Channel Effectiveness Manager

Mars•Chicago, IL

13d•$108,160 - $148,720•Onsite

About The Position

As a Customer Marketing Manager for Mars Snacking, you will be the critical link connecting our Brand Marketing and Sales teams. You’ll champion the "Voice of the Customer" internally and represent the "Voice of the Brands" across top retail accounts. Working within an integrated marketing team, you will co-lead joint business planning, translate shopper insights into actionable commercial strategies, and influence retail partners to accelerate brand growth and market share.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
4–6+ years of progressive commercial experience in Sales Planning, Customer/Channel Development, Category Management, or Key Account Management within Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or FMCG.
Proven track record of executing channel strategies, commercial playbooks, and joint customer business plans.
Demonstrated experience working with sales forecasts, demand planning, and gap analysis (e.g., aligning operational forecasts with commercial targets/One Demand plans).
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with a history of partnering with Sales Directors, Customer Marketing, Brand Marketing, and Supply/Demand Planning.
Proven ability to organize, lead, and facilitate annual channel planning sessions and senior leadership meetings.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree / MBA in Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain.
6–8+ years of CPG/FMCG experience supporting major retail channels (e.g., Mass, Grocery, Pet Specialty, Club, or E-Commerce).
Proficient with commercial forecasting and ERP systems (such as SAP, Blue Yonder/JDA, Anaplan, Nielsen/IRI, or Power BI).
Direct experience managing product allocations, supply constraints, and customer service level targets during high-demand or promotional cycles.

Responsibilities

Partner with Sales Directors and Customer Development Managers to execute channel strategies, commercial playbooks, and high-impact seasonal/innovation launches.
Steer the channel-level annual planning framework, provide input into National Playbooks, and facilitate senior leadership planning sessions.
Represent the channel in forecasting reviews, identifying and resolving gaps between customer demand (One Demand) and supply capabilities.
Tailor national selling stories, promotional displays, and brand marketing content to align with specific customer and channel needs.
Collaborate with account teams to establish program targets and optimize product allocations to protect customer service levels.
Own and orchestrate the upfront stages of commercial programs—collaborating across Brand, Customer Marketing, and Supply Planning to set the foundation for seamless market execution