Strategic Planner

Mars United Commerce Powered by Marilyn© is a global commerce company that delivers all the solutions clients need to grow their business today and tomorrow. Founded by the late Marilyn Barnett, we’ve become global leaders in four key commerce disciplines – Strategy & Analytics, Digital Commerce, Content & Experiences, and Retail Consultancy – that together form a United Commerce Ecosystem that provides all the expertise clients need to navigate the commerce marketing landscape. Our 800 Martians across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia exist to drive growth for our people, our clients, and our communities all across the globe.

We’re looking for a Strategic Planner to work on a major consumer goods client. Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to one of Mars United Commerce's hub locations: Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Minneapolis, Bentonville, or Dallas.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as strategic liaison with internal and client teams for annual planning, program development, and brand stewardship across the integrated marketing mix.
• Assess and interpret existing consumer or shopper understanding; identify needs and knowledge gaps.
• Provide consumer and shopper perspectives and insights, including shopping and buying behavior, for individual projects. This includes the conducting of primary and secondary research.
• Influence creative strategy with compelling and thoughtful application of these insights.
• Be able to effectively integrate consumer and shopper insights into agency process.
• Maintain productive and regular communication with Account teams and client teams.
• Develop and deliver credible, succinct, and energetic presentations, briefs, or alternative planning deliverables that can be easily understood and acted upon.
• Identify emerging techniques and/or methodologies for qualitative projects (shopper insights, purchase motivation, consumer behavior, trend-spotting) or quantitative approaches.
• Perpetuate an understanding and utilization of Strategic Planning within cross-disciplinary teams.
• Share thought leadership pieces, new news, and industry ideas within The Mars Agency (TMA).
• Contribute to agency New Business endeavors as called upon.
  
  

Demonstrations:

• Uses data to uncover insights.
• Finds and synthesizes trends and cultural fuel.
• Supports the development of and conducts primary research for either client or agency.
• Develops strategic implications.
• Drafts creative briefs and communication propositions.
• Attends internal meetings.
• Supports others across the larger planning team.
• Executes projects with excellence.
• Manages time effectively.
• Uses proprietary strategic models and tools on a regular basis.
• Continues to assist in knowledge sharing through internal communication events, training, and other written materials.
  
  

SKILLSETS REQUIRED:

A bachelor’s degree (recognized internationally) plus:

• 2 plus years of professional service experience with client contact and project management.
• 1 plus years of experience in marketing or marketing communications.
• Qualitative research or ethnography experience.
• Baseline understanding of research academics and methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong intuitive skills.
• Ability to inspire creative process.
• Ability to recognize and develop creative ideas.
• Professional presentation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Collaborative – strong team working skills but also a self-starter.
• Organized and detail-oriented – must demonstrate attention to detail and ability to handle multiple. tasks/projects
• Bias for action and implementation.
• Positive attitude towards the role, the department, agency, and its clients.
• Positive professional team player who takes ownership of tasks and who seeks and accepts other responsibilities.
  
  

Mars United Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, ancestry, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or handicap, HIV, veteran, marital or family status, or any other status or condition protected by applicable state and/or federal laws, except where a bonafide occupational qualification applies.

Mars United Commerce has developed a wide variety of inclusive benefit plans and policies that address and promote the needs of all employees and their family members, including comprehensive group health plans, a parental leave program that includes paid maternity and paternity benefits for pregnancy, adoption and surrogacy, flexible paid time off, a broad and confidential employee assistance program, ongoing wellness support initiatives, trusted financial health advice and guidance, promotion of education through tuition support and assistance, and a flexible and supportive work environment and culture.

Compensation Range: $55,000 - $60,000 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

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