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 job holder is accountable for defining and delivering the regional laboratory strategy to ensure that the region has access to essential laboratory expertise and capabilities.
• This role shall implement, support the testing strategy to ensure finished product and raw materials are compliant to requirements of the relevant Mars Standards in collaboration with Global Q&FS, MGS Regional Labs and the NA site laboratory network to ensure.
• This role will support the site laboratory network to assure the reliability of inbound control results and act as a source of expertise in laboratory sciences for the region.

 

What are we looking for?

Minimum 

• Tertiary qualifications in Microbiology, Food Science, Chemistry (or related discipline).
• 5 -10 years' experience in Lab or Micro/Chem environment.
• Experience in a Food Manufacturing or Chem/Micro Laboratory environment.
• Advanced knowledge of chemistry lab equipment, materials, and methods.
• In depth knowledge of analytical methodology, manufacturing processes, material specifications, good manufacturing practices, auditing, and HACCP.
• Prior technical experience for leading an analytical program.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently or as a member of a team.

 

 What would be your key responsibilities?

• Participates in the definition and implementation of the NA Q&FS and Lab Strategy including its deployment road map in collaboration with Global Q&FS, MGS Regional Labs, and the NA Site Laboratory Network.
• Ensure Site Labs operate within the scope of QMP to underpin appropriate quality management of the labs; and conduct technical audits on a schedule dictated through regional QMP to assure compliance of the technical standards relevant to labs.
• Act as technical support and partner with MGS Lab in micro and chem testing methodologies for real-time issue resolution. Contact external parties or equipment suppliers where issue resolution on methods is required.
• Provide and/or coordinate training with MGS Lab to ensure associates in factory labs are trained and competent.
• Site Lab Governance for the proficiency testing and ring-test program coordinated by MGS Lab.
• Review results and instigate PRIMP when results out of specification.
• Advanced chemistry technical skills to ensure each factory is performing testing correctly by tracking deviations between rapid and reference, review of control charts, providing troubleshooting support, and strong action plan for failures.
• Define and standardize processes and/or systems for manufacturing site labs, including protocols for equipment/material management, testing process, and training program.
• Facilitates the development and reporting of organizational metrics for laboratory key performance indicators.
• Implement and support all relevant Mars Standard and ensure all Mars Standard NCs are completed in a timely manner.
• Identify and prioritize current and future NA Site Lab needs for laboratory expertise and capabilities.
• Ensure each factory has an outlined CAB program to implement testing capability and equipment to verify raw materials and Finished goods. Consolidate request into the SCMR process to ensure funds available.
• Liaise with MGS Lab and vendors of instruments for implementing new methods or troubleshooting testing issues.
• Coordinate between MGS Lab and Global Petcare to ensure alignment and best practice sharing.
• Perform Food Safety technical audits and partner with MGS Lab for Lab Standard audits.
• Conduct periodic internal quality audits to include assessment of laboratory data and identifying/reporting deficiencies
• Proactively engage a culture of safe laboratory behaviours.

 

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.