Director, External Communications, Sustainability

Job Purpose & Overview

Mars has been on a journey as a privately-held, family-owned company to build an excellent external reputation. Our reputation is evolving from a company known only by our best-loved brands, to a company that is differentiated through Purpose.

Sustainability is a major reputational driver for Mars – both internally and externally – and it also drives some of the most fundamental policy agendas facing our business. Sustainability issues continue to create critical communication challenges and opportunities for our business. For those same reasons, Sustainability is a strategic business priority and part of our shareholder objectives for how we measure success - what a responsible business can and should do to have a positive societal impact.

As a member of the Corporate Affairs team, this Associate will play an important role in helping us build the Mars reputation by sharing stories externally that bring our work to life. This role will ensure connectivity between the Corporate Affairs and the sustainability subject matter expert teams.

Key Responsibilities & Success:

• Create and drive an external communication strategy to raise awareness for our sustainability agenda with a view to further strengthen our reputation and at the same time, lay the groundwork for policy advocacy in partnership with the Public Affairs team.
• Identify opportunities for and support activation of visible leadership for Family, Board, and senior leaders in support of our Sustainable in a Generation Plan.
• Lead strategy for Mars engagements at global forums including UN General Assembly/ Climate Week and UN Conference on Climate Change (i.e. COP).
• Oversee the Sustainable in a Generation Report and other sustainability corporate reporting.
• Serve as spokesperson and advocate at sustainability forums and within relevant industry and multi- stakeholder organizations.
• Develop narratives, positions, and messaging to engage key stakeholders on sustainability initiatives breaking down complex ideas into clear, straightforward language easily understood by a wider audience.
• Collaborate with Internal Communications team to inform, engage and inspire Mars Associates with our sustainability priorities, actions, and impacts.
• Collaborate with the sustainability team and corporate affairs colleagues in markets around the world to anticipate and respond to issues related to our sustainability strategy.
• Develop position statements and a repository of communications materials/policies, including talking points, media statements, Q&A, etc. around sustainability issues in partnership with key corporate functions.
• Work with our global Public Affairs team to ensure global sustainability public policy trends are considered within our media relations and corporate reputation strategies, and, in turn, that our communications help to advance our public policy advocacy agenda.
• Help shape relevant partnerships and collaborations, coalitions, and campaigns to support the delivery of our sustainability commitments and to amplify their impacts.
• Engage with key external partners to increase awareness of Mars as both a purpose-driven business and a leading business in sustainability.
• Candidates should have a passion for sustainability and a solid background in global, corporate, internal, external and change communications, content creation and social media.
• Build and maintain a strong internal network stakeholders across various disciplines (including Internal Communications, Public Affairs, Marketing, Commercial, Legal, P&O, and S&F) and across segments and geographies.
• Build strong working relationships with One Mars Market and Global Segment counterparts to drive efficient and consistent ways of working and joint agendas.
• Work as one team with Internal Communications and Corporate Brand colleagues to drive shared goals across different internal and external audiences.
• Engage with media, influencers, trade bodies and external partners and stakeholders and seek to build Mars reputation and influence the external environment to Mars’ advantage.
• A team player - demonstrate a collaborative, flexible and team-oriented approach that supports a high-performing and engaged Corporate Affairs team
• Adapt leadership style and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations
• Be comfortable with ambiguity and work effectively, through uncertainty
• Plan, aligns and prioritize work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required (Communications, Public Affairs, or related field strongly preferred).
• Minimum 12 years of experience in sustainability communications, stakeholder engagement, or corporate affairs.
• Strong understanding expertise of social and environmental sustainability issues, packaging, and human rights as well as sustainability reporting.
• Experience working with and shaping dynamic partnerships with United Nations organizations, other international institutions, and global NGOs.
• Experience working in or with a global organization strongly preferred.
• Strong written communication and copywriting skills with ability to concisely articulate complex issues.
• Budget and agency management experience a plus.
• Ability to manage diverse and broad range of subject matter, issues and situations.
• Excellent writing skills with experience of drafting press releases, memos, talking points, op-eds, and speeches; pitching and responding to reporter inquiries; planning, organizing, and staffing press events; and developing and maintaining relationships with national and international reporters, broadcasters and producers.
• Ability to identify opportunities, build reputationally positive relationships and implement broad-sweeping, global corporate reputation activities.
• Proven ability to listen effectively and interact with all levels of management.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity; display sound judgment, tact and composure.
• Strong presence with good judgment to influence and establish credibility with senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Excellent skills in influencing, shaping and driving dialogue to reach consensus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to establish strong working relationship with colleagues.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 like-minded 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 is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.