field preferred
• Passion for food, nutrition and building brands that make everyday meals easier, healthier and more delicious

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Partner with the Global Food & Nutrition Leadership Team to shape segment and portfolio strategy, translate ambition into clear choices and drive the end-to-end strategic planning and deployment process
• Build fact-based perspectives on consumers, categories, competitors and value pools—especially across convenient meals, protein- and nutrition-forward eating, and global cuisines and flavors—to identify where we can win
• Support the development of category visions and portfolio strategy, translating consumer and market insight into clear choices on where to play, how to win, the role of each brand or platform, and the capabilities and investments required
• Design and facilitate high-impact strategy and problem-solving workshops that bring leaders and cross-functional teams together to resolve complex questions, make choices, clarify ownership and translate alignment into concrete actions
• Lead high-priority strategic projects from framing through recommendation and mobilization, establishing clear workplans, decision points, owners and performance measures while partnering with regional and functional teams that remain accountable for delivery
• Support portfolio and business development choices across our core brands and growth platforms—including Ben’s Original™, DOLMIO®, MASTERFOODS®, Seeds of Change™, Tasty Bite® and Kevin’s Natural Foods—by evaluating organic opportunities, strategic partnerships, licensing and distribution models
• Develop clear, candid and compelling materials for the Mars Food & Nutrition leadership team, Mars senior leadership and the Board
• Strengthen competitive intelligence, benchmarking and strategic insights, building repeatable tools that improve the quality and speed of decision making

What can you expect from Mars Food & Nutrition?

• An agile environment within Mars where a focused business can test, learn, acquire and scale emerging food trends
• The opportunity to help build a next-generation meals business around how people want to eat today—without compromising taste, nutrition, quality or discovery
• Work across a distinctive portfolio of iconic and high-growth brands, spanning Ben’s Original™, DOLMIO®, MASTERFOODS®, Seeds of Change™, Tasty Bite® and Kevin’s Natural Foods
• A collaborative, purpose-led culture where experts, doers, connectors and problem solvers learn from and support one another—and where leaders champion open communication, flat structures and owning it together
• A rare combination of broad and deep experience—with exposure across brands, markets, functions and senior leaders—that will stretch your thinking, build new skills and accelerate your development

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.

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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 233,530.00