Marketing Operations Manager, Seasonal

Job Description: Marketing Operations Manager, Seasonal Chicago, IL Office-based The Marketing Operations Manager has a pivotal operational and analytical role within our Seasonal Marketing organization, serving as the dedicated product and asset owner for our newly launched Digital Portfolio Planning tool. In this role, you will bridge commercial marketing, supply, and technology by ensuring data integrity, managing system access, and partnering closely with internal Development Ops on continuous tool enhancements.

Beyond tool governance, you will drive operational excellence across our seasonal calendar by leading the annual portfolio health review, governing Non-Quality Cost (NQC) tracking, and orchestrating end-to-end innovation sales sample readiness to set our national commercial teams up for success. What are we looking for? Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Strategy, Business Administration, or related field required MBA nice to have. 3+ experience in Marketing Operations, Commercial Operations, Brand Operations, or Category Management within the CPG / FMCG industry.

Advanced Excel proficiency with proven expertise in complex formula modeling (XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, multi-condition logic), automated data validation, and building dynamic reporting models. Digital tool or system asset ownership experience, including user access management, bug triage, UAT testing, and collaborating with IT/DevOps teams on functional enhancements. Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with a track record of driving cross-functional alignment and delivering commercial assets against strict, overlapping timelines.

Experience with strategic planning Stakeholder management What would be your key responsibilities? Digital Planning Tool Ownership & DevOps Partnership: Serve as the functional product and asset owner for the Seasonal Digital Portfolio Planning tool; maintain data architecture, govern associate access, execute performance data validation, and partner with internal Dev Ops to scope and test system enhancements.

Annual Seasonal Portfolio Health Governance: Lead the end-to-end annual seasonal portfolio review process, analyzing SKU performance, complexity, and mix health to deliver actionable optimization and rationalization recommendations. NQC & Operational Cost Tracking: Monitor, analyze, and report Non-Quality Costs (NQC) across seasonal cycles, collaborating cross-functionally with Finance, Supply, and Marketing to identify root causes and mitigate portfolio waste.

Innovation Sales Samples & Readiness Delivery: Lead complex innovation sales sample planning across all seasonal horizons, orchestrating timelines across R&D, graphics, and commercial sales teams to guarantee on-time, sales-ready execution for key customer presentations. 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. 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 79,280.00 - USD 109,010.00 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, Strategy, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred
• 3+ years in Marketing Operations, Commercial Operations, Brand Operations, or Category Management in CPG/FMCG
• Advanced Excel skills, digital tool ownership, project management, and stakeholder management experience