Communications

Senior Manager, External Communications and Public Affairs ANZ

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on Mars Petcare’s brand reputation and leadership across ANZ!

Mars Pet Nutrition ANZ is excited to bring our new ANZ Strategy and operating model to life through impactful external communications, public affairs and Brand PR. Join us in positioning Mars as a leader in Petcare, where our brands, innovative products, purposeful initiatives, and commitment to sustainability come together to drive reputation and achieve business success across Australia and New Zealand.

Reporting to the ANZ Corporate Affairs Director, Pet Nutrition, this is a senior leadership position and will require travel to New Zealand and our factories in Wodonga and Bathurst.

Please note: This role can be based in Melbourne or New Zealand.

Your key responsibilities?

• 
  Strategy: Execution of the ANZ Corporate Affairs strategy, collaborating with the broader Corporate Affairs team and cross-business functions to strengthen Mars Petcare’s ANZ reputation and drive brand loyalty.

• Business Partner Support: Act as a savvy, strategic communications partner to the Mars New Zealand business and leadership team providing informed and balanced guidance on external communications and reputation best practice.

• External Communications and Brand PR: Lead all corporate communication, media relations and brand public relations for Mars Petcare ANZ, delivered to budget and through effective agency management.

• Public Affairs: Drive advocacy efforts, developing and implementing an advocacy and government relations strategy, garnering internal and external stakeholder support.

• Industry and stakeholder engagement: Manage relationships with key stakeholders in service of Mars ANZ’s Public Affairs agenda, including with Government, industry partners, peak advocacy associations, retailers, consumers and media to name a few.

What are we looking for?

You are an experienced communications professional, with existing media and agency networks, with a proven commercial mindset to drive strategies that achieve audience engagement and drive sales. As the Senior Manager, you’ll help accelerate our Petcare brand content strategies, being the marketing team’s go-to in helping Mars Petcare connect with Pet Parents in new, exciting ways through dynamic PR campaigns.

You’ll bring a track record in providing strategic counsel to senior leaders, managing complex issues and stakeholders, and shaping external communications around business, sustainability and CSR programs that create impact. Importantly, you’re an innovative thinker with the ability to embrace change and ambiguity in delivering results.

In addition, you have:

• People leadership experience with proven ability to lead, develop and engage teams;

• Extensive experience in Corporate Communications/Marcomms/Brand PR and/or related business field.

• Proven senior business partnership experience, supporting market-level corporate communications, with a focus on external communication.

• Experience covering both B2B and B2C markets, with a strong track record in delivery of consumer facing PR campaigns that achieve cut-through.

• A track record of driving advocacy through purpose-lead brand, community programs and sustainability initiatives.

• Experience working within a New Zealand business context would be advantageous.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Genuine focus on your development with access to world class training and opportunities

• Global health and wellbeing program to support work-life balance

• Opportunity to make a difference with our volunteer and global ambassador programs

• Work within an environment where pets really are our best friends.

• Global perspective and relationships with key stakeholders across Asia Pacific and the globe

About us:

What do MARS®, SNICKERS®, EXTRA®, ECLIPSE®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, DOLMIO®, MASTERFOODS ® and ROYAL CANIN® have in common? They’re all made by Mars. We’re a family-owned, principle led business that’s been making products for people (and the pets they love) for more than 100 years. Together, our 125,000+ Associates around the world are empowered to take action every day towards the world we want tomorrow. Because we know, the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.