MARS is focused on creating pure shopper delight—an invitation for shoppers to do more than just buy brands. It’s getting them to actually share their lives with those brands. That moment when a shopper physically touches a brand is the culmination of everything we do. And that brand needs to touch her back- her heart, her mind and her sense of what’s possible.

MARS is the number one shopper marketing agency in North America. We hone our craft by unlocking shopper insights and leveraging deep retailer knowledge to create memorable, profitable shopper connections.  Our clients are national Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers—names you know and trust. Our team is composed of people with various backgrounds, but they share a talent for bringing thought leadership to our clients.

MARS is currently seeking an Account Director to work dually in our Manhattan and Purchase, NY offices, with ability to frequently service our Manhattan-based shopper marketing clients. This position is responsible for developing in-depth knowledge and strong relationships with diverse brand teams and shopper-centric clients; embrace and become expert in our marketing to shoppers proposition; work closely with internal and external teams (including support team in our Southfield, MI HQ), participating in the annual planning process, developing and managing Shopper Marketing projects for assigned brands/retailers and leading growth of assigned businesses. The position directly reports to the Sr. Account Director with dotted line to HQ management.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide thought leadership, impacting/contributing to client’s way of doing business on an ongoing basis
• Act as a change agent/impact player from both an internal and external perspective – contributing to both client and MARS performance
• Expand assigned business through identification of emerging opportunities and securing of incremental revenue and/or acquisition of new business
• Manage client budgets, ensuring profitability for MARS and contributing to overall department bonus attainment
• Demonstrate financial acumen across standard business accounting/finance documents such as income statements, balance sheets, and sales reports
• Develop annual business plan, setting short- and long-term strategic course for growth of assigned business
• Build strong relationships with the client while working closely with cross-functional teams including consumer marketing, trade development, operations, merchandising, and category managers, directors and buyers

What You Bring to Us:

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field
• Minimum of 8 years of marketing or advertising experience, preferably agency experience in traditional consumer activities
• Dynamic personality able to effectively engage and influence a variety of audiences
• A wealth of industry knowledge including current trends, consumer packaged goods, and business philosophies
• Motivational leadership, inspiring team to deliver top performance every day against assigned business
• Strategic thinking in the development of Shopper Marketing programs and management of day to day business
• Sound decision making skills based in agency, client, and industry knowledge
• Passion about business and dissatisfaction with status quo – always thinking of ways to improve/grow assigned client/business
• Strong listening skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal skills
• Some travel is required