Director, Marketing Capabilities

Mars Incorporated - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Chicago, IL

10,001+ employees

Food Manufacturing

About the position

In order to achieve our purpose-led growth ambitions and continue to build on our heritage of building iconic brands and experiences, Mars needs world class, industry leading marketing. This means we need to have great marketers with leading edge capabilities, tools and methodologies. These need to be developed and embedded throughout the business, to keep pace with consumers and to get ahead of future capability needs. The Director of Marketing Capabilities will play a crucial role in this transformation by developing and executing a comprehensive global marketing capabilities strategy that enhances the company's competitive advantage within the Mars capability building framework (honeycomb). This position ensures continuous improvement of marketing capabilities aligned to cross-segment business strategies and guarantees that Mars Marketing is constantly evolving and remains competitive in an ever-changing landscape, including digitalization, marketing automation, and new business models. The Director will lead the development, implementation, and delivery of new capability building programs and career development guidance in partnership with internal customers and third-party vendors. This role will drive improvement and adoption of existing learning solutions and programs, while also leading the localization, implementation, and adoption of marketing processes and tools globally. It is essential for the Director to ensure that critical Marketing associates have robust functional development plans in place, in partnership with their line managers. Additionally, the Director will partner with business partners to define Marketing career pathing at Mars in line with the updated capabilities framework. Collaboration is key in this role, as the Director will work closely with segment and regional Marketing leaders to define capability development road maps and needs, identifying gaps vis-à-vis a defined proficiency. The Director will actively engage with outside forums to identify critical new marketing capabilities, tools, and practices to infuse into Mars, supporting Marketing teams across the organization through coaching and training delivery. Establishing and managing internal collaboration networks to foster sharing of best practices across Mars will also be a significant part of this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global marketing capabilities strategy that enhances the company's competitive advantage within the Mars capability building framework (honeycomb).
• Ensure continuous improvement of marketing capabilities aligned to cross-segment business strategies.
• Ensure that Mars Marketing is constantly evolving and remains competitive in an ever-changing landscape (digitalization, marketing automation, new business models, etc.).
• Lead the development, implementation, and delivery of new capability building programs and career development guidance in partnership with internal customers and third-party vendors.
• Drive improvement and adoption of existing learning solutions and programs.
• Lead the localization, implementation, and adoption of marketing processes and tools globally.
• Ensure critical Marketing associates have robust functional development plans in place, in partnership with their line managers.
• Partner with business partners to define Marketing career pathing at Mars in line with updated capabilities framework.
• Collaborate with segment and regional Marketing leaders to define capability development road maps and needs and identify gaps vis-à-vis a defined proficiency.
• Actively engage with outside forums to identify critical new marketing capabilities, tools, and practices to infuse into Mars.
• Support Marketing teams across Mars through coaching and training delivery.
• Establish and manage internal collaboration networks to foster sharing of best practices across Mars.

Requirements

• Proven success in building and leading a functional capability program including defining future capabilities.
• Bachelor's Degree.
• Relevant training and/or learning and development certification.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive marketing experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in global marketing strategy and execution with exposure to providing training, learning, and development for marketing individuals.
• Deep understanding of marketing principles.
• Excellent project management and communication skills.
• Keen eye for identifying opportunities to optimize marketing capabilities.
• Strong understanding of marketing technologies, tools, and platforms, with a track record of successful implementation and adoption.
• Proven ability to lead cross-business teams and understand interrelations of different business units to drive effectiveness.
• Working knowledge of tools and systems to promote digital learning.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing high-performing teams, with a focus on mentoring, coaching, and talent development.

Benefits

• 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.