Mars
Graduate Program
Australia, Auckland
Opportunity expired
About Mars
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world they want tomorrow starts with how they do business today. This idea is at the centre of who they have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving in ways that affirm its commitment to making a positive impact on the world around them.
Your role
The Graduate Programs provide you with a unique combination of diverse experiences and learning, meaning that you can get the career you want tomorrow. The programs are designed for graduates with a specialist discipline interest who are looking for a leadership career in a specific business. Join the Mars Australia and New Zealand Graduate Program and you'll develop leadership capabilities, deep technical knowledge, and functional skills today to set you up for long-term success tomorrow.
During the two-year program, you will work on meaningful projects within your chosen discipline, whilst gaining exposure to other areas of the business. With streams in Engineering, Research and Development, Sales, Human Resources, Digital and Multi-Sales, the program consists of two assignments that are aligned with your individual development needs and business opportunity.
Here are the programs:
R&D Graduate Program
This program is your opportunity to explore various aspects of R&D and develop your technical expertise. The program is across two years, with two assignments over the duration. You will gain invaluable experience, develop new concepts and work on manufacturing solutions in both regional and global R&D terms.
Sales and Marketing Graduate Program
This program is designed for graduates who are eager to become the sales leaders of Mars within the FMCG industry. Over a period of two years, you will gain exposure to cross-channel, and cross-function (within sales) experience, including the opportunity to work closely with the Marketing teams.
Engineering Graduate Program
The Mars Engineering Experience is the perfect foundation for an exciting career in Engineering. It offers a mix of practical and professional experiences designed to equip you with the functional and leadership skills you need to become a future leader in the Engineering industry.
People and Organisation
The People & Organisation Graduate Program is designed for individuals keen to start their careers in the HR & Talent space. This role is a two-year, accelerated development program designed to set you up for success on your path to becoming a future leader at Mars where you will have the opportunity to gain exposure to a variety of roles across Employee Onboarding, Talent Management, Training & Development & Business Partnering
Data and Analytics
The Data & Analytics role is an outstanding opportunity for building an exciting career in the Digital space. The role is a two-year accelerated development program designed to set you up for success on your path to becoming a future leader at Mars where you will have the opportunity to gain exposure to a variety of roles across Product Design, Data Analysis, Project Management and Predictive Modelling.
Multi-Channel Sales & Marketing (New Zealand)
This is an exceptional opportunity to gain a strong understanding of the consumers' needs articulating product benefits, value propositions and business solutions to meet those needs and the perfect foundation to set you up for success on your path to becoming a future leader at Mars. You will have the opportunity to build solid client relationships, execute compelling marketing and innovation plans, leverage insights into action and become a trusted advisor to a range of stakeholders.
Training & development
All interns and graduates benefit from coaching throughout their program. Graduates will also benefit from a senior mentor as part of the program framework. Employees can also benefit from Mars University. Mars University provides high-quality learning for their Associates, 24/7. This combines with a whole culture of learning, where they naturally collaborate and learn from each other.
Benefits
What are the benefits:
- Competitive starting salary
- Inspiring mentors and buddies
- Flexible hours and work balance
- Dogs in the office (in Melbourne & Auckland)
- Free MARS products!
Career progression
The company is focused on your development and their flexibility for your next step to be right for you. They don’t have forced rotations into functions or to timelines that may not suit you – they move you into your second assignment at a time, and into a role, that is right for you. Supported by a team of Associates who care about your progression, you will also have regular connections as a graduate cohort and access to graduate-specific Skills Pathways and Learning and Development opportunities
Watch this short film to discover more about careers at Mars.
Work life balance
Their Associates help Mars create a better tomorrow, so they ensure they get plenty of support today. They have great flexible policies to suit the different lifestyles of all their Associates and they have health and wellness programs to help Associates manage their work-life balance and stress levels.
Culture & vibe
At Mars, their Associates are valued, respected, and supported to be their best selves. No matter the visible or invisible differences, they have long been dedicated to cultivating an environment where everyone has equal opportunity to reach their full potential and be heard and valued. At Mars, they pride themselves on our unique, family culture and are looking for people to join in their fun.
About you
Who are they looking for:
- University students with a variety of degrees who are passionate about FMCG
- Drive to become the leader of tomorrow in your field of interest
- Humble and driven graduates who are ready to learn
- AU or NZ Citizenship or Permanent Residency
How to apply
To apply for this role, simply click the "Apply on employer site" button on this page to submit your application directly with Mars.
Sources
The following sources were used in researching this page
- careers.mars.com/au/en/wellness-benefits
- careers.mars.com/au/en/students-graduates
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- New Zealand Citizen +more
- Business & Management +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
Managing mars products, displays etc in countdown stores within a territory.
There are certain activities within the role that often feel repetitive and labour intensive, and may be better suited to be set up as a system generated software-based program, with the associate instead monitoring the software's upkeep and progression. Both roles do however, do bring a strong sense of satisfaction in completing work from all aspects of the business, as the role is internally and externally connected with varying departments.
Day to day, my role involves working closely with the marketing managers to deliver the execution of marketing activity across the portfolio, this includes everything from the TV campaigns you see, to online advertising, partnered promotions, social media, sampling, working with retailers (Woolworths and Foodstuffs) regarding in store and online marketing. My role also requires me to turn data to insight, champion launching new products, forecast, and manage budgets.
About the employer
Mars
4.0
> 100,000 employees
Retail & Consumer Goods
We’re a family business that’s been making products for people, and the pets that people love, for more than 100 years.
Pros and cons of working at Mars
Pros
Culture, support, team, brands
In all honestly, it's not necessarily the nature of the work which makes my job cool, but the people and culture. Mars has 5 key principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom. We're told not to have favourites and to rely on them all equally, but personally I've found mutually to be the coolest. The ability to speak and be heard, as graduates we have time to speak to the entire business, to present to directors, and feel as if we are equals rather than inferior. Our opinions and valid and acted upon. It's a feeling of family value when the directors and managers know you by name and make an effort to get to know you. I've also appreciated the flexible working, working from home and flexi hours, meaning I can get out for a dive or fish if the weather is good. Oh, and the dogs in the office.
The care and focus on wellbeing - always feeling like we can take time off if we need it.
The company culture is incredibly supportive of graduate trainees' learning and understanding, and there is also a clear level of career progression.
The culture
Cons
A sore back? I'm not used to being a desk jockey 40 hours a week yet. I've heard the same across the board from friends at other companies, but often, everyone wants to prove themselves, everyone is a perfectionist. That can often lead to longer hours when the strain comes on, but that's okay. We're encouraged to take time back, take ample leave and in general, look after yourself. As with many companies, your path of growth isn't always linear, often promotions depend on jobs becoming vacant, which may take time in some cases. Sometimes, your next best move might be a sidestep, to build experience, before a step up. I suppose working for the 6th largest privately owned company in the world always means things are rather concrete, systems and processes are quite fixed, and projects often take a lengthy amount of time to come to fruition. Smaller companies I feel hold a more dynamic offering.
During the current climate of COVID-19 that New Zealand has faced, at times, especially in roles that have little to know internal communication, one cannot help feel isolated at times.