Media and Digital Lead

Job Purpose

Lead and drive Mars’ media and digital transformation, unlocking media as a growth lever for Central Eurasia (CEA) markets across all media channels

Lead the media planning process to ensure the development of the best media and content plans in close collaboration with the regional team and local media partners.

Ensure strong alignment on key choices with the local marketing team and senior regional stakeholders.

Implement and elevate the PESO approach (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned) across key brands.

Drive the efficiency and effectiveness of the media budget and ensure the successful implementation of the Media 2025 framework .

Context and Scope

This role develops and integrates best practices in Media and Digital to lead media transformation within the CEA unit. It requires close collaboration with media partners, with a particular focus on emerging media channels in key countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye.

The key focus is to lead and drive the deployment of efficient media plans and content best practices for local markets. This requires a strong understanding of local media landscapes, market drivers, and consumer insights that enable better on-ground planning and delivery aligned with global media strategy. The role demands strong collaboration with multi-national stakeholders across media, content, brand, human intelligence, and data functions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and deploy the media strategy in CEA (PESO, media mix modeling, transformation in addressable media).
• Serve as the single point of contact for all Media-related queries for Mars Wrigley with internal and external partners (Regional Media team, Publicis, TikTok, etc.).
• Lead collaboration with the Media Buying Agency (briefing, budget management, and performance appraisal).
• Manage the total media budget and consumer promotion budget.
• Lead the Integrated Communication Planning process and recommend annual media budget allocation and optimization.
• Drive media capability development across CEA.
• Oversee social media and content management for CEA.
• Drive internal engagement for media transformation and build external visibility for MW to deliver best-in-class media campaigns.

• Shape the role of media within the One Demand approach and integrated consumer journey planning.

Requirements

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Degree in Economics/Marketing.
• Advanced level of Russian and English.
• Expert user of MS Office.
• Strong media technical skills and tech savviness.

Knowledge & Experience

• 7–10 years of experience in relevant media and/or marketing roles.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to build a compelling narrative from insights.
• Ability to set and achieve goals, managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to build strong relationships across internal teams and external partners.
• In-depth understanding of media landscapes and agencies in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye.
• Ability to thrive in transformational and VUCA environments.
• Passion for change and a challenger mindset.

Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills

• Media management: local planning, buying, and execution (knowledge of local media environments required).
• Ability to create compelling strategies and plans.
• Translating insights into action.
• Experience in briefing and leading annual media planning.
• Experience with data-informed planning (preferred).

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with 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.
• A strong focus on 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.

Equal opportunity statement

Mars is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need an accommodation during the application process due to a disability, it is available upon request .