Director - Innovation Center And Emerging Categories - Mars Pet Nutrition

Location - (Relocation considered)

Mars - Family Owned and Purpose-Driven guided by our Five Principles! An organization where you can be you, build a career and make a difference today and for generations to come. Our brands touch the lives of your family, including your four-legged members. Our Mars Petcare Associates are committed to one purpose - "A Better World for Pets™.

Learn more - https://www.mars.com/made-by-mars/petcare

Our Innovation Center and Emerging Categories Director is a key strategic role for Mars Pet Nutrition (PN) North America (PNNA) by providing leadership of the Mars Pet Nutrition Global Innovation Campus in Thompson’s Station and the PNNA Emerging Pet Nutrition Categories team (formerly Create the Now Team).

The role is a key change agent in building our capabilities as a consumer centric, externally-focused and agile innovation leader. As a member of the Mars PNNA R&D Leadership team and through partnership with the R&D function broadly, the Global Innovation Centers, Marketing, eCommerce and Supply Chain, etc. this role will deliver the PNNA and Global Pet Nutrition (as appropriate) short, mid and long term business objectives.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge/experience of Good Manufacturing Practices, OSHA, Quality & Food Safety, Hygiene and Environmental systems and processes within a food R&D environment
• Minimum of 7 years experience in an R&D strategy people leadership role, including people development and engagement
• Minimum of 3 years experience managing R&D Pilot Plant /Development Laboratory
• Proficient in Design Thinking and Agile Innovation Principles.
• Experience managing Operating budgets.
• Understanding of the major functions within a Pet Food Pilot Plant and the ability to work directly across all levels and functions.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in R&D Process Development
• Knowledge of all “core” Pet Food and Treats process technologies (extrusion, retorting, etc.)
• Technical knowledge of Pet Food process and packaging equipment, controls and products.
• Strong background in innovation development and management, building R&D capabilities and translating business strategies into R&D Programs
• BSc in Engineering, Food Science or Chemistry,

Preferred Qualifications:

• International Experience.
• Track record of success in Open Innovation activities with suppliers, co-manufacturers, academia, etc.
• Experience managing a Food Production facility, ideally Pet Food
• MBA or significant senior management team experience
• MS/PhD in Engineering, Food Science or Chemistry.
• General knowledge with one or more Emerging Categories technologies (chilled/refrigerated, pressed supplements, etc.)
• 10+ years experience in Process Development and one or more additional R&D functional areas area (Packaging Development, Product Development or Formulation)

What will be your key responsibilities?

Mars PN Global Innovation Campus

• Lead, develop & implement an integrated high performing R&D Operations organization.
• Ensure Food Safety, Hygiene, and Environmental protocols continue to be created & evolved for the Campus.
• Manage the Campus budget, services & facilities in accordance with Simple Efficient Capable Organization guidelines. Determine and substantiate the resource requirements (people, facilities and equipment) to deliver against the Campus Operating Plan and OGSM.
• Continued development and management of the Campus to a multi-technology Innovation Hub where internal Mars and External Partners alike find space to collaborate on designing the future for Pet Nutrition.
• Lead the Pilot Plant (PDC), Site Operations & Innovation Laboratory teams.
• Develop and deliver on the overall vision and purpose for the Campus.
• Evolve the Campus Operational scorecards, goals and measures, corrective actions and report results on all areas of responsibility.
• Maintain a community of motivated and engaged associates.

Emerging Pet Nutrition Categories (EPNC) Team

• Active partnership in the R&D Leadership Team to ensure an open culture of critical thinking, empathy, associate centric leadership and Inclusion, Diversity and Equity are lead principles in decision making.
• Collaborate closely with all functional partners to ensure the use of competitive insight to drive pace, precision and identification of opportunities in the marketplace.
• Engage with strategic external partnerships for the development of new product experiences.
• Lead the EPNV team, continuing to build PNNA R&D’s bench strength and capabilities to compete and innovate in emerging categories in the Region
• Support technology transfer and co-creation co-manufacturers.
• Partner with Global R&D to advance upstream technologies and ingredients from “Technically Ready” to “Deployment Ready”

What can you expect from Mars?

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• 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.