Manager, External Partnerships

Job Description:

Manager, External Partnerships

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid – Global Innovation Center)

About the Role

Are you excited to build, operationalize, and grow the external alliances that fuel industry-leading innovation? Working out of our world-class Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Chicago, the Manager, External Partnerships serves as a vital bridge between high-impact external partners, including start-ups, strategic suppliers, academic institutions, venture-backed innovators, and industry disruptors, and Mars Snacking's leadership team.

In this role, you will support the governance structures, operating models, and Roles & Responsibilities (R&R) that enable strategic partnerships to succeed. You will act as both the strategic and operational engine behind our external partnership portfolio, helping to identify, evaluate, onboard, and scale partnerships that accelerate business growth, innovation, and capability building.

You will partner closely with leaders across R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Strategy to design partnership blueprints, evaluate investment opportunities, build business cases, and monitor portfolio performance. Leveraging market intelligence, financial analysis, and performance insights, you will translate complex information into actionable recommendations that support decision-making across the partnership lifecycle.

This highly visible role combines strategy, analytics, financial stewardship, and program execution. You will help establish repeatable processes, governance frameworks, dashboards, and playbooks that enable Mars to scale external partnerships effectively while ensuring investments are aligned to business priorities and value creation objectives.

What Are We Looking For?

- Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Strategy, Commercial Management, Engineering, or a related field required. MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- Professional Experience: 1-3 years of experience in corporate strategy, consulting, business development, strategic finance, partnership management, innovation, analytics, or program management. Experience within CPG, innovation ecosystems, venture-backed environments, or strategic partnerships is preferred.
- Strategic & Analytical Rigor: Exceptional analytical capabilities, including market assessment, competitive intelligence, opportunity sizing, due diligence, and the ability to synthesize complex insights into executive recommendations.
- Financial & Commercial Acumen: Strong financial and commercial skills, including business case development, investment evaluation, budgeting, capital planning, and scenario modeling.
- Research & Due Diligence: Demonstrated ability to conduct market research, partner assessments, commercial diligence, and competitive benchmarking to support strategic decision-making.
- Data & Performance Management: Experience developing dashboards, KPI frameworks, portfolio reporting, and performance analytics to track partnership effectiveness and value creation.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to influence and coordinate across diverse stakeholder groups, including R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and external organizations.
- Executive Communication: Strong presentation, storytelling, and written communication skills with the ability to create decision packs, executive briefings, and concise recommendations.
- Comfort with Ambiguity: High degree of initiative, adaptability, and problem-solving capability in fast-paced and evolving environments.

What Will Be Your Key Responsibilities?

Strategic Partnerships End-to-End Execution

- Collaborate with business and portfolio leadership teams to develop, coordinate, and execute the external partnership roadmap.
- Support partnership opportunities across the full lifecycle, from discovery and evaluation through implementation, governance, and scaling.
- Identify strategic opportunities, risks, bottlenecks, and resource constraints, and facilitate alignment on solutions.

Partner Research, Due Diligence & Opportunity Assessment

- Conduct market research, ecosystem mapping, competitive intelligence, and partner assessments to identify emerging opportunities.
- Lead or support commercial and strategic due diligence activities for prospective partnerships.
- Develop business cases, opportunity sizing analyses, and investment recommendations that inform leadership decisions.

Governance & Operating Model Development

- Create repeatable playbooks, templates, tools, and best practices that improve partnership effectiveness and scalability.
- Capture lessons learned and continuously improve partnership management processes.

Financial Planning & Portfolio Management

- Develop processes to evaluate the financial, capability, and capacity investments required to onboard and scale strategic partners.
- Support capital appropriation, budgeting, and planning activities across the partnership portfolio.
- Ensure consistent governance and transparency regarding partnership investments and resource allocation.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

- Build and maintain partnership dashboards, KPI frameworks, portfolio scorecards, and reporting tools.
- Monitor partnership performance, track post-pilot outcomes, and identify opportunities for optimization.
- Ensure leadership has access to timely, accurate, and actionable insights to support decision-making.

Executive Communications & Decision Support

- Synthesize market, operational, financial, and partner performance data into executive-ready presentations and decision materials.
- Produce one-page briefs, investment memos, portfolio updates, and leadership communications.
- Provide analytical support that enables faster, more informed business decisions.

What Can You Expect From Mars?

- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom.
- Join a purpose-driven company committed to creating the world we want tomorrow, today.
- Access best-in-class learning and development opportunities through Mars University and other growth programs.
- Receive a competitive salary, benefits package, and annual incentive opportunity.
- Gain exposure across strategy, finance, innovation, startups, and partnership ecosystems while helping shape the future growth agenda of Mars Snacking.

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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 108,160.00 - USD 148,720.00