Marketing Data Steward Lead

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Marketing Data Steward Lead

🔹 Company: Mars

🔹 Location: Newark, New Jersey & Berwyn, Illinois

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Data & Analytics

🔹 Date Posted: July 29, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 7+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Newark, NJ & Berwyn, IL)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Driving a data and AI stewardship strategy for marketing and consumer engagement
• Ensuring data quality and governance while collaborating with cross-functional teams
• Mapping complex data flows and developing conceptual data models
• Optimizing data plans for AI/Analytics to drive consumer engagement and innovation
• Engaging with global and regional data stewards to address data issues and communicate progress

ASSUMPTION: This role is a project-based transformation position with an expected end date of December 31, 2026. Employment may end if a suitable alternative role is not available at that time.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead the execution of a data and AI stewardship strategy for marketing and consumer engagement

✅ Ensure data quality and governance while collaborating with cross-functional teams

✅ Map complex data flows and develop conceptual data models to inform technical model development

✅ Analyze and optimize data plans for AI/Analytics to drive consumer engagement and innovation

✅ Engage with global and regional data stewards to address data issues and communicate progress

✅ Stay ahead of industry trends and adapt data stewardship processes to meet evolving needs

✅ Guide Regional Data Stewards in managing data assets across regional and market entities

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of business data challenges, data models, flows, and structures, ideally from hands-on experience.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline)

Experience: 7+ years of experience in data analytics, insights, or AI within large organizations

Required Skills:

• Proven experience with marketing and/or consumer data in a large enterprise setting
• Recent roles in data stewardship, with a strong understanding of business data challenges
• Solid grasp of data models, flows, and structures, ideally from hands-on experience
• Ability to develop and enforce data governance policies; familiarity with cataloging tools like Collibra is a plus
• Strong communication skills to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Mars' products, brands, or industry
• Experience working in a global or matrix organization

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in data analytics, insights, or AI, with a strong background in marketing data. Proven data stewardship experience and excellent stakeholder engagement skills are essential.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD 133,067.00 - USD 182,958.00 per year

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• 401k
• Paid Time Off

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

ASSUMPTION: The provided salary range is applicable to all locations listed within the job posting. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay and participation in the listed benefit plans.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Company Size: 10,001+ employees

Founded: 1911 (as a family-owned business)

Company Description:

• Mars is a global manufacturer of confectionery, pet care, and food products
• Operates in more than 80 countries and has over 150,000 Associates worldwide
• Guided by the Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom

Company Specialties:

• Mars Petcare
• Mars Food
• Mars Edge
• Mars Wrigley

Company Website: Mars.com

ASSUMPTION: Mars is a well-established company with a strong focus on its core values and a diverse range of products.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Experienced Professional

Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Global Director of Data and AI Stewardship

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in the office, with flexibility for remote work)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to influence data-driven transformation across regional and market entities
• Chance to work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles
• Opportunity to join a purpose-driven company, where they strive to build the world they want tomorrow, today

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to drive data and AI stewardship strategy for marketing and consumer engagement, with potential for significant impact on the company's success.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (Newark, NJ & Berwyn, IL)

Office Location(s): 6885 Elm St, McLean, Virginia (Headquarters) & 6885 Elm St, McLean, Virginia (Regional Office)

Geographic Context:

• Newark, NJ: A major city in the New York metropolitan area, with a diverse population and rich history
• Berwyn, IL: A suburb of Chicago, offering a mix of urban and suburban living

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility for remote work (2-3 days per week)

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility for remote work, with the expectation of being in the office 2-3 days per week.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-depth interview with the hiring team
• Final interview with the Global Director of Data and AI Stewardship

Key Assessment Areas:

• Data literacy and technical skills
• Stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Problem-solving and strategic thinking

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant data analytics, insights, or AI experience in your resume
• Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Mars' products, brands, or industry
• Prepare examples of your data stewardship experience and how you've addressed data challenges

ATS Keywords: Data stewardship, data governance, data quality, marketing data, consumer data, AI/Analytics, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration

ASSUMPTION: The application process may take several weeks, depending on the volume of applicants and the hiring team's availability.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Collibra (data cataloging tool)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Programming languages (e.g., Python, R) - beneficial but not required

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with data cataloging tools like Collibra is a plus, but not required. Proficiency in programming languages may be beneficial but is not a requirement for this role.

👔 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, with a focus on driving results through teamwork
• Data-driven and analytical, with a strong emphasis on data quality and governance
• Adaptable and responsive to change, with a focus on continuous improvement

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a proven track record in data analytics, insights, or AI, with a strong background in marketing data?
• Are you comfortable working in a global or matrix organization, with a hybrid work arrangement?
• Do you have excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence others?

ASSUMPTION: Mars values Associates who embody their Five Principles and are committed to driving results through teamwork, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Working with complex data flows and developing conceptual data models may require significant time and effort
• Engaging with global and regional data stewards may involve coordinating across different time zones and cultures
• The hybrid work arrangement may require frequent travel between the Newark, NJ and Berwyn, IL offices
• The project-based transformation role has an expected end date of December 31, 2026, with potential employment ending if a suitable alternative role is not available at that time

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated by effective time management, strong communication skills, and a proactive approach to building relationships with global and regional data stewards.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on driving a data and AI stewardship strategy for marketing and consumer engagement, with a broad scope of responsibilities
• Compared to other data stewardship roles, this position offers a higher level of strategic influence and cross-functional collaboration
• Career progression may involve moving into a more specialized role within data and AI stewardship or transitioning into a related field, such as data governance or data architecture

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to drive data and AI stewardship strategy for marketing and consumer engagement, with potential for significant impact on the company's success.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive data governance framework for marketing and consumer engagement data
• Optimizing data plans for AI/Analytics to drive consumer engagement and innovation in a specific market or product category
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to address data quality and governance challenges in a regional or global initiative

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the broad scope of responsibilities and strategic influence offered by this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the current state of data governance and quality within the marketing and consumer engagement function, and how this role will address any gaps?
• How does this role collaborate with other data and analytics teams within Mars, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the marketing and consumer engagement function, and how can data and AI stewardship strategy help address them?
• How does this role support the growth and development of regional data stewards, and what resources are available to facilitate this?
• What opportunities exist for professional development and growth within the data and AI stewardship function at Mars?

ASSUMPTION: These key questions will help applicants better understand the role's responsibilities, priorities, and potential for growth and development.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight relevant data analytics, insights, or AI experience, as well as any data stewardship experience and examples of addressing data challenges
• Write a cover letter demonstrating your understanding of Mars' products, brands, or industry, and your fit with the company's Five Principles
• Prepare examples of your data stewardship experience and how you've addressed data challenges, ready to discuss during the interview process
• Follow up with the hiring team one week after submitting your application, inquiring about the status of your application and expressing your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.