Job Description:
Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) Innovation Senior Manager
Location - Preferred Tennessee
The Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) Innovation Senior Manager leads the program of consumer and sensory research intended to generate technical insight to inform and support decision making on Innovation and Science & Technology (S&T) projects for Pet Nutrition (PN).
The role is responsible for the quality of consumer and sensory research projects, ensuring these follow best practice and adhere to PN frameworks and processes and will provide strategic direction and technical leadership to R&D and Demand partners regarding pet parent centric design of our propositions.
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Through strong people leadership this role will be responsible for the engagement, line management and career development of all CTI associates working in the CTI Innovation team.
What are we looking for?
- Bachelor's degree in food science, consumer science or equivalent.
- Minimum of 8 years' experience in R&D in an FMCG environment
- Strong experience in sensory and consumer science, as well as product development, in a business context
- Demonstrated record in collaborative leadership & delivery of complex technical projects/ programs.
- Experience in translating deep consumer insights into compelling and successful propositions.
- Proven ability to build strong collaborative relationships with partners across the business, and externally.
- Extensive experience in people leadership, including coaching and supporting the development of individuals and teams.
- Ability to effectively engage and influence senior leaders and peers in R&D and Marketing incl. CMI.
- Fluent in English, knowledge of a 2nd language preferred.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Lead creation of the program of sensory and consumer research to enable delivery of PN Innovation and S&T programs, guided by innovation and S&T priorities defined by PN Innovation and S&T governance.
- Accountable to deliver programs with the team on time in full as agreed with R&D and Demand partners on these programs.
- Partner with CTI Director to ensure Innovation and TRL projects have meaningful pet parent CSFs and R&D decision makers on these projects are equipped with required information to include pet parent lens in their decisions.
- Guide development of deep understanding of prioritized pet parent need states and benefit areas, and how insights are translated into clear briefs for proposition development.
- Cultivate a strong pet parent centricity mindset for the AOE R&D community, role-modeling design thinking and agile execution.
- Shape and influence enabling sensory and consumer science, as well as digital product performance capability programs, acting as a partner to ensure relevancy, and to support delivery.
- Set global standards in technical consumer and sensory research to ensure pet parent centricity is translated into propositions effectively.
- Influence evolution of relevant business processes and tools to embed critical pet parent centricity frameworks, tools and deliverables and support deployment to ensure pet parent and pet insight is translated into market value.
- Leadership and development of CTI innovation team, driving engagement, developing skills & competence, and a strong talent pipeline.
- Act as a key and active member of the CTI leadership team.
- Provide leadership/representation for CTI in appropriate forums (e.g. Insights Community).
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with over 130,000 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.