About the role
Job Description:
Purpose & Strategic Context
The North America Marketing Director leads the end-to-end function for the Professional Division across the US and Canada. This role is accountable for developing and executing high-impact marketing strategies that attract, recruit & retain the top professionals while positioning our brands as the clear first-choice recommendation that drives consumer purchase & loyalty.
As a critical member of our PRO Leadership team, the Marketing Director owns the strategic & operational marketing agenda across all professional segments, with a particular focus on accelerating growth in the breeder segment. The role demands a blend of visionary leadership and hand-on execution, shaping integrated marketing plans, delivering compelling programs and rigorous tracking of performance to deliver measurable business results.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or business
- 10 years of marketing experience, with at least 4 years in a leadership role
- Deep experience in B2B or professional-channel marketing, ideally within pet nutrition, animal health, pharma, or performance-driven consumer goods
- Proven track record of developing and executing integrated marketing strategies that deliver measurable business results (revenue growth, brand preference, customer acquisition/retention & recommendation growth)
- Hands-on experience with digital marketing, content strategy, trade marketing, events, CRM, loyalty programs & marketing analytics/tools
- Excellent leadership, communication, presentation & interpersonal skills with the ability to influence & collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization
- Passion for dogs & cats and the professionals who work with them
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute comprehensive, segment-specific marketing strategies and annual plans for the breeder, shelter, working dog, sporting dog & service dog segments.
- Lead the creation of compelling positioning, messaging, content, and campaigns that will highlight the performance, health & welfare benefits of our programs & nutrition solutions in professional environments.
- Drive brand preference and recommendation among professional audiences while supporting both direct-to-professional & distributor purchase pathways.
- Build and optimize an integrated marketing mix including digital, social, content, events, trade programs, partnerships & customer relationship tools & initiatives tailored to each professional segment
- Partner closely with Sales, Sales Operations/Planning & Recommendation/DTC and Professional Division Leadership Team to align on marketing activities with enterprise goals and deliver a seamless customer experience
- Establish clear KPI’s, track performance and continuously optimize programs based on customer feedback, data & insights.
- Streamline and harmonize North American programs to create a consistent regional experience while addressing the US/Canadian market & business nuances.
- Lead, coach and develop the Professional Division marketing team, fostering a high-performance & collaborative culture
- Identify, negotiate, & cultivate strategic partnerships with industry organizations, associations, influencers/ambassadors and key opinion leaders in the professional dog/cat space.
- Stay ahead of industry trends, competitive activity, and emerging opportunities in the professional nutrition channel.
- Collaborate with global and regional marketing teams to share best practices & create a seamless demand creation plan leveraging company-wide resources.
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with over 150,000 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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Skills & Tags
Aplyr's read
Mars is a diverse global powerhouse in confectionery, pet care, and food, attracting talent in manufacturing, sales, and technical roles.
What's promising
- •Mars offers a wide range of career paths across multiple sectors, including food, pet care, and confectionery.
- •The company invests in employee development through programs like the Mars Young Professionals Program.
- •Mars provides opportunities for global mobility and cross-functional career growth.
What to watch
- •The company's large size may lead to bureaucratic decision-making processes.
- •Limited public information about Mars' work-life balance policies.
- •Mars' global operations may require frequent travel or relocation for some roles.
Why Mars
- •Mars is family-owned, allowing for long-term strategic planning without shareholder pressure.
- •The company is known for its iconic brands like M&M's and Snickers, offering strong brand recognition.
- •Mars emphasizes sustainability and responsible sourcing in its operations.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Mars
Mars, Incorporated is a global manufacturer of confectionery, pet care, and food products, known for brands like M&M's, Snickers, Pedigree, and Whiskas.