Customer Marketing Manager

Mars (External) Open · verified Aug 17, 2026

Illinois-Chicago Manager Customer Marketing

Mid-level Customer Marketing role at Mars (External). Illinois-Chicago · $119,040–$163,680 base.

SalaryStated by Mars (External)

$119,040 – $163,680

Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

You’ll translate channel insight into recommendations for future innovation and programs
You’ll guide assortment, merchandising, pricing, and shelving plans for Mars brands
You’ll build evidence-based selling stories and Ready to Sell materials
You’ll prepare sales and brand content for trade shows and customer planning sessions
You’ll analyze channel and customer inputs for new-item distribution forecasts

What you bring

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, supply chain, or a related field
At least five years of progressive work across customer, trade, category, brand, or sales operations in CPG or FMCG
Experience collaborating across matrixed sales, brand marketing, supply chain, R&D, and vendor teams
A record of taking large initiatives from strategic planning through in-store retail delivery

Who this fits

You’ll suit this Chicago-based role if you have CPG or FMCG experience and can turn customer and channel insight into retail execution. The work favors someone comfortable coordinating sales, marketing, supply chain, R&D, and external vendors across a matrixed organization. Snacking or confectionery exposure, vendor management, and an advanced business degree are preferred.

From the employer

Job Description:

The Customer Marketing Manager is the voice of the customer to the brand teams and an integral part of the One Demand organization. This role is a vital part of Innovation and Core Planning, Moments and Activation.

The Customer Marketing Manager will work closely with cross functional partners and the channel effectiveness team to develop strong strategies and plans that enhance Mars Snacking in-store execution. Creating strong relationships with their Marketing, Supply, R&D, Activity management, and third-party vendor teams is essential to the execution of all the right tools as part of our activity set.

What are we looking for?

Required:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a closely related field.
Experience: 5+ years of progressive professional experience in Customer Marketing, Trade Marketing, Category Management, Brand Management, or Sales Operations within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry.
Cross-Functional Experience: Proven track record of working collaboratively across diverse, matrixed functions (e.g., Sales, Brand Marketing, Supply Chain, R&D, and third-party vendors).
Project Management: Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, cross-portfolio initiatives end-to-end, from strategic concept development to successful in-store retail execution.

Preferred:

Advanced Degree: MBA or advanced degree in a related business field.
Snacking/Confectionery Retail Experience: Direct experience working within the confectionery, snacking, or highly impulse-driven retail categories.
Broker/Vendor Management: Experience directly managing relationships and execution with third-party merchandising or display vendors.

What will be your key responsibilities?
Help support an organizational capability in customer centricity, enable the sales team for selling and executional success, and represent the voice of customer/sales internally.
Bring company and category strategies to life in the marketplace via strong working relationships with sales teams and critical customers.
Influence future innovation pipeline & programs based on channel insights.
Provide key analysis in facilitating new item distribution forecasts by channel / customer.
Drive sales plans around assortment, merchandising, pricing and shelving for our brands, monitoring and assisting in the delivery of top-line and bottom line commitments from sales perspective.
Assist in planning, development and presentation of sales & brand materials at all key Trade Shows and Customer Collaboration Planning sessions , ensuring our sales strategies and brand initiatives are well represented.
Lead the development of high quality and fact-based Selling Stories and Ready to Sell (RTS) materials.

What can you expect from Mars?
Work 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.
A strong focus on 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.

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.

$119,040- $163,680