Merchandise Creative Designer, M&M's Retail Stores

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, Retail Merchandise Creative and Design (M&M's Stores)

Company: Mars

Location: Chicago, IL, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Retail Merchandising

Date Posted: 2026-08-07

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative vision and execution for M&M's retail merchandise, focusing on innovative product design and captivating brand experiences.

• Drive product creativity and commercial success across M&M's physical stores and e-commerce platforms.

• Champion differentiated and social media-worthy merchandise that enhances brand appeal and consumer engagement.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure a cohesive and impactful M&M's brand presence across all retail touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized within the retail merchandising and product development space, focusing specifically on the M&M's brand. The emphasis on "social media-worthy" merchandise indicates a need for understanding current trends and viral marketing potential in product design. This is not a typical Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, but rather a creative and strategic merchandising position with a strong commercial focus.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the creative development of merchandise concepts, product design elements, and packaging innovations that are bold, innovative, and uniquely M&M's, designed to excite consumers and generate social media buzz.

• Drive product creativity that differentiates M&M's in the marketplace, ensuring merchandise is visually compelling, on-trend, and aligned with evolving consumer preferences.

• Collaborate closely with Visual Merchandising and Digital teams to ensure merchandise creative strategies translate into cohesive in-store and online brand experiences.

• Partner with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Marketing, Retail Operations, and Store Design to integrate merchandise creative initiatives seamlessly across channels.

• Manage the end-to-end creative process from ideation through production and implementation, working closely with external vendors and suppliers to deliver high-quality, innovative merchandise.

• Utilize consumer insights, sales data, and market trends to inform and refine merchandise creative strategies that maximize both brand impact and commercial success.

• Support the Director of Product Development and Merchandising in defining and executing a forward-thinking merchandise creative roadmap that aligns with business goals.

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with external creative agencies, vendors, and suppliers to continuously push the boundaries of merchandise innovation.

• Ensure all merchandise creative outputs adhere to Mars brand standards and sustainability commitments.

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of merchandise creative initiatives, making data-driven recommendations to optimize future product creativity and sales outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership, strategic product development, and cross-functional project management. The emphasis on "end-to-end creative process" and "data-driven recommendations" suggests a need for strong analytical skills alongside design proficiency. The role requires managing external vendors and ensuring brand consistency, which are critical operational aspects of product management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Retail Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in merchandise creative design or product development within retail or consumer goods, with a proven track record of delivering innovative and commercially successful products.

Required Skills:

• Deep understanding of merchandise design principles, product presentation, and visual aesthetics.

• Proven ability to develop innovative and commercially successful retail merchandise.

• Expertise in understanding consumer behavior and identifying emerging social media trends relevant to product appeal.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple creative projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and quality.

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and interpersonal skills for effective stakeholder engagement and influence.

• Proficiency in design and product development tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and relevant software.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance creative vision with sales performance objectives.

• Passion for the M&M's brand, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to innovation. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in packaging innovation and design.

• Familiarity with retail operations and store design integration.

• Experience managing external creative agencies, vendors, and suppliers.

• Ability to translate consumer insights and sales data into actionable design strategies.

• Knowledge of sustainability commitments in product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not directly an operations role, this position requires a strong understanding of product lifecycle management, vendor management, and cross-functional operational coordination. Proficiency in design software is a hard requirement, alongside business acumen and an understanding of how creative product decisions impact sales and brand perception.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of merchandise creative projects, highlighting innovative product concepts and designs.

• Present case studies demonstrating successful product launches, including the creative process from ideation to market.

• Include examples of packaging design and innovation, detailing the creative rationale and impact.

• Provide evidence of balancing creative vision with commercial objectives and sales performance outcomes.

• Demonstrate ability to integrate consumer insights and market trends into product development. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate the end-to-end creative process management, from concept generation to production and implementation.

• Detail collaboration strategies with cross-functional teams (e.g., Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Retail Operations).

• Showcase methods for working with external vendors and suppliers to ensure quality and innovation.

• Present examples of how data-driven insights (consumer, sales, market trends) informed creative decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this creative role. It should not only display aesthetic capabilities but also demonstrate strategic thinking, project management, and commercial impact. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process for developing and launching merchandise, highlighting how they ensured brand alignment and drove sales.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD 79,280.00 - USD 109,010.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company bonus program.

