Regional Strategy Manager

Strategy Manager

Mars Wrigley - EU - FTC

Overview of role

This role is for a Strategy Manager, focused on the Gum cell within the Mars Wrigley segment in Europe. The core focus of this role is to work with the strategy AD and strategy lead to develop regional strategies for MW's biggest brands; delivering insight-fuelled, data-driven brand experiences with audience planning at the heart of them.

Mars Wrigley is the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate (including Snickers, Galaxy, and M&Ms), chewing gum (Extra), mints, and fruity confections (Skittles).

EssenceMediacom have worked with Mars for many years in many key markets and we have a strong relationship with them - we work very closely not just with the Mars Communication & Marketing teams in Europe but across their total business. One of Mars' key pillars is 'Mutuality' which is reflected in the way they work with us as the agency partner.

We are enormously proud of the work we have done with Mars in driving growth for their brands and this has been recognised with a host of awards - including Media Week, Campaign, and Cannes. We believe these awards are a testament to how closely we work with Mars and our integrated approach, both within EssenceMediacom and working in partnership with other agencies.

Mars are embarking upon a transformation of their communications, moving away from their legacy model of mass reach broadcast-led marketing. Future growth will be driven through a sophisticated understanding of audiences, their growth potential, and the ability of content and communications to target audiences at various stages of their consumer journey with relevant messaging in service of driving outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Support on regional strategic responses fuelled by rigorous audience and channel insights, including integrated use and proven understanding of key planning tools and other desktop research resources.
• Work with strategy AD and integrated agency teams (beyond paid media) to develop integrated campaign strategies and toolkits.
• Act as day-to-day point of contact on all regional cell projects across various client team stakeholders, as well as internal agency teams.
• Support the strategy AD and lead work with the planning and strategy leads, as well as the Biddable Hub and local markets to drive the transformation agenda across addressable, biddable, and Integrated Brand Experiences across the region.
• Provide close partnership to regional brand and media leads at Mars across the end-to-end process, from strategy through to reporting and optimisation.

Measures of Success

In three months, you would have:

• Built visibility and confidence with the clients. They will see you as a reliable and trusted partner.
• Built strong relationships within the WPP network across the region.
• Supported the Gum strategy AD and lead on media inputs across relevant outputs (e.g. toolkits).
• Supported the Gum strategy AD and lead in audience planning, including audience validation/translation.
• Demonstrated an understanding of MW processes and principles as part of wider business ambitions.

In six months, you would have:

• Developed a comprehensive overview of all local market Gum planning, reporting, and PCA outcomes to inform future strategic thinking.
• Established as a key day-to-day point person for agency partners, demonstrating responsibility for project management and admin.
• Assisted the leads in driving a step-change in strategy work to support the 2025 vision.
• Supported in delivering truly full funnel campaign strategies, managing day-to-day contact with integrated agency teams and managing deployment to local markets from strategy through to optimisation and post-campaign analyses.

In 12 months, you would have:

• Helped deliver an improvement in client satisfaction scores.
• Demonstrated alongside the leads, the impact of the evolved approach both on long-term brand metrics and their impact through the funnel.
• Supported in driving the transformation agenda, to accelerate performance across the region.

What You Will Need Experience in Media Planning

• Proven communication planning skills, supporting in the development of media strategies.
• An understanding of CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) category, media behaviours, and landscape.
• Experience in working across a variety of media touchpoints, as well as in cross-functional teams incorporating the full funnel (e.g., shopper, PR, etc.).
• Audience planning experience.
• Digital experience, particularly in and around biddable and addressable media.

Persuasive Communicator

• Excellent communication skills, ability to build strong relationships with clients and networks, strong at presenting.

Insightful Analytical Thinker

• Good at handling data and extracting learnings.
• Able to derive insights from data.

Collaborative Team Member

• Able to work with a cross-functional team, guide and manage the output.
• Developing junior team members.

High Energy and Driven

• Committed and passionate about what you do!
• Striving to work on industry-leading campaigns and run a highly functional team.

Languages and European Experience

• Fluent English mandatory.
• International planning experience beneficial.

What We Can Offer You

• Company pension scheme.
• Private medical insurance.
• 25 days holiday (increases with length of service).
• Life assurance.
• Permanent health insurance.
• WPP share options scheme.
• Discretionary bonus scheme.
• Free eyecare vouchers and money off glasses.
• Extensive training and development.
• Corporate gym memberships.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Interest-free travel loan.
• Free breakfast (cereal and fruit).
• Smart shopper (online discount on a variety of products).

Sounds good? We'd love to hear from you!

About EssenceMediacom

We are a global communications agency leading with breakthrough thinking, building explosive growth for brands, and helping our clients see the bigger picture. Our daring global network of 10,000 influencers helps our clients breach traditional boundaries in media, uncover novel ideas, and unleash exponential growth. EssenceMediacom challenges conventional thinking to build, propel, and supercharge our clients' businesses at scale and lead our industry in critical areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

EssenceMediacom understands that our people are tasked with big goals: building breakthrough growth for brands and leading with breakthrough thinking in our industry. Our people are at the heart of this work because their ideas will enable us to decode the intersections of people, content, and technology to bring our aspirations to life. Our success is down to our eclectic, diverse, and talented people. EssenceMediacom is a place for us to grow our careers and expand our horizons. EssenceMediacom is committed to building an agency culture that supports our people, puts diversity at the forefront of our operations, and creates opportunity for all. This collective culture will be our "new power" where ideas are freely exchanged, and collaboration is actively encouraged in a place where you can innovate in our hyperconnected world.

Although we cannot make guarantees, we welcome conversations about flexible working for all roles at EssenceMediacom London.