Senior Manager, Partner Success

Mars•Chicago, IL

5d•$153,600 - $211,200•Onsite

About The Position

Sr. Manager, Partner Success Are you passionate about building and nurturing strategic relationships that drive industry-leading innovation? We are seeking a Sr. Manager, Partner Success to serve as the primary relationship owner for our diverse portfolio of external partners. In this pivotal role, you will act as the single point of contact for partners after the initial handoff, driving their activation, performance, and long-term growth to mutual benefit of Mars Inc and our external partners. Serving as the primary bridge between external innovators—including industry disruptors/ startups, academic institutions, and strategic suppliers—and Mars, you will champion E2E delivery across our R&D, Sustainability, and Quality & Food Safety ecosystems. Your role will be critical in translating external potential into internal success, ensuring these high-impact partnerships thrive and deliver mutual value.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commercial Management, Supply Chain, or a related technical field is required
4–7 years in partner management, account management, or program management.
Proven experience building, maintaining, and exceeding expectations within client/partner relationships
Strong commercial acumen and deep familiarity with contract structures, such as LOIs, MSAs, and key commercial terms
Demonstrated experience negotiating commercial terms and running Joint Business Reviews (JBPs) or joint business plans
Exceptional cross-functional coordination skills and strong judgment on when and how to escalate issues
Experience with data-driven performance tracking and running structured, collaborative business reviews

Nice To Haves

An MBA or advanced degree is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead Account Management: Act as the primary, single point of contact and lead account manager for assigned external partners.
Contract & SLA Coordination: Coordinate contract execution, onboarding, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in close alignment with Legal and Mars Global Services (MGS).
KPI Tracking & Reviews: Proactively track partner KPIs and milestones, and run regular joint business reviews to keep projects moving forward.
E2E Risk Mitigation: Surface potential risks or blocks early and drive swift mitigation across internal functions (Commercial, Supply, R&D, etc.).
Commercial Expansion: Own future-focused commercial conversations, including upsells, extensions, and ensuring contract renewal readiness.
Strategic Synergy: Collaborate closely with the Head of Partnerships and Portfolio Leads to align partner execution with broader business strategy.