• Comprehensive medical benefits.

• Dental benefits.

• Participation in a 401k plan.

• Paid time off benefits.

• Access to Mars University for learning and development.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on the information within the job description and is applicable across all listed US locations. This range is competitive for a Manager-level creative role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, considering the experience requirements and the prestige of the M&M's brand. Benefits are standard for a large, established corporation like Mars, with a notable emphasis on learning and development through Mars University.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Confectionery) and Consumer Goods. Mars is a global leader in pet care, confectionery, and food, known for its strong corporate values and commitment to sustainability.

Company Size: Large (Mars is a privately held company with over 130,000 associates worldwide, indicating a significant global presence and robust organizational structure).

Founded: 1935. Mars has a long history of innovation and brand building, which influences its culture of continuous improvement and long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Product Development and Merchandising team, specifically focused on M&M's retail channels.

• Close collaboration is expected with Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Retail Operations, and Store Design teams.

• This indicates a matrixed or highly cross-functional team environment common in large consumer goods companies. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing consumer insights and sales data to refine strategies.

• Emphasis on innovation and pushing creative boundaries for merchandise.

• Commitment to brand standards and sustainability in all product development.

• Collaborative approach to ensure cohesive brand experiences across all touchpoints.

Company Website: https://www.mars.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Mars's "Five Principles" (Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, Freedom) are foundational to its culture. For a creative role, this likely translates to a supportive environment that encourages responsible innovation and collaboration towards mutual success. The company's size suggests structured processes and opportunities for career growth within a large, established organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Manager, Retail Merchandise Creative and Design. This is a mid-to-senior level management position, requiring significant experience and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Product Development and Merchandising, indicating a clear line of leadership and strategic guidance.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts revenue through merchandise sales, brand perception, and consumer engagement across retail and e-commerce channels. The creative output is crucial for driving foot traffic, online conversions, and overall brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to advance into senior leadership roles within Product Development, Merchandising, or Brand Management at Mars.

• Opportunities to expand scope to other Mars brands or product categories.

• Deepen expertise in retail strategy, global merchandising, and brand storytelling.

• Develop leadership skills through managing creative projects and cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a creative merchandising role, the "operations" aspect lies in the strategic management of the product lifecycle, vendor relations, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve business objectives. Growth potential is significant within a company of Mars's scale, offering pathways into broader leadership or specialized brand management roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at the Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Chicago, USA. This suggests a dedicated innovation hub with resources for creative development.

Office Location(s): GIC, Chicago, USA. This location likely offers a collaborative environment designed for creative teams and product development.

Workspace Context:

• A creative and collaborative workspace at the GIC, fostering innovation and idea exchange.

• Access to design tools and potentially prototyping facilities.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with cross-functional teams (Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Retail Operations) to ensure integrated execution.

• A dynamic environment focused on bringing the M&M's brand to life through engaging merchandise.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with expectations for on-site presence to facilitate collaboration and creative development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement at a Global Innovation Center highlights the importance of in-person collaboration, brainstorming, and hands-on creative work. This environment is designed to foster a strong team dynamic and facilitate the rapid iteration of creative concepts.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess creative qualifications and experience.

• Creative Assessment/Portfolio Review: In-depth discussion of portfolio pieces, focusing on creative process, problem-solving, and commercial impact. Expect to present case studies of successful merchandise development.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, and Retail Operations to assess collaboration style and strategic alignment.

• Behavioral and Situational Interviews: Questions to gauge leadership potential, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit with Mars's values.

• Final Interview: With the Director of Product Development and Merchandising to discuss overall fit and strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate a portfolio that specifically showcases retail merchandise design, product development, and packaging innovation.

• For each project, clearly articulate the creative brief, your role, the design process, challenges encountered, and the commercial outcomes (sales performance, brand impact, social media buzz).

• Highlight projects that demonstrate an understanding of consumer behavior and market trends.

• Be prepared to discuss how you collaborated with other departments and managed vendors.

• Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "increased sales by X%", "generated Y social media impressions"). Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential creative challenge or a scenario-based question related to designing merchandise for a specific M&M's campaign or occasion.

