Senior Manager, External Communication and Public Relations

Job Description:

At Mars Petcare, we believe pets make the world a better place. Our purpose is to create a better world for pets and we're looking for an experienced communications leader to help us tell that story.

If you're passionate about purpose-driven brands and advocating for pet parents, this is your opportunity to lead high-impact external communications, brand PR, and reputation-building initiatives across Australia and New Zealand.

As a senior member of our Mars Pet Nutrition Corporate Affairs team, you'll lead the strategy and execution of external communications and public relations that amplify our reputation, purpose, and business priorities. You'll play a key role in promoting the iconic brands loved by pet parents across Australia and New Zealand, including PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ADVANCE, OPTIMUM, DINE and SCHMACKOS.

This is a high-impact role where your expertise in brand PR, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management will shape how our brands are experienced externally, driving earned media, building trust, and accelerating brand growth by creating meaningful connections with pet parents. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping Mars Pet Nutrition's external presence, delivering both proactive and reactive communications across key initiatives, managing media and agency relationships, and crafting narratives that engage pet parents, customers, stakeholders, and the wider community.

Please note, this role will require occasional travel to Wodonga and New Zealand. Applications close midnight on Wednesday 1 October 2025.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Drive strategic brand PR and external communications across Australia and New Zealand, including media relations, brand public relations, and proactive storytelling that enhances Mars Pet Nutrition's reputation.

• Act as the primary Corporate Affairs contact for the Mars New Zealand business, providing strategic counsel and ensuring alignment with ANZ-wide communications and reputation priorities.

• Develop and execute integrated campaigns that showcase Mars' purpose and sustainability commitments, progress, and impact, building trust with stakeholders and reinforcing our efforts in sustainability and pet nutrition and wellbeing.

• Coach senior leaders on media engagement, public speaking, and thought leadership opportunities to elevate Mars' voice in industry conversations and community engagement.

• Partner across Mars with Marketing, Sales, R&D and global Corporate Affairs teams to embed PR into key moments, amplify brand initiatives and support business growth.

What we're looking for?

With a deep passion for brands and a commitment to advocating for pet parents, you bring a proven track record of delivering impact in external communications, brand PR, and reputation management within large organisations and FMCG environments.

Combining corporate and brand communications expertise with strong media and agency relationships, you're experienced in delivering creative, strategic storytelling that drives business results.

Known for building trust and credibility, you excel at engaging stakeholders, shaping communications strategy, and driving ambitious reputation and business growth outcomes.

You'll also bring:

• 10+ years' experience in corporate communications, brand PR, and reputation management, with a track record of delivering impact in large organisations and FMCG environments.

• Strong media and agency relationships across ANZ, with proven ability to drive earned coverage and shape brand narratives.

• Experience in fast-paced consumer, agency, or FMCG environments.

• Strategic mindset with creative flair and confident at engaging and coaching senior stakeholders.

• Resilient, adaptable, and passionate about pets and purpose-driven storytelling.

• Demonstrated people leadership, with a focus on building high-performing, collaborative teams

• A deep understanding of the Australia and New Zealand media landscape, with established relationships across national and regional outlets.

What can you expect from Mars?

At Mars, our Associates are at the heart of everything we do. In this role you will:

• Be part of the global Corporate Affairs talent pipeline while shaping the external voice of one of the world's leading Petcare companies.

• Genuine career progression with a focus on you and your career goals. Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

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

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

• Be part of a company that is contributing to making the world a better place today and every day through on our sustainable generation plan.

• A culture that offers collaboration, leadership and rewards you for the role you play within Mars.

• Have a real impact on creating a better world for pets, a world where they're healthy, happy and welcome. This includes in our office.

About Us:

Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We have been making products for people (and the pets that people love- we proudly take care of half of the world's pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses) for more than 100 years. We're behind some of the best loved brands in the world including MARS, SNICKERS, EXTRA, ECLIPSE, PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, DOLMIO, UNCLE BEN'S and MASTERFOODS ROYAL CANIN.

We are committed to a sustainable tomorrow through our sustainable in a generation plan that addresses a healthy planet, thriving people and a nourishing wellbeing. Together, our 125,000+ Employees are inspired to take action every day towards the world we want tomorrow.

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Mars promotes and fosters a culture of Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment everywhere we operate. We treat our people and applicants with fairness, dignity and respect, understanding that the uniqueness of all applicants makes a difference in our business. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, and their diversity welcomed. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

As we prefer to manage all sourcing directly, introductions via agency will not be accepted.