Global Petcare Strategy Director

At Mars Petcare, we play in an incredible category – universal, emotional, and high value. Our objective is to transform the experience of pet ownership globally, and our starting point is unique: in the last decade, we have created and grown entirely new Mars Petcare business.

The Global Petcare Strategy team is key to the transformation, and so is this role. The role will work on building the new Strategic Steering capability at the Petcare level – to create absolute clarity on strategic priorities, objectivise our performance and steer the business to make quality decisions with follow through.

This role offers significant exposure to senior leadership and a unique opportunity to make lasting organizational impact by helping Mars Petcare step-change its ability to translate strategy into action, becoming a strategic market leader shaping the future of pet care.

The successful candidate will become part of our unique Mars culture, centered around the five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.

• Strong academic performance at university (or equivalent experience), including at least a II.I at undergraduate degree or comparable qualification.
• 5-10 years' relevant experience in strategy consulting, consumer packaged goods (CPG), services industry or related fields across marketing, finance, project management, transformation, and strategy roles (a combination is preferred).
• Proven expertise in strategy and project management in multi-category, multi-market environments, including owning projects themselves
• Multi-year experience with consumer goods businesses.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to collaboratively interpret complex data and insights to drive informed decisions.
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Proven ability to build strong relationships, including with senior stakeholders

Shape the design of the Strategic Steering function at the Petcare level

• Design overall approach & framing: strategic rationale, vision & ambition, roadmap to get there, key approach elements, governance and ways of working
• Own and evolve communication materials to build buy-in and consensus amongst a broad range of stakeholders in the organisation

Develop common approach and methodology for Steering priorities across Divisions and Functions

• Build and own one Petcare view on priorities and underlying programmes
• Design how we will truly objectivise our performance against priorities to ensure we have forward-visibility on our trajectory and can course-correct if needed
• Define and align KPIs to track at Segment level
• Develop and codify methodology guidance to divisions & functions on setting the right KPI framework
• Develop and align value tracking approach with Finance

Coach and support Divisions and Functions on implementing common Steering framework within their Transformation offices

• Build strong relationships with Transformation leaders in Divisions and Functions
• Support Transformation leaders in embedding the common approach to scorecard structure, KPI and value tracking methodology
• Thought partner on selecting the right KPIs to provide meaningful transparency on performance to facilitate the right conversations

Set up process and coordinate quarterly Strategic Steering reviews with the Leadership team:

• Coordinate Scorecard refresh process with Divisional and Functional Transformation Offices
• Based on updated views, recommend critical topics for discussion and deep-dive by the Leadership team, coordinate agendas
• Prepare overall materials for discussion, facilitate effective preparation process to ensure stakeholders are equipped to have the right conversations
• Prepare post-meeting recaps of key decisions and actions, ensure follow-through  

Continuously improve methodology, process, tools and ways of working

• Embrace the spirit of agile iteration: own continuous, quarter on quarter improvement of the Scorecard and process
• Develop scorecard digitisation roadmap: work with the rest of the organisation to implement progressive automation of data feeds

Build Steering community across Petcare, Divisions and Functions

• Bring together Steering community, facilitate learnings exchange
• Continuously support Transformation Offices on best-in-class steering: become the centre of excellence for divisions and functions

• Work with 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.

#TBDDT