• Practice articulating your creative strategy and how it aligns with business objectives.

• Think about how you would leverage consumer insights and market data to inform your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component of the application. It needs to clearly demonstrate not just creative talent but also strategic thinking and a results-oriented approach to merchandise development within a retail context. Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can translate creative ideas into tangible commercial success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, layout, and visual content creation (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Product Development Software: Potentially CAD software or PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems for design and tracking.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote for presenting creative concepts and strategies.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Sales Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with interpreting sales reports and retail performance metrics.

• Consumer Insight Platforms: Experience using or interpreting data from consumer research and trend forecasting services.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, an understanding of how merchandise impacts e-commerce conversion rates and customer journeys is beneficial.

• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) for managing creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a non-negotiable requirement. While not explicitly listed as an "operations" tool, familiarity with data analysis for sales performance and consumer insights is crucial for driving commercially successful merchandise strategies. Understanding project management tools is also key for managing the creative process efficiently.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality: Commitment to high standards in product design, materials, and execution.

• Responsibility: Owning the creative process and its impact on the brand and consumers.

• Mutuality: Collaborative approach, working towards shared goals with cross-functional teams and vendors.

• Efficiency: Streamlining the creative process to deliver innovative products on time and within budget.

• Freedom: Encouraging creative expression and innovative thinking within brand guidelines.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with various departments including Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, and Retail Operations.

• Emphasis on clear communication and alignment to ensure cohesive brand experiences.

• Openness to feedback and iterative design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mars's Five Principles are deeply embedded in its culture. For this role, it means a strong emphasis on delivering quality products responsibly, fostering teamwork, operating efficiently, and having the freedom to innovate within defined parameters. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these principles in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing a high volume of creative projects with strict deadlines and budget constraints.

• Ensuring constant innovation and trend relevance in a competitive retail market.

• Translating the vibrant M&M's brand personality into diverse merchandise across different product categories.

• Managing external vendor relationships to ensure quality and timely delivery of unique products.

• Aligning creative vision with diverse stakeholder expectations across multiple departments. Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep dive into the M&M's brand strategy and its application in retail.

• Exposure to global product development and merchandising best practices at Mars.

• Opportunities to attend industry trade shows and trend forecasting seminars.

• Potential for advanced training in design software, product lifecycle management, or retail strategy.

• Mentorship from experienced leaders within Mars's Product Development and Merchandising teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth within a globally recognized company. The challenges are typical for a creative lead in a fast-paced retail environment, requiring adaptability, strong project management, and excellent interpersonal skills. The company's investment in learning and development, particularly through Mars University, provides structured paths for skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach developing a new merchandise line for a specific M&M's flavor or holiday campaign?

• Describe your process for identifying and integrating emerging consumer and social media trends into product design.

• How do you ensure your creative vision aligns with commercial objectives and drives sales performance?

• Explain how you would collaborate with Retail Operations and Visual Merchandising to create a cohesive in-store brand experience for your merchandise. Company & Culture Questions:

• What excites you most about the M&M's brand and its potential for merchandise?

• How do Mars's Five Principles resonate with your personal work philosophy?

• Describe a time you had to manage conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a creative project.

• How do you stay current with design trends and innovations in the retail and consumer goods sectors? Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation logically: Introduction, Project Overview, Your Role & Process, Challenges & Solutions, Results & Impact.

• Be ready to discuss the "why" behind your design choices, not just the "what."

• Quantify the success of your projects using sales data, consumer feedback, or social media engagement metrics.

• Prepare to discuss your experience working with vendors and managing production timelines.

• Practice your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect a rigorous interview process that tests both creative expertise and strategic business thinking. The emphasis will be on how you translate creative ideas into commercial success and how you collaborate within a large corporate structure. Your portfolio presentation is key to demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Merchandise Creative Design position:

• Submit your application through the Mars careers portal (workdayjobs.com).

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in retail merchandise design, product development, and creative strategy with a focus on consumer engagement and commercial success.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in design tools, and successful project management achievements. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, problem-solving skills, and ability to drive sales through innovative merchandise. Prepare to discuss specific examples from your portfolio.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Mars's Five Principles and the M&M's brand. Understand their current marketing campaigns and retail presence.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.