Portfolio Health & Optimization Manager

Mars • Chicago, IL

3d • $108,160 - $148,720 • Onsite

About The Position

The Portfolio Health & Optimization Manager will shape the long-term health, competitiveness, and growth of the Mars Snacking Confectionary portfolio. Working across portfolio strategy, innovation and life cycle management, consumer and market insights, and long-range planning, the role translates growth ambitions into actionable portfolio choices.

The role leads assessments of portfolio health and innovation sufficiency, identifying whether the portfolio has the offerings needed for future growth and where gaps, overlaps, or underperforming areas require intervention. Through long-term portfolio forecasting, innovation pipeline assessment, and assortment optimization, the manager helps ensure Mars is building the right portfolio for the future. The position combines strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, financial acumen, and operational focus to develop recommendations that strengthen the portfolio and support sustainable growth.

This is an office-based position in Chicago, Illinois. The compensation range is USD 108,160 to USD 148,720. The total compensation package includes variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, strategy, finance, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of progressive experience in CPG.
• Experience assessing portfolio performance, innovation pipelines, assortment productivity, or long-term growth plans.
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, including the ability to translate complex consumer, market, financial, and portfolio data into clear business recommendations.
• Strong Excel and presentation skills.
• Previous experience with forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and align stakeholders across highly cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
• Comfort working with senior leadership.
• Curiosity and a forward-looking perspective, with the ability to challenge existing assumptions and connect current portfolio choices with growth ambitions.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and balance consumer opportunity, business performance, strategic priorities, and operational considerations.

Nice To Haves

• MBA degree preferred.
• Experience in Portfolio Strategy, Brand Management, Category Management, Strategic Planning, or Finance/Revenue Growth Management.

Responsibilities

• Lead portfolio inputs into long-term planning, translating enterprise growth ambitions into clear portfolio actions, opportunities, and risks.
• Assess the future portfolio against strategic growth objectives and identify where changes to portfolio mix, innovation, assortment, or investment may be needed.
• Integrate consumer, category, competitive, brand, financial, and operational perspectives to develop a holistic view of future portfolio health.
• Identify emerging portfolio gaps and opportunities and translate them into actionable recommendations for long-term portfolio evolution.
• Define clear measures of portfolio health and monitor progress against long-term strategic ambitions.
• Evaluate innovation against portfolio gaps and strategic growth spaces to determine where additional innovation or intervention may be required.
• Partner with brand teams, insights, finance, R&D, and other cross-functional teams to connect innovation plans with future portfolio needs.
• Evaluate innovation performance and translate learnings into recommendations that strengthen future pipeline decisions.
• Provide a portfolio-level perspective to identify gaps, overlaps, or imbalances across brands, segments, growth spaces, and innovation horizons.
• Lead ongoing assessment of portfolio and assortment health, including SKU rationalization, to identify opportunities to strengthen productivity, relevance, profitability, and sustainable growth.
• Analyze portfolio performance, gaps, duplication, fragmentation, underperforming SKUs, and opportunities to scale parts of the portfolio.
• Work with cross-functional teams to assess the strategic role of products in the broader portfolio, balancing consumer and shopper needs, brand strategies, financial performance, and operational complexity.
• Drive a consistent approach to evaluating portfolio additions and exits so assortment choices strengthen the overall portfolio without adding unnecessary complexity.
• Create clear, compelling portfolio narratives and recommendations for senior leadership to support strategic prioritization and decision-making.
• Establish consistent portfolio health reviews connecting long-term ambition, innovation sufficiency, current assortment performance, and future portfolio actions.
• Act as a strategic connector across functions, ensuring portfolio decisions are fact-based and aligned with long-term Confectionary objectives.

Benefits

• Industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
• Variable pay.
• Medical benefits.
• Dental benefits.
• Participation in a 401(k) plan.
• Paid time off.
• Learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level