Job Description:

What are we looking for?

Developing, shaping and implementing a Future-Fit Portfolio Shape & Strategy is critical for Mars Snacking in this moment of its growth journey. The Director of Portfolio Strategy will play a key role in shaping future growth trajectory for the Mars Snacking Portfolio globally by developing and deploying global strategies. This highly visible position, reporting directly to the Global VP of Portfolio Strategy & Innovation, will be filled by a candidate with exceptional drive and energy, who has strong analytical skills, the ability to turn data into insights, global perspective and high curiosity, highly effective verbal and written communications skills, and the organizational agility to influence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support strategy development for the Mars Snacking Portfolio on a ~3 and 10 year horizon.  This entails creating a bold business ambition, defining where to play and how to win, creating a clear road map for growth acceleration, identifying investment choices, pressure-testing region, market, and category growth acceleration plans to ensure sufficient external perspective, rigorous execution plans, and breakthrough thinking to ensure the portfolio is future-fit and set up for success. 

2. Lead and execute internal consulting projects across a myriad of critical business issues in support of Portfolio Strategy & Innovation growth acceleration.  This will include working across regional and global stakeholders to define the key questions that need to be answered, develop a plan and approach to solve, and execute against the plan to deliver results. 

3. Provide thought-leadership and strategic guidance on joint venture partnerships for the portfolio & innovation. This entails set up of partnerships to play to the strengths of each party, elevating the thinking in service of growth and unlocking barriers.

4. Leverage future-back thinking and external stakeholders to bring breakthrough ideas and concepts to the Mars Snacking leadership team to ensure the Portfolio and business is well set up to succeed over a 10+ year horizon. 

Context and Scope

This position communicates with internal stakeholders, with particularly close interaction with the Mars Snacking Leadership team, Regional Presidents, Global Growth Leadership Team, Market Leaders and Functional Leaders, as well as external partners.  The position communicates with senior level executives, and external advisors.  The Director must be able to communicate across multiple levels in a broad variety of circumstances in order to be effective. 

Education & Professional Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and MBA required

Knowledge / Experience

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in management consulting and/or portfolio strategy at a top tier institution, (10+ years of experience).

Strong conceptual skills, including flexibility in approach to problem solving, ability to push beyond the obvious to find innovative solutions, and comfort in dealing with ambiguity.Comfort with ambiguityBroad-based business acumenAbility to synthesize and clearly communicate highly complex findings to focus on the critical issues and actionable opportunitiesTrack record of success in dealing effectively with complex projects entailing frequent interaction with senior executivesExcellent sense for organizational dynamics, including ability to influence without formal authorityExcellent communication and presentation skillsAbility to quickly establish rapport, credibility, trust, and respect, with peers, team members and executives

Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills

Deep knowledge of strategic frameworkAbility to synthesize and communicate highly complex topics in simple waysAbility to analyze and solve highly complex problemsAnalytical capability- the ability to objectively solve problems through quantitative and qualitative analysis of data and informationBusiness judgment- the ability to understand financial and non-financials aspects of a problem and use sound business judgment to recommend actions and decisions

.What can you expect from Mars?

Work with over 140,000 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.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 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.