Senior Manager, Data & Technology Business Partner – Category Management & Customer Marketing
Mars (External) Open · verified Sep 29, 2026 At a glance
Senior Customer Marketing role at Mars (External). Illinois-Chicago · full-time · $119,040–$163,680 base.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Act as the technology and data contact for category management and customer marketing, tying their priorities to commercial goals
- Put tools in place for assortment analysis, shelf optimization and market intelligence across category management
- Help customer marketing teams improve campaigns, shopper platforms and ways to measure investment
- Assess incoming requests, make business cases and coordinate funding and delivery with product owners and engineering teams
- Shape self-service reporting and regional AI use cases while supporting data quality, training and adoption
What you bring
- A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, IT, data analytics or a related area, plus at least seven years in a relevant business or technology role
- Practical knowledge of category management, customer and shopper marketing, and retail analytics, including assortment and shelf analysis
- A record of turning business priorities and retail challenges into actionable data and technology plans
- Strong communication and facilitation skills, with experience influencing cross-functional leaders without direct authority
Who this fits
This senior role suits someone who can connect commercial teams with data and technology partners and move work forward across functions. The position is based in Chicago, Illinois.
From the employer
Job Description:
Senior Manager, Data & Technology Business Partner – Category Management & Customer Marketing
Are you ready to shape the future of how some of the world's most-loved brands engage with retailers and shoppers? As the Senior Manager, Data & Technology Business Partner, you'll serve as the vital strategic bridge between our regional commercial business and our cutting-edge Data & Technology teams. In this highly collaborative role, you will partner directly with Category Leadership, Customer Marketing, Sales Strategy, and Analytics teams to co-create a high-impact technology and data roadmap. Your mission is to unlock sustainable retail growth, elevate shopper activation, and pioneer data-driven decision-making across the organization.
Acting as a trusted advisor, you'll identify opportunities to harness advanced analytics, AI, digital capabilities, and modern technology platforms. Whether you're driving planogram and assortment optimization, refining shopper marketing campaign effectiveness, or automating legacy reporting, you will be the champion of commercial digital transformation. If you combine sharp CPG business acumen with a passion for digital innovation and stakeholder collaboration, this role offers the perfect platform to make a lasting impact.
What are we looking for?
- Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Information Technology, Data Analytics, or a related field, combined with a minimum of 7+ years of professional experience in Technology Business Partnership, Business Relationship Management, Product Management, Category Management, or Customer/Shopper Marketing.
- Commercial Acumen: Strong, practical understanding of Category Management, Customer Marketing, Shopper Marketing, and Retail Analytics processes (including assortment planning and space/shelf analytics).
- Strategic Roadmap Translation: Proven ability to translate complex business priorities and raw retail challenges into practical, structured technology and data roadmaps.
- Matrixed Stakeholder Management: Outstanding communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, with a track record of influencing cross-functional leaders without direct authority.
- CPG Industry Experience (Nice-to-Have): Prior experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector or partnering directly with major retail category leads.
- Syndicated Data & Analytics (Nice-to-Have): Familiarity with syndicated data platforms such as Circana (IRI), Nielsen, Numerator, or retailer-specific data portals.
- Modern MarTech & Data Solutions (Nice-to-Have): Exposure to Customer Data Platforms (CDP), CRM, Marketing Technology, or advanced AI/ML commercial use cases.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Strategic Business Partnership: Serve as the primary Data & Technology liaison for Category Management and Customer Marketing, cultivating trusted relationships and aligning data priorities with long-term commercial goals.
- Category Management Enablement: Supercharge our category management capabilities by implementing modern tools for assortment analysis, space and shelf optimization, and market intelligence.
- Customer Marketing Enablement: Partner with Customer Marketing teams to implement and enhance campaigns, shopper marketing platforms, and data-driven investment measurement frameworks.
- Portfolio & Demand Management: Manage demand intake, build robust business cases, secure strategic funding, and coordinate closely with Product Owners and Agile Engineering teams to keep delivery on track.
- Advanced Data, Analytics & AI Strategy: Champion self-service reporting, shape future regional AI and predictive analytics use cases, and partner with data teams to safeguard data quality and accessibility.
- Stakeholder Alignment & Change Leadership: Lead cross-functional alignment and drive active business readiness, training, and change management to guarantee that technology investments deliver real-world ROI and high adoption rates.
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.
- 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.
#TBdigital
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 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00Not this one either?
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