Sr. Scientist, Product Development - Competitive Complexity (Finance)

Job Description:

The incumbent will work cross-functionally to provide product development technical leadership for existing products involved in Competitive Complexity initiatives, maintaining quality design and delivering desired proposition performance to both the pet and the pet parent. The incumbent will need to collaborate with 2 different Mars organizations (NA business and Central R&D) therefore managing complexity and managing ambiguity will be critical. Significant interdependencies are expected between Competitive Complexity and Value Leadership (cost saving) initiatives. The role operates in a pet friendly, open office environment supporting pet nutrition.

What are we looking for?
Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Food Science, Technology, Engineering, or related technical field (Graduate degree in Food Science would be a plus)
• 5+ years of experience in Product Development/R&D within a CPG company. (Food/beverage experience is a plus)
• Up to 15-20% travel required

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of product development from bench top to full scale production.
• Prior experience in Dry and Wet Pet Food Product Development experience is a huge plus.
• Prior experience must include design of experiments and functionality of raw materials. Statistical analysis knowledge is a plus.
• Demonstrated excellence in project management and capability to lead cross functional projects. Stage gate process experience is a plus.
• Strong ability to work cross functionally with people in other disciplines and/or business areas.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Ensures connectivity with NA Product Development brand owners and Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) to understand current and future product propositions for NA (IE. Product design, aesthetics, claims, product performance, etc.) via existing Product Briefs, Finished Product Specifications, product performance monitoring results, etc.
• Provides inputs to Central R&D Competitive Complexity team to enable the design of NA relevant project charters.
• Once CC charters are approved and resourced, collaborates with multifunctional project team to frame the business challenge, identify technical risks, and provide PD inputs to technical learning plan to mitigate risks.
• Collaborates with other transformation R&D roles across Process, Packaging, Formulations, and Raw materials (as appropriate) to drive execution of technical learning plan.
• Escalates technical risks and ensures effective Product Development inputs are provided to Transformation project manager and multifunctional team.
• Ensures completion of PD owned deliverables in the context of Product Lifecycle Management, providing appropriate documentation of the work done.
• Identifies Competitive Complexity opportunities in collaboration with the NA Commercial and Central R&D teams.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 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.