Corporate Affairs Director

Job Description

Job Description:

Working Pattern: Approx 2-3 days in Castle Cary every other week.

At Mars we are just as passionate about pets as we are people. We are looking for a new Associate (what we call our Employees here at Mars) to join our Corporate Affairs (CA) team as CA Director for our Royal Canin Team. The CA Director is responsible for developing and executing the company’s overall stakeholder management strategy, enhancing the corporate brand reputation, and directing functional resources to enable sustainable growth for the UK & Ireland (UK&I).

With joint accountability for our UK&I one demand community, the role will drive collaboration to deliver a unified one demand annual plan, in partnership with the Sales and Marketing Directors.

This means delivering content and activations - which are consistent, compelling and in support of our critical focus areas through:

• Customer and consumer training

• PR and corporate communications

• Acting as an internal advisor for pet health and wellbeing in activations and campaigns.

• Any other emerging touch points that present opportunities to advocate for our brand

This role has full accountability for internal and external scientific communications to help drive Associate development; as well as supporting business growth through developing and delivering training plans for external partners, customers, Key Opinion Leaders, and veterinary students. Furthermore, this is a vital role in ensuring compliance to external regulations resulting in changes from Brexit and the UK’s role in Europe.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team for Royal Canin UK&I, the CA Director will be integral to driving business performance through both an effective CA strategy, driving our unit strategic priorities, as well as consultation on general business decisions with the General Manager and other Leadership Team members.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Influencing the external business environment aiming for sensible regulation and maintaining alignment with Europe to ensure our freedom to operate.

• Monitoring and managing our on-pack and off-pack marketing claims to ensure regulatory compliance.

• Engaging Associates, customers and pet owners through knowledge and training on science nutrition

• Driving our reputation with key external stakeholders including Trade Associations

• Handling customer & consumer queries and support via our in-house Nutrition Helplines

• Managing issues and crisis, particularly through ensuring capabilities within the wider CA and UK&I team

• Driving associate engagement through effective internal communication i.e. vision/purpose, change management, general and corporate communication

What are we looking for?

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in public relations, public affairs, scientific communication, and/or regulatory affairs

• Experience strategically leading a broad remit with demonstrable risk management.

• Demonstrable deep business experience in a medium to large scale or global organisation

• Demonstrable leadership and team management experience

• Experience managing change and transformation.

• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills.

Desirable

• Experience managing other managers.

• Background in Veterinary / Pet Care

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 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.