What do M&M’s®, Pedigree®, Extra®, Royal Canin®, MasterFoods®, Skittlesv®, Schmackos®, Skittles®, and Snickers® have in common? They’re all made by Mars!

Mars is behind some of the best loved brands in the world across multiple segments including Mars Pet Nutrition, Mars Wrigley, Mars Food and Mars Edge. We’re a family business that’s been making products for people (and the pets that people love) for more than 100 years. We’re 130,000+ self-proclaimed Martians—we’re pet obsessed, confectionery lovers, foodies, dream chasers and community builders— working across more than 75 different countries.

Here in Australia, we’re a family of over 2,200 associates spread across mutlitple locations including Ballarat, VIC, Melbourne, VIC, Sydney, NSW, Wodonga VIC and Wyong, NSW.

We’re a diverse, extended family that wakes up every morning ready to make an impact—on our business and on the world. And, we do it by keeping The Five Principles at the heart of everything we do: Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality and Freedom. These principles inform our decisions and unite us across geographies, languages, cultures and generations.

Why join Mars?

As a Mars Associate, you can count on our commitment to your growth and development as you work across our world-famous brands. Our Associates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and are as different as our products, so we tailor our mentoring and coaching to each individual. We’re here to support you today so that you can build a better world tomorrow. Working at Mars gives you an instant sense of belonging. Our Associates learn from their talented colleagues and build their careers working on well-loved brands like M&M's, Snickers and Pedigree. They also enjoy some great perks including competitive benefits packages, fun freebies and bringing pets to work (depending on the office).

The Five Principles:

The Five Principles form the foundation of how we do business today and every day. With 115,000 Mars Associates working in 80 countries across the globe, clear direction and a moral compass are essential. The long-term future of our business and the planet depends on us to stand for more and take bold action. That’s why we take every opportunity to make a positive impact in this ever-changing world by leveraging our guiding philosophy that has always differentiated us — The Five Principles.  

We put The Five Principles at the center of every decision we make. This means:  

• We are committed to Quality of work and contributions to society.  
• We embrace our Responsibility (as individuals and a company) to act now.  
• We base decisions on Mutuality of benefit to our stakeholders.  
• We harness the power of Efficiency to use our resources to maximum effect.  
• We have the financial Freedom to make our own decisions, unrestricted by motivations of others. 
• We know that what we do is only as good as how we do it, and our actions help us build a better world for generations to come.

Because we like to have fun!

Mars will support you to help you grow and thrive, while following the Five Principles system, but it’s important to join our team knowing that we also like to have fun! From Wellbeing initiatives, bake offs, events that bring the team together such as brand launches, dogs in the office (certain locations), and fun freebies – these are just a few of the ways we celebrate the work we do together! 

This program is designed for graduates with a specialist discipline interest who are looking for a leadership career in a specific business area. Join our Mars Australia 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 our chosen discipline, whilst gaining exposure to other areas of our business including Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Marketing, HR and Digital Technologies.

With streams in Engineering, Research and Development, and Sales, the program consists of two assignments which are aligned with your individual development needs and business opportunity. For 2023, we will open applications in July 2022, for a start next January, 2023!

What makes us stand out from the rest? Our focus on your development and our flexibility for your next step to be right for you. We don’t have forced rotations into functions or to timelines that may not suit you – we 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. 

This program is designed for penultimate students who are looking to get some Mars experience over the summer university break. During the 12-week program you will work on a meaningful projects within our chosen discipline, whilst gaining exposure to other areas of our business including Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, HR and Digital Technologies.

Our application process is a four stage experience designed to ensure that we are learning all about you through each stage! You will be kept up to date and informed of next steps at each stage of the process.

Online Application: Fill in our quick and easy applications form – be sure to have your CV, Academic Transcript and proof of work rights handy!

Online Cognitive Assessment: This should take around 20 mins to complete and if you are eligible for the program you have applied for, you will receive this shortly after completing your online application form.

Virtual Assessment Centre: Our virtual assessment centres will involve some group work, individual tasks, but most importantly give you the opportunity to hear from lots of Mars Associates about life @ Mars!

Final Face to Face Interview Day: We will hold an in-person interview day at each site so that you can meet you line manager, the wider team, previous graduates and tour the site. We will arrange a virtual alternative if you are unable to make the final interview day in-person!

OFFER – You’ve made it!!! You will receive an offer to join as a Mars Associate on our graduate program or internship program!

Name: Hannah Hady
Location: MCA Ballarat
Segment: Mars Wrigley
Degree: Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours, Majoring In Food Product Technology
Uni: Massey University, Auckland

What attracted you to apply for Mars?

I wanted to be involved with a company that are successful leaders within the FMCG sector. Not only is Mars known to be an innovative company with amazing brands, it also does the right thing for society and the planet, and is a company that is well positioned to lead the change to a more sustainable world - something I wanted to be a part of!

Tell me about the work / projects you have worked on so far?

The projects I've been working on have been purposeful and energizing to say the least. I am currently managing product development activities across the seasonal and gifting portfolio - this Involves translating shopper, customer & consumer insights into desirable product concepts, conducting trials, shelf-life testing and more!

Describe the culture at Mars

Mars has a culture that is truly grounded by the Five Principles. We put people at the heart of the business and I come into   work encouraged and expected to learn and grow in my role!

What are some of the benefits of working @ Mars?

Free chocolates, extensive learning and development opportunities, work-life balance, flexible hours and many more!

To you, what are the key values at Mars and how do they align with your own?

The responsibility principle is one of the key values at Mars I resonate with the most. I believe that we have a responsibility to society and its important to me that the company I work for puts its business to the service of addressing societal and social issues, such as climate change, growing inequality and degradation of nature - all of which I see Mars doing every day! Furthermore, I believe that we as individuals and as a company should be held accountable for the actions we take and the impact we have on the societies where we do business. 

Name: Leeroy Sharp.
Location: Mars Food Australia, Wyong.
Segment: Mars Food.
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons), Bachelor of Science (Physics & Biomedical Science) (Hons).
Uni: University of Queensland.

What attracted you to apply for Mars?

A few things. I have a grim interest in learning how a successful multinational food supply, production and distribution network functions, in case climate change makes that kind knowledge more… important. I heard that people had worked at Mars for decades, and I thought that the place must be alright to work at, if people are happy to stick around for that long. I would have described myself using the Mars Five Principles before I even knew that they were the Mars Five Principles. And I fancied being able to point at stuff at Woolies and say "I made that".  

Tell me about the work / projects you have worked on so far?

My projects range from relatively simple stuff like replacing a roller door or designing a lab bench, to being the leading engineer on a major project to automate our waste water treatment facility. This covers everything from researching and procuring machinery and instrumentation, designing pipework, writing specs for control systems code, to managing budgets, timelines and worksites with a range of workers. 

Describe the culture at Mars.

The culture is a mix of the Five Principles, the Associate concept and of course the need to be a profitable business. So it does feel like effort is made to treat everyone equally, and everyone is friendly and willing to help, but within constraints - people are busy and you'll get along better if you respect their time.

What are some of the benefits of working @ Mars?

I use the fitness passport, which lets me and my partner go to pretty much any gym in NSW. My partner has used the free access to a psychologist. Mars also does a super co-contribution and some other stuff which I haven't gone into. 

To you, what are the key values at Mars and how do they align with your own?

The key values are the Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom. These aren't just for show - I've even made an argument, using these principles, to change a process, and been successful. These align very closely with my own values, which is partly why I wanted to work here.