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.

This role can be located in Elizabethtown of Chicago (GIC)

Principle Scientist Cocoa Q&FS

The Cocoa Sourcing Technology Principle Scientist leads the development of scientific & technological strategy and implementation of solutions related to the Quality and Food  safety of cocoa raw material supply chains.  This role is the key point of contact with the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs and Global Quality and Food Safety teams and owns the Material Risk Assessment process for cocoa raw materials.  The role also owns the oversite of the contaminant risk mitigation strategy and partners with the Cocoa Plant Science discipline leads in defining the Q&FS priorities around heavy metal accumulation in cocoa as well as other emerging risks in the supply chain.  This role also partners with Cocoa Sourcing Technology and Strategic Sourcing, and The Mars Cocoa Enterprise leadership to help to create and execute a strategy that aligns with the global FAB and meets the growing needs of the business.

What are we looking for?

• BSc degree in Food Science or related technical field and 10+ years relevant experience in research and development in academia or corporate environment.
• Prior experience successfully leading technical resources
• Preferred MSc or PhD degree in Food Science or related technical field and demonstrated application of research to deliver business objectives in an FMCG company
• Preferred Prior experience managing technical resources in complex agricultural supply chains resources
• Preferred Experience in a number of R&D Technical areas

What would be your key responsibilities?

• Individual leadership of technical resources managed indirectly to deliver business results globally for the cocoa food safety, quality, and supply security.
• Supports shaping the global cocoa scientific and technical program including budget allocations for  Cocoa Sourcing Technology following the global governance process guided by Cocoa R&D PMO team
• Manages the implementation of an R&D cocoa agenda that addresses both global and regional business needs with an emphasis on Quality and Food Safety risk management across our cocoa raw material supply chains.
• Partnership with cocoa commercial leadership in global cocoa category team to develop and deploy global cocoa strategy, focusing on negotiating to influence the stakeholders including senior leaders internally and externally from R&D, Commercial and Supply.
• Key leader within the Cocoa R&D team participating and providing leadership across the Cocoa organization.
• Connects and represents Mars, Inc. Cocoa R&D  in the relevant global internal and external cocoa forums and communities, including strategic partnership of Mars Wrigley confectionary with external partners.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Opportunity to work with one of the largest privately held organizations
• An industry competitive compensation plan
• The opportunity to learn and develop, taking charge of your own career across Mars

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.