Job Description:

The CARE Design Centre team plays a key role in contributing to the delivery of our Pet Nutrition growth sufficiency ambition. This is achieved through the delivery of innovation projects focused on key benefit areas such as digestion and obesity across formats/technologies (dry, wet, C&T’s) that will primarily land on the IAMS brand across multiple markets.

The scope of these projects varies in the levels of complexity but typically encompasses innovation which covers different ingredients, processes, packaging, product designs and claim technologies. 

The associate in this role will be expected to serve as technical project leader and contribute to the development of superior propositions based on pet & pet parent insights. They will work in close partnership with the relevant marketing and supply functions, brand boards and R&D functional teams to ensure the technical robustness and validation of the product design.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science / Technology, Engineering / Chemical Engineering, or science related field or equivalent

5+ years Product Development/Product Innovation experience in food related industry

15-25% Travel

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree in Food Science / Technology, Engineering / Chemical Engineering, or science related field

Must have experience with leading technical project teams

Must have experience in translating Insights Into product execution (Idea to concept to execution)

Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment

Technical project management experience and expertise

What will be your key responsibilities?

Technical project lead for global product innovation projects. This role represents all R&D functions as part of the core project team and leads the technical project team to ensure the development and validation of superior propositions based on pet & pet parent insights and robust technical deliveries and readiness at DB and AB stage gates

Accountable for technical delivery of medium/high complexity innovation projects or sub-projects ensuring compliance to relevant S&OP+ business processes (Global Innovation Process (GIP), QUEST, Design for Vertical Start Up Product & Pack). This includes effectively managing delivery on time, cost and quality whilst working with and influencing key stakeholders

Leads technical project team with risk and opportunity management mindset. Accountable for the delivery of robust risk assessments and timely communication to core project team and key stakeholders at each stage gate. This includes both written and verbal high-quality communications of project status, breakthroughs, and findings

Accountable to ensure product solutions deliver to agreed business model that consistently delivers against project critical success factors and targets (Nutrition standard (MPENS, AFFCO, etc), palatability, digestibility and feaces quality, recipe cost, carbon intensity, shelf-life, and claims). Understands and apply regulatory/legal legislations, quality standards, and food & people safety considerations to development

Leverages internal and external resources to build relevant competitor landscapes to identify insights on product design, claims, ingredients, etc.

Responsible for generating and being the custodian of relevant product project deliverables at GIB-NPR-DB-AB stage gates across S&OP+ business process (e.g. Product Brief, technical project time plan, Product key quality attributes, Global Product specifications, Technical Readiness Reviews (at DB and AB) and Product Innovation Blueprint

Responsible for working seamlessly with Global & Local Marketing, Process & Packaging Innovation, Regional and Site R&D, Commercial, CMI, and Supply to establish product targets and key routes to implementation

Responsible for building functional excellence in Product Development. This includes being informed of technological, innovation and business trends, competitive set, trade customers, equipment suppliers and be able to match & apply to development projects

Responsible for proactively managing Intellectual Property risks and opportunities

Responsible for providing training and support to other associates, within the Product Development fields in which the job holder has expertise

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with over 130,000 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.

Best-in-class 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.

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Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.