Category Technical & Quality Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

Location: From June 2025, we will be based in the SLO office

Salary Range: £ 49,000 - 60,000, annual bonus, benefits

Job Purpose/Overview

Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats is an entrepreneurial arms-length business focused on extending the Mars brands into new categories beyond confectionery through external partners (suppliers and distributors). The business currently operates in a number of categories: Milk Drinks, Hot Chocolate, Cakes & Bakes, Desserts, Chocolate Spreads, Cake Mixes, Free From, and Quick Serve Restaurants across the UK and Europe.

We have a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the technical delivery of a category within the business, covering all aspects of supplier/customer relationship management across Q&FS, technical, legal compliance, and NPD, in the role of Technical Head. The expectation of this individual will be 2 days per week in the office (as a minimum) with the potential opportunity to work from home 3 days per week. From June 2025, this role will be based out of the SLO office.

For this category, we are looking for technical expertise and experience to oversee a wide portfolio of projects. Our ideal candidate will also have broad experience within food manufacturing from product innovation through to Quality and Food Safety management.

A successful candidate will thrive in working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and complex environment in a cross-functional team. They will be connected to the delivery of business results, gaining business acumen and an external perspective, and experiencing an agile environment.

What are we looking for?

Knowledge/Experience

• Science Degree with a background/experience in food manufacturing/quality

• Preferably audit experience

• Allergen management knowledge and risk assessment

• Great project management skills

Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills

• Food manufacturing knowledge/experience

• Food Safety Management Programme and Standards (including GMP, GHP, HACCP, allergens)

• Reactive and proactive risk management

• Lead auditor experience (ideally with qualification)

• Stakeholder management

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Responsible for all Technical and Quality aspects of this category in the MCDT business

• Lead the category to create & deliver creative solutions for new products & packs, working with our co-manufacturing partners

• Implement & maintain Mars Quality standards and other Mars Quality initiatives into the category

• Lead technical factory audits take place for our contract manufacturers, ensuring the expertise & capability exists to manage & produce Mars products

• Own all technical documentation for existing products and ensure these are agreed upon, updated as necessary, and communicated to suppliers, using negotiation skills if necessary

• Keep abreast of industry, consumer, and technology trends as well as the activity of competitors while ensuring that these insights are incorporated into the development of a superior product offering

• On non-conformance & issues resolution, act as the technical point of contact between Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats and the factories

• Promptly deal with the factories to solve any technical issues which impact on quality, cost or our ability to supply

• Collaborating with external manufacturing partners and internal teams to execute the new product development agenda, leading all aspects of new product development including sample review, trial coordination and artwork

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with 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 a company bonus.

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions or are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here

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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.