Vp, Global Science & Technology

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This new position of Global VP Science & Technology leads worldwide science research and development within Mars Pet Nutrition business and is a member of the Global R&D business leadership team for $12B business. This person oversees a team of ~30 associates around the globe located in our global innovation centers. This person will be the bridge between the Global VP Innovation and MARS Research Centers of Excellence to translate our science and technology agenda into solving pets’ critical health needs. This person will partner with the VP of Waltham Science Institute, Mars Chief Science Officer, and Global VP Innovation to create science-based interventions to the most critical pet health needs. They will transform, champion, and guarantee the short-term and long-term competitiveness of the R&D organization structure, performance and culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and executes initiatives to elevate Pet Science and drive portfolio transformation in Health & wellness and to ensure our freedom to operate.
• Responsible for developing a strong, positive culture, driving for excellence and promoting cross-functional collaboration.
• Represents R&D as a member of the MARS Science & Research Teams and at the Science and Diagnostics Councils to govern and sponsor the focus and activities within the global science and technology pipeline.
• Leads a broad multi-disciplinary scientific technical organization that ensures development and deployment of scientific and engineering principles in research in coordination with development, production technology, Quality & Food Safety, packaging and processing.
• Provides management, scientific leadership and creativity in initiating, designing and executing the research strategy while leveraging the MARI and MARS Petcare Science & Diagnostic team as appropriate.
• Support the development and delivery of intellectual property and contributes to patent applications and patent strategy development.
• Ensures the execution and measurement of product portfolio transformation by working to commercialize science and technologies and Health & Nutrition product offerings
• Develops and implements science and technology functional metrics and goals to monitor and report on opportunity progress and success, resource investment, and expenditures as an indicator of efficiencies and effectiveness.
• Role models the Mars Five Principles and Mars/Segment Purpose through action and fosters truly purpose driven team through High Performance Collaboration (HPC) behaviors.
• Voice of Pet Nutrition with the VP of Waltham Science, Science and Diagnostics Leader to define the long term strategy for the science and technology portfolio, using deep technical knowledge to develop, deliver and fuel the 5-year innovation pipeline.

Experience:

• Experience and delivery of significant business transformation where R&D partnership was critical for sustained future success of the organization.
• Excellent business, organization and communication skills.
• 15+ years leading an R&D organization via strategic and operational capability with demonstrated results in shaping, developing and aligning functions to drive growth. Strong background in building R&D capabilities and science management. Understands business strategies and translation into R&D programs.
• Visible leadership: Make the tough calls on quality, associates, budget, etc.
• High degree of ownership for his/her work, a big sense of urgency and an action-biased, positive attitude.
• Proven Project management skills with experience in leading large scale, complex projects as the key technical member on a cross-functional team. Hands on experience in the development and successful launch of new products, packages and processes.
• Uses experience base and intellectual knowledge with intuition to chart the future in an ambiguous environment.
• Hands on experience in the development and successful launch of new products, packs and processes.

Influence key leaders within to support the regional and global growth agenda.

• Experience creating meaningful business growth strategies.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, people development and learning agility.
• The ability to inspire and influence senior stakeholder groups, and experience managing and leading teams.
• Creative and critical thinking, able to operate independently.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• 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.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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.