Customer Growth Director SSA

About the role

The Customer Growth Director SSA at Mars Snacking will lead the customer growth agenda across Sub‑Saharan Africa, turning deep shopper and customer insights into scalable commercial strategies. Reporting to the General Manager Sub‑Sahara Africa, you will partner with the Africa Business Team to drive availability, conversion and ROI across Traditional Trade, Modern Trade and D‑Commerce.

Key responsibilities

• Guide and mentor the Customer Growth Team to develop profitable, sustainable growth plans for the region.
• Lead execution of Intelligent Perfect Store, Perfect Digital Store, Transaction Zone initiatives and shopper activations to improve on‑shelf conversion and physical availability.
• Translate shopper, channel and market insights into high‑impact category and display solutions in partnership with regional sales and service teams.
• Own and optimise multi‑market customer, shopper marketing and display budgets, ensuring rigorous ROI measurement.
• Collaborate with Growth, Marketing and Demand Planning functions to feed market intelligence into innovation, forecasting and brand strategies.
• Contribute as an active member of the Africa Business Team, championing business objectives and Mars culture.

Required profile

• 15‑20+ years of progressive FMCG commercial leadership experience with a proven track record in sales execution, customer development and category strategy.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced business degree strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of Sub‑Saharan markets and hands‑on expertise across Traditional Trade, Modern Trade and D‑Commerce channels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi‑market budgets and deliver strong commercial ROI.
• Experience leading high‑performing, inclusive teams and developing talent.
• Strategic thinker with executive presence, capable of influencing stakeholders and converting insights into retail execution.

Required skills

• Financial budgeting and ROI analysis
• Category strategy development

What we offer

• Access to Mars University for best‑in‑class learning and development from day one.
• Industry‑competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
• Opportunity to work with over 130,000 diverse associates guided by the Five Principles.