Job Description:

The Global VP External Comms is responsible for helping set and coordinate our efforts to grow awareness and familiarity of Mars - and ultimately improve and protect our reputation.

To deliver on this, the Global VP External Comms collaborates with a wide range of global Corporate Affairs leaders as well as various stakeholders across the business.

The Role based out of our global headquarters in McLean, VA, leads the Global External Comms team, including Media Relations, Social & Digital Media, Sustainability Communications as well as Issues & Crisis Management. This includes visible leadership for our CEO and for the MLT Hub team, including their LinkedIn profiles and media relations plans.

The world is rapidly changing with an ever more complex external environment and new digital opportunities emerging constantly. This challenges our ability to grow and control our reputation. However, it also provides new and simpler ways to engage our target audiences in effective and efficient ways.

To navigate these realities, the VP Global External Comms manages a strong and agile team, that coordinates across the entire Mars business, nimbly navigating multiple internal Mars stakeholders, while focusing on delivering communication that matters externally.

The Role collaborates closely with the VP Corporate Brand & Purpose about purpose and reputation-building campaigns, co-branding and measurement of impact.

The Role also coordinates the global Mars Reputation Governance collaborating with representatives from segments, markets and relevant functions like P&O.

Specific responsibilities include:

- Developing and executing a strong reputation plan for Mars, Incorporated in collaboration with Corporate Affairs and Senior business leaders at Mars.

- Delivering a 'drumbeat' of engaging external communications across Mars owned corporate channels in close collaboration with segments and brand lead campaigns.

- Help equip and position Mars senior leaders and talents to represent Mars externally.

- Develop appropriate media materials and manage distribution of news to appropriate audiences.

- Enable story telling opportunities around the globe by equipping segments and markets with Mars, Incorporated positions, assets and guidelines.

- Build and execute our social and digital strategy aligning with our external communications and reputation objectives.

- Help prepare for and navigate crises and manage issues through proactive engagement and partnership with the Public Affairs function.

- Support and enable global corporate crisis management capabilities, train relevant stakeholders and share best practices.

- Help shape the next generation of our sustainability communication and lay the groundwork for policy advocacy, in partnership with the Public Affairs and Sustainability teams.

- Collaborate with the sustainability team and corporate affairs colleagues to anticipate and respond to issues related to our sustainability strategy.

- Manage reputation measurements and ensure reputation tracking is thoroughly embedded and communicated.

- Appoint and manage media, digital and other support agencies including scopes of work, budgets and contracts.

Education & Professional Qualifications

- Relevant degree in journalism, communication or similar.

- Minimum 15 years' experience in the corporate affairs field, driving reputation through paid, earned, shared and owned channels.

Knowledge / Experience

- Strong experience with digital media and difficult issues management. - Experience with sustainability comms is a clear benefit.

- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, and an ability to manage, grow and develop a strong team.

- Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and strong partnering capabilities. Experience with collaboration across Mars functions, segments and markets a big advantage.

- Ability to lead multiple projects and processes simultaneously, and able to track projects with varying deadlines.

- Experience in managing agencies, contracts and budgets

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 284,000.00 - USD 390,500.00