📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Brand Manager - Bars
🔹 Company: Mars
🔹 Location: Australia (Remote)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: May 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: Yes
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the development and deployment of brand and segment growth initiatives for iconic confectionary brands like Mars and MilkyWay.
- Driving innovation and product development aligned with brand strategy and market trends.
- Collaborating cross-functionally with customer marketing teams and other stakeholders to deliver key brand initiatives and customer plans.
- Analyzing performance, managing risks, and guiding decision-making through market data and the S&OP+ process.
- Fostering a high-performing culture and mentoring team members.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. It's ideal for candidates with a background in international FMCG companies and experience in brand management.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Strategic Brand and Growth Planning: Lead the creation of data-driven marketing and 3-year growth plans, incorporating consumer, shopper, category, and customer insights.
✅ Innovation and Product Development: Drive a robust 3–5 year innovation pipeline aligned with brand strategy and market trends.
✅ Cross-Functional and Customer Collaboration: Partner with customer marketing and cross-functional teams to deliver key brand initiatives and customer plans.
✅ Performance Analysis and Risk Management: Leverage market data and the S&OP+ process to monitor brand health, manage risks, and guide decision-making.
✅ Team Leadership and Development: Foster a high-performing culture, mentor team members, and actively manage personal development and performance.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team leadership. It requires strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: University Degree in Business, Marketing, or Brand Management
Experience: Solid experience in brand marketing in international FMCG companies (minimum 2 years) and experience in a Brand Manager role not less than 1.5 years
Required Skills:
- Excellent analytical, presentation, and communication skills
- Ability to manage several different and complex projects at the same time
- Fluency in English
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the confectionary industry
- Bilingual or multilingual skills
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in brand management, with experience in international FMCG companies. Familiarity with the confectionary industry and additional language skills would be an asset.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: AUD 120,000 - 150,000 per annum (Estimated, based on industry standards for a Brand Manager role in Australia with 2-5 years of experience)
Benefits:
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University
- Industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for a Brand Manager role in Australia with 2-5 years of experience. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Mars is a global leader in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, with iconic brands like Mars, MilkyWay, Snickers, and Twix.
Company Size: Mars is a large, privately-held company with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for growth and exposure to diverse teams and projects.
Founded: Mars was founded in 1911 by Franklin Mars and is now led by the fourth generation of the Mars family.
Company Description:
- Mars is guided by its Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.
- The company is committed to creating a positive impact on the world through its business, with a focus on sustainability and social responsibility.
- Mars offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for professional development and growth.
Company Specialties:
- Confectionery
- Petcare
- Food
- Edge (innovative, health and wellness products)
Company Website: Mars.com
ASSUMPTION: Mars is a well-established company with a strong commitment to its values and sustainability. Its size and diverse product portfolio offer opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level of the marketing career path, with opportunities for growth into senior roles.
Reporting Structure: The Brand Manager reports directly to the Portfolio Director and leads a team of marketing professionals.
Work Arrangement: This role is remote, with flexibility for on-site work as needed.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression into senior marketing roles within Mars
- Expansion into different brands or product categories within the company
- Development of leadership and management skills through team mentoring and project management
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth within Mars, with potential for progression into senior marketing roles or expansion into different brands or product categories.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Mars Australia has an office in Melbourne, but this role is remote.
Office Location(s): Mars Australia, Melbourne
Geographic Context:
- Melbourne is the second-most populous city in Australia, with a vibrant culture and diverse communities.
- The city offers a high quality of life, with a mild climate, beautiful beaches, and numerous parks and gardens.
- Melbourne is a major hub for the arts, sport, and education, with a thriving food and drink scene.
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The remote work arrangement offers flexibility and work-life balance, while the Melbourne office provides opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with the marketing team
- Final interview with the Portfolio Director
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and brand management skills
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Mars' values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand management experience and relevant skills
- Prepare examples of your strategic planning, innovation, and team leadership skills
- Research Mars' Five Principles and be prepared to discuss how you embody them in your work
ATS Keywords: Brand Management, Strategic Planning, Innovation, Product Development, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Performance Analysis, Risk Management, Team Leadership, Marketing, FMCG, Confectionery
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, analytical skills, and cultural fit. Preparation should involve researching Mars' values and preparing examples of relevant skills and experiences.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Marketing automation and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used will depend on the candidate's role and responsibilities, but strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is essential.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Quality: The consumer is our boss, quality is our work, and value for money is our goal.
- Responsibility: As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as Associates, we support the responsibilities of others.
- Mutuality: A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
- Efficiency: We use resources to the full, waste nothing, and do only what we can do best.
- Freedom: We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional
- Data-driven and strategic
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Mars' Five Principles in your work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you led a team through a significant change or challenge?
- How do you approach strategic planning and innovation in your current role?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their alignment with Mars' values and provide examples of their work style and skills in action.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role may require managing multiple projects simultaneously, which can be challenging but offers opportunities for growth and development.
- Mars is a large, global company, which can present communication and collaboration challenges in a remote work environment.
- The confectionary industry is competitive and fast-paced, requiring adaptability and resilience.
- The role may involve working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, which can present challenges in terms of coordination and alignment.
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated through strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills, as well as a strategic and adaptable mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other Brand Manager roles, this position offers the opportunity to work on iconic, globally recognized brands like Mars and MilkyWay.
- In the confectionary industry, this role is similar to other Brand Manager positions, but may offer unique challenges and opportunities specific to Mars' portfolio and global presence.
- Career progression in this role may involve moving into senior marketing roles within Mars or expanding into different brands or product categories.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges specific to Mars' portfolio and global presence, as well as opportunities for career growth and development.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a 3-year growth plan for the Mars brand, incorporating consumer, shopper, category, and customer insights.
- Driving a robust 3–5 year innovation pipeline for MilkyWay, aligned with brand strategy and market trends.
- Collaborating with customer marketing and cross-functional teams to deliver a key brand initiative, such as a product launch or promotional campaign.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of responsibilities and initiatives the Brand Manager may be involved in, but the specific projects will depend on the candidate's role and the current priorities of the business.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current brand health and market trends for Mars and MilkyWay?
- How does this role fit into the broader marketing strategy for Mars Australia?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does Mars support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance and flexibility for remote workers?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are intended to help the candidate better understand the role, the company, and the opportunities for growth and development. The specific questions asked may vary depending on the candidate's interests and priorities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand management experience and relevant skills
- Prepare examples of your strategic planning, innovation, and team leadership skills
- Research Mars' Five Principles and be prepared to discuss how you embody them in your work
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of submitting your application to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
