Manager, Portfolio PPA Strategy

Job Description: Manager, Portfolio PPA Strategy Chicago, IL Office-based The Portfolio Price Pack Architecture (PPA) Strategy Manager is responsible for designing, optimizing, and executing a multi-category, forward-looking 3+ year PPA innovation pipeline. Sitting at the intersection of consumer demand, commercial reality, and operational capability, this role translates deep human and shopper insights into a winning assortment strategy.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Brand, Revenue Growth Management (RGM), Category, Human Insights, Sales, and Supply Chain to ensure our pricing and packaging architecture maximizes household penetration (HHP), meets diverse consumer needs, and drives profitable, sustainable growth across our brand portfolio.. What are we looking for? Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Finance, Strategy, or related field required (MBA preferred).

4+ years of working experience in CPG, with a strong focus in Brand Management, Revenue Growth Management (RGM), Category Management, or Product Portfolio Strategy. Strong data interpretation and analytical skills, with a proven ability to translate complex consumer and commercial data into actionable, premium-tier retail packaging strategies. Demonstrated ability to influence, align, and work effectively across a highly cross-functional matrixed organization.

Previous experience in innovation nice to have Consumer insight experience and Category Management experience Experience with Nielson and IRI Comfortable with Storytelling A highly curious and creative problem solver with a positive, proactive "can-do" attitude, resilience in navigating complex projects, and a passion for uncovering consumer-led product opportunities What would be your key responsibilities?

3+ Year PPA Innovation Pipeline: Lead the collaborative development and execution of a multi-year Price Pack Architecture roadmap across multiple categories, ensuring alignment with brand guardrails and long-term business objectives. Assortment & Price Point Optimization: Conduct comprehensive assortment analysis to identify critical price points and optimal pack formats across various retail channels, matching product configurations to specific consumer purchasing behaviors.

Insights-Driven Architecture: Leverage deep consumer, shopper, and market insights to optimize packaging configurations, ensuring they are competitive, highly relevant, and visually/functionally appealing to target shoppers. Commercialization & Cross-Functional Alignment: Act as the lead bridge between RGM, Brand, Insights, and Supply Chain to evaluate the commercial viability, pricing strategy, and shelf-impact of new pack formats. What can you expect from Mars? Work with over 130,000 with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today. Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University. An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus. Mars does not sponsor visas for this role. #LI-MS1 The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment. The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 108,160.00 - USD 148,720.00 Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales.

We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL®, and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries.

The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Finance, Strategy, or related field; MBA preferred
• 4+ years CPG experience in Brand Management, RGM, Category Management, or Product Portfolio Strategy
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate complex data into retail packaging strategies and work cross-functionally