Associate Director Corporate Communications

Mars•Chicago, IL

7d•$134,400 - $184,800•Hybrid

About The Position

Join our team as the Associate Director, Corporate Communications, Accelerator Division reporting to the Senior Director, Corporate Affairs. You will have the unique responsibility of building external visibility of the Division and driving engagement with key external stakeholders including customers and policy makers. The role will focus on Sustainability, Customer and Policy Communication components that enable the reputation and growth of the Division. Play a critical role in contextualizing Accelerator as a Division within Mars Snacking in support of our reputation and freedom to operate goals. Our primary business is within North America and has the ambition to grow internationally. This role will also work closely with the Corporate Affairs teams in other Mars Snacking regions and the Mars Corporate Public Affairs leads for North America and the EU. This person will also support issues management and work closely with our Business Units CA teams to protect the reputation of our brands and business.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or associated profession is required, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
8-10 years relevant professional experience in corporate affairs, communications or related fields.
Experience advising and coaching senior leaders.
Strong strategic planning skills, a solid understanding of the business, and the ability to build and nurture relationships at the highest levels in a corporate environment.
Strong external orientation including experience dealing with media and policy makers.
Experience in sustainability communications, including translating technical sustainability programs into compelling storytelling.
Self-starting and collaborative leader who confidently balances strategic and operational priorities, thrives in ambiguity, exercises sound judgment under pressure, and motivates others while providing strong leadership during critical situations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Robust knowledge of working with AI, responsibly, in corporate communications including policy comms / public affairs.

Nice To Haves

MS/MBA is a plus.
Experience within CPG is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic storytelling to champion Accelerator’s and Mars Snacking’s sustainability progress in service of driving trust and reputation with key stakeholders.
Enable and support customer engagement and communications. Bring to life key messages specific to Accelerator for our customers, events and meetings including the annual National Sales Conference and critical top-to-top meetings.
Deploy choiceful, high-impact corporate communications through proactive media relations, external speaking engagements, and strategic thought leadership as relevant to our business and sustainability goals.
Translate complex corporate governance directives, compliance standards, and regulatory frameworks into accessible, actionable guidance for internal and external audiences.
Collaborate with the Public Affairs team to communicate Mars' positions on key public policy issues, trade, and regional regulations.
Anticipate reputational risks and establish robust response plans. Provide communications counsel to senior leadership during critical business issues.
Ensure our external visibility and thought leadership progress is sufficiently represented in our Accelerator engagement and internal communications.