Senior Portfolio Activation Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

Mars: Where your Tomorrow Starts Today!

About the Role

Join our Mars Petcare segment — where our purpose is simple and powerful: making life better for pets and their owners.

In this role, you’ll play a key part in shaping how our brands show up in market. You’ll translate global and ANZ category strategies into locally relevant activation plans that drive immediate growth while building long-term brand equity.

As a senior member of the Market Strategy & Deployment team, you’ll lead the activation of our Pet Nutrition portfolio across all channels.

You’ll bring our innovation pipeline to life through compelling shopper experiences and strong customer partnerships.

You’ll also be a connector and influencer — championing collaboration across teams, building clear and persuasive customer sell stories, and leading omnichannel activation strategies that truly engage shoppers and deliver measurable commercial impact.

If you’re passionate about brands, shoppers, and making ideas happen in market, this is a role where you can make a real difference.

Role Title: Senior Portfolio Activation Manager
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Hours: Full-time, permanent role
Reporting to: Market Strategy & Deployment Lead – Pet Nutrition

What you’ll do:

• Lead Portfolio Activation Strategy: Define and govern the brand activation strategy for Pet Nutrition portfolios, integrating demand levers (pricing, promotion, distribution, mix, customer margins) in partnership with Category, Sales, and SRM teams.

• Shopper & Trade Marketing Excellence: Develop and execute shopper-centric campaigns and trade programs that drive traffic, conversion, and basket size across key retail partners.

• Customer Sell Stories & Innovation Launches: Build compelling sell stories for innovation and core range, tailored to customer needs and shopper insights.

• Portfolio Management: Curate the optimal portfolio for NZ from the ANZ catalogue, ensuring strategic range decisions by customer and category.

• Omnichannel Execution: Activate brands across physical and digital touchpoints, ensuring seamless shopper journeys and consistent brand presence.

• Performance & ROI Optimization: Set KPIs for all activations, track performance, and continuously improve ROI through data-driven insights.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with ANZ Marketing, Digital, AU Shopper Marketing, and NZ One Demand teams to align strategies and deliver cohesive execution.

Your unique ingredients:

• University degree in Marketing, Business, or related field with demonstrated experience in marketing, category, or sales roles within FMCG

• Proven leadership skill in shopper/trade marketing or portfolio activation (no team leadership experience required).

• Strong financial acumen and understanding of P&L impact.

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

• Experience in developing and executing

• Analytical mindset with ability to translate insights into action
  

Why you’ll love working for Mars:

• Purpose: Help craft beloved brands with a legacy of over 100 years of local manufacturing making products that people and pets will love all while helping to build a more sustainable future.

• People: A culture that values your contributions, fosters leadership, and recognises the impact you make. Your work truly matters here.

• Development: Shape your career with personalised development and real opportunities to grow from day one.

• Enjoy a team and business environment that is invested in helping you manage and grow your energy for work and life.

• Be a part of a company that loves pets as much as you do!

Internal applicants: This role has been graded as a T1 opportunity, ensure that you have discussed your application with your line manager prior to applying including obtaining their endorsement.

Applications close: Tuesday 20th of Jan, 2026

Mars is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, 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.

We know everyone’s needs are different, and we’re committed to making our application process accessible and supportive for all candidates. If you require any adjustments along the way, simply let us know in your application form. We’ll work with you to understand what will help you feel comfortable and supported.