Come and join Mars as a

Global Sourcing Manager, External Laboratory Services

Location: UK, Poland or other EU locations

Salary: Highly Competitive

Mars spends over $60M USD across 100 suppliers and 200 external laboratories on routine food testing services. These are critical to Mars in supporting production at all its Mars Wrigley, Mars Foods and Petcare factories globally. In 2020, a global buying strategy was developed that identified the need to buy the services from a ‘One Mars’ perspective, that looks to leverage Mars’ newly appointed global strategic suppliers. The challenge now is take that strategy and make it a reality.

The Global Sourcing Manager is responsible for driving the implementation of the global buying strategy for external laboratory services. The role has a high impact on Mars’ quality management processes and is critical in ensuring supply quality, performance and resiliency. The position is a full member of the MGS Laboratories Leadership Team with functional reporting to the VP of MGS Laboratories.

What would be your key responsibilities? 

• Defines and implements best practice within the External Labs category. Leads knowledge transfer x-country, x-segment and x-teams
• Develops deep understanding of our business needs, external benchmarks and category industry capabilities
• Drives the existing Lab Network 2.0 right-sizing lab strategy to review what food testing services should be conducted by which supplier labs around the globe. This involves running cross-functional projects, undertaking tender activity and negotiating supplier contracts
• Help drive MGS Labs’ digital and transformation agenda by identifying data opportunities and influencing strategic suppliers
• As the spend category matures continue to evolve the buying strategy by expanding the strategy to cover other lab suppliers such as equipment, disposables and chemicals.
• Commercial business partner to MGS Labs who are accountable for ensuring the quality of the external laboratories used for routine food testing

What are we looking for?

• Higher level degree (i.e. Bachelor or Master) in engineering or business/economics/finance / procurement
• Experience of buying using a category sourcing approach on a regional or global basis
• Experience of buying complex services across multiple countries
• Proven track record of influencing others to deliver goals in a complex environment
• Outstanding stakeholder influencing and communication skills
• Excellent knowledge of purchasing processes in best in class purchasing organizations with an ability to implement those in complex environments

What we offer

• A competitive salary, yearly bonus, and benefits package that makes you feel rewarded for you work.  
• Equal Parental Leave:  All new parents at Mars UK have the chance to take 52-weeks off, with 26 paid at 90% salary. 
• A company that doesn’t just understand the importance of work-life balance, but actively encourages it with Mars Be Well Initiatives.
• Mentoring and support for your development from day-one, including access to renowned Mars University.
• More than just a career; work for Mars and you join a purpose-drive organization trying to build a better world tomorrow.

#LI-KG1