$100000 - $120000 Year
Monday to Friday
Day shift
Health insurance
Paid time off
Employee discount
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
401(k) matching
Flexible schedule
Parental Leave
Tuition reimbursement
Flexible spending account
Retirement plan
Others
Senior Product Innovation Scientist
Job Purpose/Overview
The NOURISH Dogs 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 specifically focused on crafting essential main meals for dogs. Committed to delivering the right food at the right moment and creating meaningful meal experiences for dogs and their parents, our projects span diverse formats and technologies, encompassing both dry and wet food across various brands and markets.
The associate in this role is expected to serve as a technical project leader, contributing to the development of superior propositions based on insights from pets and pet parents. 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.
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.
Designing Superior Propositions: Craft and refine innovative propositions that elevate the quality and appeal of essential main meals for dogs’ portfolio. Infuse creativity and pet parent insights into product designs, contributing to a more meaningful and exciting meal experience for both pets and their parents.
Accountable in Technical delivery: This role is pivotal in overseeing the technical delivery of medium/high complexity innovation projects or sub-projects, ensuring compliance with 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 while collaboratively influencing key stakeholders.
Leadership in Risk and Opportunity Management: Leading the technical project team, the position to embraces a mindset of risk and opportunity management. 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.
Ensuring Business Model Alignment: 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 faeces quality, recipe cost, carbon intensity, shelf-life, and claims). The role also involves understanding and applying regulatory/legal legislations, quality standards, and considerations for food and people safety to development.
Custodian of Project Deliverables: Responsible for generating and being the custodian of relevant 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.
Collaborative Product Establishment: Responsible for seamless collaboration with Global & Local Marketing, Process & Packaging Innovation, Regional and Site R&D, Commercial, CMI, and Supply. This role actively contributes to establishing product targets and key routes to implementation.
Building Functional Excellence: Responsible for building functional excellence in Product Development. This includes staying informed about technological, innovation and business trends, competitive landscapes, trade customer needs and equipment suppliers’ capabilities, with the ability to match and apply these insights to development projects.
Proactive Management of Intellectual Property: Responsible for proactively managing Intellectual Property risks and opportunities. This tole is entrusted with navigating the landscape of Intellectual Property, diligently assessing risks, and seizing strategic opportunities to protect and optimize Mars’ innovation assets.
Context and Scope
High degree of self-autonomy within pre-defined area of responsibility and within the agreed business strategy and processes (e.g. QuEST, S&OP+, GIP, Design for Vertical Start Up Product & Pack, etc.)
Leading global innovation projects within the NOURISH Dog program requires a high level of independence and self-responsibility.
Works resourcefully to develop relevant solutions for the respected Global Innovation Projects targeting the sweet spot between Desirability, Viability, Feasibility and Sustainability (DVFS mindset).
Knowledgeable of S&OP+ (PMR) processes and able to identify implications for key markets while partnering with Deployment teams for blueprints and global rollouts plans. Has ability to effectively navigate complex challenges and change management initiatives.
Executing Global Innovation projects within this role has multiple dimensions and medium/high scope and complexity across functional / technical, people and organisational aspects. Delivery across pet food technologies are extensive from a raw material, recipe, product format / function and manufacturing / processing perspective. Potential implementation of product / process solutions at sites in multiple regions entails understanding of how challenges to scale-up and implementation may vary by region.
Building up and continuously improving deep knowledge of consumer and pet insights, recipe, technology, technical project leadership and product/material development.
Building close collaborative relationships cross-functionally (Demand (marketing, CMI, S&F), Supply functions, R&D functional teams, Mars Pet Centres, Commercial (Raw materials quality improvement and buying), Activity Management.
Planning and execution of line trials at both pilot and production scale, including designing early prototypes, trial risk assessments, complete the paperwork associated with pack outs, analytical testing requests, shelf life studies, feeding requests, purchasing materials, etc.
Partners with technical project team to build robust project time plan considering risks and opportunities to stablish relevant scenarios. Also defining resources requirements (FTE, budget) and proactively requesting necessary approvals.
Job Specifications/Qualifications
Minimum requirement is a graduate degree around food science / technology / food engineering / Animal Science/Nutrition or similar field with 6+ years Product Development or Product Innovation experience.
Must have excellent communication skills - English (written/verbal)
6+ years Product Development/Product Innovation experience required in food related Industry
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.
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.
Communication
Leadership
Teamwork
Interpersonal
Learning/adaptability
Self-management
Organizational
Computer
Problem solving
Open mindedness
Strong work ethic
technology
Others
6 years
Manufacturing
On going position
In-person