A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there’s more to being in business than just making a profit. That’s the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet.  What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it’s never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It’s about how you can grab everything that’s within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It’s about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we’ll all be a little better off. It’s that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated 

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

 

Job Purpose

The Food Safety Innovation Scientist is accountable for assessing current and emerging technology risks and provide consult and expertise to manufacturing sites and R&D to ensure Food Safety of our products (Dry, Wet and C&T).

This role will support the NA PN OGSM agile supply stream through innovation by providing leadership and guidance for all food safety and compliance aspects to assure the production of high quality, safe and legally compliant products that meet the desired product design and customer expectations. 

This role has the overall accountability of ensuring that the food safety system is embedded within the innovation of new technology and materials through validation and implementation to ensure USDA and FDA regulatory compliance and the production of safe and wholesome products.

 

What are we looking for?

Minimum 

• Minimum Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in Microbiology, Food Science, Chemistry (or related discipline).
• At least 5 years of Food Safety regarding Product Development or Product Innovation experience in a food, pet, beverage, agricultural or related industry.
• Previous experience in pet food manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Must have experience with leading technical project teams.
• Advanced knowledge of Pet and Human Food Safety.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently or as a member of a team.
• Project Management experience and expertise preferred.
• Knowledge of government regulations FDA, HACCP, USDA, Food Code, Food Safety and Quality Systems program, and process validation.
• Ability to analyze data with a keen eye for monitoring granular level details.
• Up to 30% travel.

 

What would be your key responsibilities?

• Acting as Food Safety expert and using critical thinking and expert knowledge to provide support and training to support agile innovation projects.
• Responsible for understanding and applying food safety to novel processes and material needs which includes internal PN guidelines, legal legislation, and food & people safety considerations.
• Participates in agile innovation projects, takes broad perspective to identify creative and innovative solutions to overcome roadblocks for safe validation of novel technology.
• Responsible for being informed of food safety trends related to new and current technology, food safety for innovation and business trends, and able to apply food safety support in the development of innovation projects.
• Work very closely with Product Development and Manufacturing Sites to support food safety improvements within product development, scale-up, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate testing activity for ingredient qualifications, including: coordination of both internal and external testing, verification of results, data summarization, and troubleshooting.
• Partner with Local Marketing, Process & Packaging Innovation, Regional and Site R&D, Commercial, Supply and External Agencies including consultants and universities to create solutions to novel food safety challenges.
• Subject Matter expert for government regulations, FDA, HACCP, USDA, Food Code, Food Safety and Quality Systems program, and process validation.
• Assist in evaluating and recommending new processes, programs, equipment, and technologies to drive food safety innovation.
• Support in improving capabilities in the segment on technological risks management and the relevant standards by providing the necessary food safety training and development to the associates of the Petcare community.
• Accountable for developing a roadmap of validated food safe technologies to support innovative growth.
• Partner with Innovation Centre at TNT and External Manufacturing team on food safety projects to support growth in both core and agile innovation. Provides consultation on technical issues.
• Audit compliance of products/process validations and manage audit follow-up projects to improve food safety.

What can you expect from Mars?

 

• The opportunity to learn, develop and take charge of your own career.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package. 
• To be respected and valued.
• The Five Principles at the centre of every decision we make.
• The opportunity to work cross functionally, add value and impact a better world for generations to come.

 

If you’re passionate about our brands, a great strategic thinking, deliver high quality decision and have a high drive for results, then we want to hear from you. Click ‘apply’ in this position.

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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.