Group VP, Strategy

Mars United Commerce Powered by Marilyn is a global commerce company that delivers all the solutions clients need to grow their business today and tomorrow. Founded by the late Marilyn Barnett, we’ve become global leaders in four key commerce disciplines – Strategy & Analytics, Digital Commerce, Content & Experiences, and Retail Consultancy – that together form a United Commerce Ecosystem that provides all the expertise clients need to navigate the commerce marketing landscape. Our 800+ Martians across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia exist to drive growth for our people, our clients, and our communities all across the globe.

We seek a hands-on Group Vice President of Strategy and Analytics with a strong background in shopper marketing, retail strategy, and the confectionery category. The ideal candidate will have significant experience driving growth for clients, possess a strong shopper and commerce marketing strategy background, possess strong research and analytical skills, and has a demonstrable track record of having the ability to devise category and brand-inspiring growth strategies. This person must reside within a 90-minute radius of Mars United’s New York or Chicago office.

This person will be a connector, someone who can enable cross-functional teams to work together on strategic solutions as well as executable, conversion-driving plans. This person will also be a source of inspiration for developing groundbreaking, impactful ideas.

This role requires an ability to use shopper and retailer-based insights, consumer and cultural insights, and performance data to make informed recommendations that will have a significant impact on brand and portfolio growth at retail. Based in the New York or Chicago area, we seek someone who brings energy, a strong point of view, dynamic presentation skills, and is comfortable engaging directly with high-level and high-touch clients in the confectionery industry.

If you have limited shopper marketing experience, this won’t be the right role for you.

1. Serve as the senior-level strategic planning and analytics lead with key senior clients across the client’s portfolio and grow the role and contribution of the disciplines with the client. Demonstrate an expert grasp of current industry dynamics and be able to provide perspective to clients and agency on the impact, influence, and implications of these dynamics on growth opportunities.
2. Provide long-term perspective for brand and business growth that exceeds the scope of individual projects. Clearly articulate a strategic vision in a confident and engaging manner to clients and teams; connect the vision to business imperatives and measures.
3. Lead the development of shopper and consumer promotion strategy that informs when, where, and how a broad portfolio of brands should connect in the retail space across Food, Drug, Mass, Convenience, and eCommerce.
4. Champion the use of data; lead and partner with data analysts to understand behaviors and uncover unexpected insights that inspire bold ideas for how our brands should connect. Ensure these data-driven insights inform and inspire future strategies.
5. Build senior-level client relationships; provide guidance on their competitive threats and evolving shopper and consumer behaviors to guide their teams toward the next generation of connected commerce solutions that drive business impact.
6. Develop conversion-driving programs and ideas that drive growth and exceed retailer expectations.
7. Lead and develop working hypotheses and methods to test/apply thinking to various marketing challenges that lead to the discovery of new insights.
8. Supervise and advance the growth of Strategic Planning and Analytics staff (direct and indirect reports) and their happiness and success. Oversee the quality of their work and deliverables.
9. As a trusted partner to creatives, actively assist them in successfully selling creative ideas that solve a marketing challenge and make a tangible impact on their business.
10. Guide the executive team on effective staffing and resource solutions.
11. Ensure proactive strategic thought leadership across the integrated marketing mix; be able to effectively apply and integrate strategy into the agency process, working with agency leadership peers to continually improve the process.
12. Raise the bar of Mars United work for clients. This includes instituting research and testing approaches using consumer/shopper, retail, media, and brand insights to inspire, guide, develop, and evaluate work.
13. Identify unmet research/planning needs and knowledge gaps. Identify revenue opportunities for Mars United and the Strategic Planning and Analytics teams. Lead the development of successful solutions.
14. Be a champion of Mars United intellectual property, working frameworks, and methodologies, and integrate Mars United proprietary research and thinking wherever possible.
15. Connect the dots across many perspectives; think proactively about future outcomes and anticipate challenges or opportunities, balancing short-term goals with long-term objectives.
16. Persuade clients, colleagues, and partners to see the world as you see it by presenting winning narratives to senior clients.
17. Anticipate and confront obstacles and find alternative routes to navigate problems effectively.

A bachelor’s degree (recognized internationally) plus:

1. 15 plus years of agency-based experience with regular client contact (minimum of 7 years in a shopper or commerce agency environment). This ideally will be within an established Account Planning/Strategy function.
2. 10 plus years of hands-on experience working with qualitative research and or ethnography experience or of advanced quantitative methods.
3. 5 plus years of demonstrable experience working with communications within digital communication channels.
4. 5 plus years of demonstrable experience working with measurement and analytic techniques to inform insight and strategic communications planning.
5. 10 plus years of management/supervision experience.
6. Strong presence and inspiring presentation skills.
7. Sharp, assertive, and ready to make impactful changes for the clients.
8. Strong analytical skills and proven ability to connect dots in storytelling.
9. Strong intuitive skills.
10. Ability to conceptualize an integrated marketing mix and creative conceptual solutions.
11. Ability to inspire the creative development process.
12. Ability to recognize and develop creative ideas.
13. Proven track record of mentoring and coaching team members to ensure personal/team growth and achievement of agency goals.
14. Demonstrable team development and leadership experience.
15. Strong collaborative skills and solution-oriented.
16. Organized and detail-oriented - (must demonstrate attention to detail and ability to handle multiple tasks/projects).
17. Positive professional team player who takes ownership of tasks and who seeks and accepts other responsibilities.

Mars United Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, ancestry, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or handicap, HIV, veteran, marital or family status, or any other status or condition protected by applicable state and/or federal laws, except where a bonafide occupational qualification applies.

Mars United Commerce has developed a wide variety of inclusive benefit plans and policies that address and promote the needs of all employees and their family members, including comprehensive group health plans, a parental leave program that includes paid maternity and paternity benefits for pregnancy, adoption and surrogacy, flexible paid time off, a broad and confidential employee assistance program, ongoing wellness support initiatives, trusted financial health advice and guidance, promotion of education through tuition support and assistance, and a flexible and supportive work environment and culture.