Job Description:

The Value Leadership Director will lead and develop the Royal Canin North America Value Leadership Program in partnership with Global VCO functions (Commercial, Manufacturing, Logistics) and regional partners (Marketing, Sales, Finance, etc.). This role will focus on driving productivity improvements and embedding a culture of continuous improvement within RC NA. The director will manage 2-3 key productivity workstreams (e.g., Overheads, MAB), champion a sustainable mindset shift, and drive regular benchmarking both within and outside of Mars. Additionally, the role will consolidate and monitor Value Leadership delivery, proactively managing risks and opportunities to meet agreed savings targets.

What are we looking for?

Experience: A minimum of 5-7 years in leadership roles with a focus on Finance, PMO, Change Management, or Transformation.

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Finance, Engineering). An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.

Functional Expertise: Proven experience in finance, supply chain, trade and media management, project management, and/or operations.

Leadership Experience: At least 5 years of experience managing teams or leading cross-functional teams, with the ability to direct, engage, and inspire team members.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Leadership of Cross-Functional Value Leadership Program

Design and implement 2-3 key Value Leadership programs in alignment with RC NA’s profitability targets and mid-term business goals.

Collaborate with stakeholders to integrate VL metrics and targets into the Annual Execution Plan, ensuring clear workstream prioritization and resource allocation.

Develop recommendations to include VL targets in business objectives, establishing governance principles and a unified reporting framework for all major spend categories (Raws, Packaging, MCC, LCC, NQC, MAB, Overheads.).

Design and implement RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) models and project management practices to drive execution of Value Leadership initiatives across RC NA.

Promote the Value Leadership program throughout the region, engaging key stakeholders and ensuring active involvement from VL champions.

Lead and facilitate a community of VL ambassadors and champions, establishing clear communication strategies, performance objectives, and accountability measures.

Partner with the Regional CFO and FP&A teams to ensure that the P&L planning and forecasting processes incorporate critical inputs from the VL program.

Work closely with S&OP+ leadership to ensure that VL objectives are adequately represented in key S&OP steps, manage risks and opportunities, and ensure timely escalations when necessary (PMR/DMR/SMR/IRR/MBR).

Continuous Improvement and Capability Development

Identify and implement capability changes across people, tools, and systems to ensure sustainable delivery of Value Leadership initiatives.

Champion a culture of continuous improvement and embed the Value Leadership mindset across all levels of the organization.

Monitor and report on the overall progress of the Value Leadership program, identifying risks and opportunities, and providing recommendations to leadership for course correction.

Mission-Critical Competencies:

Strategic Vision & Leadership: Ability to design and implement long-term, impactful programs that align with the organization’s financial and operational goals.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence: Proven experience working across functions, engaging stakeholders, and driving alignment across teams to execute complex initiatives.

Change Management: Ability to lead transformational change within a global, cross-functional environment, driving a sustainable culture shift in how the business approaches value creation.

Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of financial management, including cost structures, savings initiatives, and P&L optimization.

Execution Excellence: Strong focus on program management and operational execution, ensuring the timely delivery of initiatives with measurable results.

Communication & Stakeholder Management: Skilled at navigating complex organizational structures and communicating effectively to ensure stakeholder engagement and alignment.

Key Functional Skills:

Project Management: Expertise in leading large, cross-functional projects from initiation to delivery, managing timelines, resources, and risks effectively.

Financial Analysis & Management: In-depth understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management, with the ability to track, measure, and report on savings and performance.

Change Leadership: Ability to influence and lead organizational change, ensuring a continuous improvement mindset across all stakeholders.

Collaboration & Engagement: Strong ability to build relationships and engage stakeholders at all levels, ensuring buy-in and driving collective accountability.

Process Improvement & Optimization: Experience in streamlining processes, identifying efficiencies, and leveraging data to optimize business performance.

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.

#LI-KR4

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.