Agency Ecosystem Change Communications Lead - 12-Month FTC

Job Description:

Coinciding with the contract expiration of several of our agency partners, we will embark on a planned periodic review of the agencies that support our brands. As a result, we are initiating RFP processes across several key capability areas, including Media, Production, Connected Commerce, and Brand PR/Social Creators.

This critical work is in service of our ambition of having a best-in-class Partner ecosystem that powers our intent to build Iconic Brands & Experiences that are the Engine of Growth and Value Creation. This pursuit is most important given the significant and irreversible shifts in how consumers and pet parents connect and engage with the world around them.

The program has four major points of impact, each requiring robust stakeholder enrollment and change communications efforts to realize the benefits rapidly and minimize disruption in the organization, as promised to senior stakeholders. This requires the development and execution of a well-considered change communications strategy and implementation plan oriented around the three remaining phases of the program.

This role is pivotal in ensuring clear, transparent, and supportive communication throughout the project, addressing both the emotional and practical impacts on our Associates so that we achieve understanding and compliance with the program's committed objectives and are inspired by the potential for improved ways of working and end-to-end Marketing excellence with our partners.

The role will become a key contributor to the Agency Ecosystem core team, including five capabilities leads and their associated working teams: a global team across Segments and multiple functions. An understanding of the impacts of the program and the Mars organization is essential.

'This is a 12-month FTC (Fixed Term Contract) role'.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum 8 years of experience in related work (communications, change management, Organizational Design, strategy consulting)

• Exceptional writing and editing skills

• Critical thinking skills and good judgement

• Strong business acumen

• Ability to remain flexible and resilient under pressure

• Comfortable around key decision-makers and business leaders

• Ability to develop and drive communications plans

• Experience working with agency partners

What will be your key responsibilities?

Change Communications Planning & Implementation

• The Associate will lead the development and implementation of a full change communications strategy to support the enterprise-wide Agency Ecosystem review process and implementation. This includes developing and managing goals, objective, messaging, audiences, and specific tactics as well as identifying key milestones to bring cohesion across the transformation. The Associate will work closely with the entire transformation office, overseen by an executive sponsor of the Mars Marketing Leadership Council.

Stakeholder Engagement Planning & Implementation

• As part of the change communications effort, the lead is responsible for developing a robust stakeholder engagement plan that considers the workstream/capability teams within the Agency Ecosystem and the impacts of other interventions. This lead will ensure that individuals and groups are identified and engaged timely and appropriately across all important project milestones, collaborating with leadership to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with the project's objectives.

Continued Improvement and adherence

• The change communication lead will regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and adjust as needed to ensure optimal engagement and understanding and act as a liaison between different departments to ensure cohesive and unified communication efforts are executed.

Writing, Editing & Messaging

• The communications lead for the effort will be responsible for creating message maps about the transformation – including specific impacts, proof points, case for change and storytelling that brings the change to life. The lead will also ensure that the transformation is put in the context of the larger business objective, the Mars Purpose and Segment and Mars strategies. Excellent writing and editing skills combined with a creative and bold communications approach is sought.

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.

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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.