JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Description:

Manager, Creative Excellence & Evaluation (Mars Snacking)

At Mars Snacking, we believe that world-class creative work is a key engine of brand growth. As the Manager, Creative Excellence & Evaluation, you will own the learning agenda and measurement strategies that enable our global brands to craft highly effective, distinctive, and distinctive consumer experiences. This net-new role is positioned within our newly restructured Global Center of Excellence (COE) within the Integrated Intelligence function.

You will act as a strategic co-pilot to Brand Content, Media, and Regional Intelligence teams. You will lead the creative learning plan for your designated brands, using cutting-edge quantitative/qualitative methodologies and emerging AI-enabled research to evaluate campaign performance. By translating complex evidence into clear, commercially relevant decisions, you will empower our marketing leaders and agencies to build stronger, insight-driven relationships with consumers worldwide.

Whether you are a seasoned insights professional looking to scale your impact across global brands, or an external leader passionate about CPG marketing excellence, this position offers a visible, highly collaborative platform to build organizational capability, champion test-and-learn cultures, and drive brand distinctiveness.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Consumer Insights, Market Research, Marketing, Media Analytics, Business Administration, or a closely related field. (A Master’s degree or specialized certification in a related discipline is a plus.)

• Minimum Years of Professional Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressive, professional experience in consumer insights, market research, creative effectiveness, media analytics, or a related discipline.

• Core Experience: Demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional programs, including designing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative communication testing or campaign effectiveness studies.

• Partner & Agency Management: Strong record of leading external research agencies, vendors, and analytics partners to deliver high-quality, actionable outputs on time.

• Influence & Communication: Outstanding storytelling, facilitation, and executive-ready communication skills; proven ability to simplify analytical complexity and influence senior marketing stakeholders.

• Technical Savvy: Working knowledge of digital marketing, cross-channel measurement, experimental thinking, and solid data quality principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), food, retail, or a related highly consumer-focused sector.

• Experience operating within a highly matrixed or multi-market global organization.

• Familiarity with emerging AI-enabled research tools and advanced creative analytics methodologies.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Creative Excellence Strategy and Insights

• Own and Evolve the Agenda: Champion the creative excellence and evaluation agenda across priority Mars Snacking brands, markets, and channels, aligning learning priorities to overall business objectives.

• Synthesize Growth Opportunities: Integrate multi-source evidence (consumer, shopper, cultural, behavioral, and campaign performance) to identify growth areas and guide creative strategies.

• Commercially Relevant Guidance: Convert complex analytical findings into clear, direct, and actionable recommendations for senior marketing leaders and agency partners.

Measurement Leadership

• Campaign Evaluation: Lead the end-to-end design, commissioning, interpretation, and active rollout of communication testing and campaign learning programs.

• Set Rigorous Standards: Establish fit-for-purpose measurement frameworks and methodological standards, constructively challenging study designs when evidence is insufficient.

• Connect the Funnel: Link pre-market testing, in-market performance, and commercial brand outcomes to construct a comprehensive view of creative effectiveness.

• Formulate Test-and-Learn Plans: Move beyond passive reporting to establish proactive test-and-learn plans that actively improve future briefs, creative development, and activation choices.

Business Partnership and Influence

• Co-Pilot Key Stakeholders: Serve as a trusted advisor to Brand Content & Experience, Marketing, Media, Integrated Intelligence, and regional insights leads globally.

• Balanced Influence: Drive alignment with senior stakeholders through concise storytelling, constructive challenge, and practical choices that balance consumer insight with creative ambition.

• Facilitate Action: Design and lead cross-functional workshops and readouts that drive alignment, clarify decisions, and accelerate team action.

Agency, Vendor, and Program Management

• Drive Partner Quality: Manage external research and measurement partners from scope and methodology through final delivery to ensure maximum ROI and actionable results.

• Portfolio Prioritization: Direct concurrent projects, surface timeline risks early, and make clear trade-offs across scope, timing, and budget investments.

• Responsible Stewardship: Partner with procurement and internal leads on vendor selection, capability evaluations, and responsible management of research budgets.

Capability Building and Innovation

• Scale Best Practices: Codify and scale benchmarks, templates, and reusable learnings across brands and regions to reduce duplication of effort.

• Coach & Develop: Act as an informal coach and mentor, providing methodological guidance and development support to project team members.

• Evaluate Emerging Tech: Test and adopt emerging research methodologies, including AI-enabled measurement tools, when they improve speed, scalability, or decision value.

• Data Stewardship: Promote responsible, ethical use of consumer data, research standards, and evidence-based decision-making across the business.

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.

• A strong focus on 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.

#TBDigital

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 108,160.00 - USD 148,720.00

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About Mars: Mars is a family-owned business with more than $50 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 150,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

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Commitment to Equal Employer Opportunities: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with applicable law and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected under federal, state, and local laws. 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.

A Note to Candidates Regarding AI Embracing AI as a vital skill for today and tomorrow, we welcome candidates to use AI to assist with your preparation as you engage with our recruiting process—from helping to perfect your CV/resume to using it to refine your interview skills. While AI can assist you, we expect that your ideas, responses, and demonstration of competencies throughout the recruitment process are authentically your own. We value genuine engagement and want to see the real you shine. At Mars, AI is here to support—not replace—the human connection at the heart of our recruitment process.

Note to Search Firms/Agencies: Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific. Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.