Sr. Manager, Transformation Research Lead

Mars; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 134,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mars University access

Competitive salary and benefits

401(k) plan participation

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Senior Manager, Consumer Insights – Transformation to lead consumer-led transformation across the Confectionery and Snacking portfolio in the US. This role drives high-impact, multi-year programs and partners with Portfolio Marketing, Brand Insights and Sales teams to shape strategy and growth.

Regular in-office presence is expected; you will influence senior stakeholders, build capabilities and bring a consumer-centric perspective to enterprise decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Consumer Insights, Psychology, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in Consumer Insights, Brand Insights, Market Research, Strategy, Marketing or related discipline, preferably in CPG/FMCG.
• Proven success influencing significant business decisions and/or leading cross-functional transformations.
• Experience with packaging, portfolio strategy, category transformation, innovation or consumer experience transformation.
• Strong Brand Insights experience with ability to connect consumer understanding to brand strategy and growth.
• Strong understanding of consumer research, analytics and emerging sources of consumer understanding; choose approaches based on business decision.
• Translate consumer understanding into strategic choices and measurable business outcomes; influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive & Deliver Consumer-Led Transformation Programs: serve as Insights lead for complex, multi-year transformation programs with significant business impact.
• Develop and execute consumer learning agendas guiding transformation from diagnosis through strategy, design, development, testing and implementation.
• Ensure consumer perspective drives major portfolio, category and business transformation decisions.
• Create clarity and strategic direction in complex, ambiguous environments to enable confident growth decisions.
• Shape transformation strategies impacting portfolio, consumer experience, packaging, innovation, brands and ways of working.
• Shape & Influence Portfolio, Category & Brand Growth by identifying emerging needs and guiding cross-category priorities.

Skills

Consumer insights

Brand insights

Market research

Strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Storytelling

Influence executives

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Business/Related field

Job description

Job Description:

The Senior Manager, Consumer Insights – Transformation is a strategic leader responsible for driving consumer‑led transformation across the Confectionery and Snacking portfolio.

Approximately 80% of this role is focused on large-scale, high-priority transformation opportunities that have the potential to fundamentally change how we build our portfolio, brands and categories. These may include portfolio-wide packaging transformation, portfolio optimization, category transformation, consumer experience transformation and other enterprise‑level growth opportunities.

The remaining 20% of the role provides flexibility to support broader Brand Insights, category and portfolio priorities, bringing strong brand‑building expertise and a consumer‑centric perspective to the organization’s most important business questions.

Success in this role is not defined by the amount of research delivered. It is defined by the degree to which consumer understanding changes decisions, accelerates transformation and creates measurable business impact.

Regular in office presence is an expectation and essential function of the role.

The role will influence the following critical stakeholders:

- Portfolio Marketing Team

- Brand & Business Insights Team

- Category & Sales Teams

- One Demand Data & Analytics Team

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Consumer Insights, Psychology, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in Consumer Insights, Brand Insights, Market Research, Strategy, Marketing or a related discipline, preferably within CPG/FMCG.
• Demonstrated success influencing significant business decisions and/or leading complex, cross‑functional transformations.
• Experience with packaging, portfolio strategy, category transformation, innovation or consumer experience transformation.
• Strong Brand Insights experience with demonstrated ability to connect consumer understanding to brand strategy and growth.
• Strong understanding of consumer research, analytics and emerging sources of consumer understanding, with the ability to determine the right approach based on the business decision—not simply the research question.
• Demonstrated ability to translate consumer understanding into strategic choices and measurable business outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through complexity and ambiguity.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem‑solving and storytelling skills

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Drive & Deliver Consumer‑Led Transformation Programs:
  • Serve as the Insights lead for complex, multi‑year transformation programs with significant business impact.
  • Develop and execute consumer learning agendas that guide transformation from diagnosis through strategy, design, development, testing and implementation.
• Ensure the consumer perspective is a critical driver of major portfolio, category and business transformation decisions.
• Create clarity and strategic direction in complex, ambiguous transformation environments, enabling leaders to make confident choices about where and how to grow.
• Shape transformation strategies that result in meaningful changes to the portfolio, consumer experience, packaging, innovation, brands and/or ways of working.
• Shape & Influence Portfolio, Category & Brand Growth:
  • Identify emerging consumer needs, tensions and cultural shifts that can unlock new sources of growth.
  • Bring a strong Brand Insights perspective to cross‑category priorities, ensuring consumer understanding leads to stronger brand strategy, positioning, innovation and communication decisions.
  • Build Organizational Capability
• Elevate the role of Consumer Insights from a research provider to a strategic growth and transformation partner.
• Build new capabilities, tools, frameworks and ways of working that enable teams to consistently incorporate the consumer into strategic decision‑making.
• Coach and influence Insights partners and cross‑functional teams on consumer‑centric strategy and transformation.

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

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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 134,400.00 - USD 184,800.00