📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Lead (12 Month Contract)
🔹 Company: Mars
🔹 Location: United Kingdom (Remote)
🔹 Job Type: Contract
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: June 3, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Remote work available)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving social media excellence for Mars' confectionery brands in the UK market
- Managing social media campaigns, content calendars, and influencer partnerships
- Analyzing social media performance and data to optimize content and brand sentiment
- Identifying emerging social media trends and technologies to enhance brand presence
- Collaborating with internal departments and external partners to manage a complex network of stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and creative mindset, with a strong focus on data-driven decision making and stakeholder management.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive social media excellence in the UK market, including:
- Deployment and management of social campaigns, reactive content, and influencer partnerships
- Building content calendars across social platforms, leveraging regional tools and key calendar opportunities
- Leveraging appropriate tools to measure social performance, defining and tracking KPIs and benchmarks
- Identifying emerging social media trends, platforms, and technologies to enhance brand presence and performance
- Acting as a social brand guardian for Mars, championing brand guidelines and restrictions across the business and with partners
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong project management skills to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field
Experience: Extensive experience (5-10 years) in a relevant marketing role, with a focus on social media and content development
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in building multiple social brands within an organization
- Expertise in social brand building, with knowledge of building brand identity, tone of voice, and creative translation
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze data and trends and turn them into insightful recommendations and strategies
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience building strong relationships across internal departments and external partners
- Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate complex and changing environments within a global organization
- Proven experience of managing agency partners
Preferred Skills:
- Demonstrable copywriting experience and developing lo-fi content
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the food and beverage industry or confectionery sector may have an advantage in understanding Mars' products and target audience.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £45,000 - £55,000 per annum (Estimated based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager role with 5-10 years of experience in the UK)
Benefits:
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University
- Company bonus
Working Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager role with the given experience level in the UK. The actual salary may vary depending on factors such as performance, skills, and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Mars is a global manufacturer of confectionery, pet care, and other food products, with a strong focus on sustainability and social responsibility
Company Size: Mars is a large, privately-held company with over 100,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse teams and projects
Founded: Mars was founded in 1911 by Franklin C. Mars, with the confectionery business expanding significantly in the 1930s and 1940s
Company Description:
- Mars is a family-owned business with a strong commitment to its Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom
- The company is known for its iconic brands, including M&M's, Snickers, and Wrigley's, as well as its pet care brands, such as Pedigree and Whiskas
- Mars is dedicated to creating a positive impact on the world through its business operations and sustainability initiatives
Company Specialties:
- Confectionery manufacturing and marketing
- Pet care products and services
- Food and beverage production
Company Website: Mars.com
ASSUMPTION: Mars' large size and global presence offer candidates the opportunity to work on diverse projects and gain exposure to international markets.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the Manager level, with the opportunity to grow and take on more responsibilities within the organization
Reporting Structure: The Social Media Lead reports directly to the Marketing Manager and works closely with cross-functional teams, including brand managers, content creators, and agency partners
Work Arrangement: This role is primarily on-site, with flexibility for remote work. The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Mars office in Slough, UK, with occasional travel to other Mars locations as needed
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to take on additional responsibilities and grow within the marketing department
- Opportunities to work on international projects and gain exposure to global markets
- Access to learning and development resources through Mars University
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Lead role offers a unique opportunity to drive social media strategy and execution for a well-known global brand, with potential for career growth and development.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Mars' Slough office is a modern, collaborative workspace with on-site amenities and a focus on employee well-being
Office Location(s): Slough, United Kingdom
Geographic Context:
- Slough is located in Berkshire, England, approximately 20 miles west of London
- The area offers a mix of urban and rural living, with easy access to both city centers and green spaces
- Slough has a diverse population and a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous restaurants, shops, and entertainment options
Work Schedule: The standard workweek is Monday to Friday, with core hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Flexible working arrangements may be available, depending on the needs of the business and the individual's role
ASSUMPTION: The Slough office offers a dynamic and engaging work environment, with opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the marketing team and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the marketing director or another senior leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Data analysis and interpretation abilities
- Creativity and innovation in social media content development
- Stakeholder management and communication skills
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in social media management, content creation, and data analysis
- Include examples of successful social media campaigns or projects from your portfolio
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit with Mars' Five Principles and the specific requirements of the role
- Prepare thoughtful questions about the company, the team, and the role to demonstrate your interest and engagement
ATS Keywords: Social Media, Content Creation, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Brand Building, Campaign Management, Influencer Marketing, Trend Identification, Global Brand
ASSUMPTION: Mars' application process is designed to assess candidates' skills, experience, and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best match for the role and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Social media management tools (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Buffer, etc.)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI, etc.)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project, etc.)
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Lead will be expected to have a strong working knowledge of social media platforms, management tools, and data analysis software, as well as the ability to learn and adapt to new tools as needed.
👔 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 team-oriented, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
- Data-driven and results-focused, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement
- Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to navigate complex and changing environments
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Mars' Five Principles, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
- How comfortable are you working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities?
- What is your preferred work style, and how do you adapt to different team dynamics and work arrangements?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with Mars' company values and work style will be more likely to succeed in the Social Media Lead role and contribute to the organization's success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple social media channels and content calendars simultaneously
- Balancing the needs and priorities of various stakeholders, including internal teams and external partners
- Adapting to changing social media trends, algorithms, and best practices
- Navigating Mars' complex organizational structure and global presence
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Lead role presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth, with a focus on driving social media excellence for a well-known global brand.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other social media manager roles, this position offers a higher level of responsibility and autonomy, with the opportunity to drive strategy and execution for a global brand
- In the confectionery industry, this role is unique in its focus on social media and brand building, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision making and stakeholder management
- Career-wise, this role offers the potential for growth and development within the marketing department and the organization as a whole
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Lead role at Mars presents a unique opportunity for candidates to drive social media strategy and execution for a well-known global brand, with potential for career growth and development.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a social media campaign to launch a new product or promotion
- Analyzing social media performance data to identify trends and optimize content strategy
- Managing influencer partnerships and collaborations to enhance brand awareness and engagement
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Lead role at Mars offers a diverse range of projects and initiatives, with a focus on driving social media excellence and brand success.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader marketing strategy for Mars' confectionery brands?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
- How does Mars support the professional development and growth of its Associates?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the social media team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Mars approach work-life balance and employee well-being?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to understanding Mars' culture 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 relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of successful social media campaigns or projects from your portfolio
- Follow up with a thank-you note after your interview, reiterating your interest in the role and addressing any remaining questions
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
