Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

As a Brand Manager – Gum at Mars Snacking, you will be the brand and portfolio custodian driving our Gum strategy and marketing execution across Middle East and Africa (MEA), with a dedicated focus on iconic priority brands like Orbit and Juicy Fruit. Acting as a strategic brand lead, you will shape portfolio growth, steer full-funnel innovation from inception to launch alongside our Nairobi manufacturing hub, and deliver high-impact, culturally resonant consumer campaigns that drive household penetration and market share.

Responsibilities or duties

What would be your key responsibilities?

• Brand Strategy & Portfolio Growth: Lead short- and long-term brand strategy for our Gum portfolio, analyzing market share, category dynamics, and whitespace opportunities to accelerate business growth.
• End-to-End Innovation Pipeline: Shape and deliver an agile 3-year innovation pipeline, balancing breakthrough local innovation from our Nairobi plant with European launches tailored to regional consumer palates.
• Culturally Resonant Marketing & Comms: Develop powerful, omnichannel brand campaigns and media plans in close collaboration with agency partners and content teams to ensure top-tier ROI and brand love.
• Integrated Business Planning & Pricing: Partner closely with Strategic Revenue Management (SRM) on price/pack architecture, and lead cross-functional activity teams to ensure flawless on-ground launch execution and post-launch reviews.
• Global & Regional Alignment: Serve as the key link with regional MEA and Global Gum teams, ensuring brand guidelines, marketing codes, and communication pipelines are seamlessly integrated.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

What are we looking for?

• Education & Communication: A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Master’s degree is advantageous), with full professional fluency in both English and Swahili.
• Collaborative Leadership: A results-oriented professional with strong storytelling ability and agency steering capabilities, adept at leading cross-functional teams across complex matrix organizations.

Experience needed

• Experience & Industry Background: At least 3 to 4 years of proven brand management experience, ideally within a multinational Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (CPG/FMCG) environment.
• Regional Market Insight: In-depth commercial experience across the African continent, with broader Middle East and Africa exposure considered a strong plus.
• Innovation & Analytical Acumen: Demonstrated hands-on track record of delivering end-to-end innovation pipelines—grounded in shopper insights, consumer data, and sound financial metrics.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse 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.

• Brand Strategy & Portfolio Growth: Lead short- and long-term brand strategy for our Gum portfolio, analyzing market share, category dynamics, and whitespace opportunities to accelerate business growth.
• End-to-End Innovation Pipeline: Shape and deliver an agile 3-year innovation pipeline, balancing breakthrough local innovation from our Nairobi plant with European launches tailored to regional consumer palates.
• Culturally Resonant Marketing & Comms: Develop powerful, omnichannel brand campaigns and media plans in close collaboration with agency partners and content teams to ensure top-tier ROI and brand love.
• Integrated Business Planning & Pricing: Partner closely with Strategic Revenue Management (SRM) on price/pack architecture, and lead cross-functional activity teams to ensure flawless on-ground launch execution and post-launch reviews.
• Global & Regional Alignment: Serve as the key link with regional MEA and Global Gum teams, ensuring brand guidelines, marketing codes, and communication pipelines are seamlessly integrated.

• Strong storytelling ability
• Agency steering capabilities
• Leading cross-functional teams
• Analytical acumen
• Commercial experience across the African continent
• Brand management
• Marketing execution
• Innovation pipeline management
• Consumer insights
• Financial metrics
• English fluency
• Swahili fluency

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Master’s degree is advantageous)
• Full professional fluency in both English and Swahili