cPLM Pack and Trade Data and Deployment Scientist (Project-based Role)

Job Description:

Mars is delivering a global Product Lifecycle Management transformation program (cPLM) to replace our existing system used to capture and evolve knowledge about our products. This role serves as the critical functional bridge between global Packaging R&D, Supply Chain, and the cPLM platform, securing the foundational data integrity of packaging specifications and finished trade items (Intermediate and Above) before and during all FN site deployments. By driving hands-on system validation, enforcing data compliance standards, and directly enabling packaging developers and master data coordinators, this position ensures that structural packaging specifications and logistics data are digitized accurately and compliantly.

In this role, you will work closely with the Food Nutrition (FN) Scope Lead, the FN SMEs and FN cPLM leadership team. You will also occasionally need to collaborate with Enterprise POs, Corporate DT and other segment scope leads to ensure seamless deployment and capability building.

*This is a project-role for the Design and Development for the Food cPLM program. The role is funded through June 2028. As we approach the funding end date, your manager will be in touch with additional information including funding for next phases, including pilot and deployment.

Based country: UK or Netherlands

Your responsibilities:

Packaging and Trader Testing & Continuous Improvement

· Support Discovery & Workshop Execution: Participate in discovery sessions and workshops, capturing precise user needs, packaging data gaps, process steps, and translating them into clear functional requirements or user stories with the support of the scope leads.

· Validate Packaging & Trade Hierarchies: Build, configure, and validate complex packaging structures (primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging levels) and finished trade item specifications in test environments to verify system calculations, palletization patterns, and functional gaps.

· Test Attribute Inheritance & Handoffs: Define and execute test cases to ensure packaging material attributes (such as dimensions, weight, recyclability, and barrier properties) accurately roll up and populate at the finished trade item and logistics levels.

· Map Regional Variabilities: Connect with Packaging Development, Commercial, and Supply Chain across different regions to capture local packaging material and sourcing variations (e.g., local supplier capabilities, regional transit requirements) and verify that the global cPLM system template supports localized specifications without breaking standardization.

· Execute End-to-End Testing (UAT): Support user acceptance testing (UAT) by contributing to test scripts, preparing clean packaging data sets, logging defects, re-testing resolutions, and validating "dual-system" scenarios to ensure downstream systems (like ERP/SAP) receive accurate packaging and trade data.

· Drive Process Optimizations: Analyze support ticket trends and user feedback to propose proactive improvements to packaging data structures, workflows, or training templates.

User Support, Learning & Community Enablement

· Provide Day-to-Day Functional Support: Act as the primary, hands-on functional expert for Packaging Developers, Graphics/Artwork and MDG teams, troubleshooting complex system blocks (such as packaging specification creation, material BOM linking, and other scenarios).

· Triage & Issue Resolution: Capture, log, and categorize user inquiries, rapidly resolving functional "how-to" questions and collaborating with technical partners to resolve deep technical system bugs.

· Nurture a Champion Network: Establish and coordinate localized "drop-in" clinics or office hours for packaging and supply chain teams to drive community-led problem-solving and reduce repetitive support tickets.

Training, Deployment & Hypercare Support

· Design & Deliver Training: Partner with senior team members and enterprise training leads to support system training, interactive demos, and targeted walk-throughs focused on packaging spec creation, pallet patterns, and trade item setup for developers.

· Prepare Stakeholder & Leadership Communications: Translate complex cPLM system changes, updates, and escalation paths into clear, benefits-driven "impact summaries" and presentations for Packaging R&D and/or Supply Chain leadership.

· Coordinate Site Deployment Readiness: Drive site-specific deployment checklists, ensuring that local packaging and Master Data teams complete mandatory packaging data-cleansing and training activities before system go-live.

· Support FN Pilot and Future Deployments: Support the initial pilot deployment and subsequent Food Nutrition site deployments by establishing reusable templates, checklists, and gathering learning for continuous improvement.

· Support On-Site and Virtual Hypercare: Act as the dedicated "Intermediate & Above" hypercare lead during site deployments, working shoulder-to-shoulder with local packaging developers and Master Data analysts to resolve day-one data entry blocks.

Data Quality, Governance & Process Compliance

· Audit Legacy Data Readiness: Conduct rigorous data-readiness audits on legacy packaging specifications, pallet specifications, and trade item records, identifying missing, inconsistent, or non-compliant attributes prior to system migration.

· Remediate Data Gaps & Create Specifications: Directly support local and regional teams in filling critical data gaps by drafting and creating new packaging component and trade item specifications, obtaining missing dimensions or material properties, and ensuring all key records are complete and enriched prior to data migration.

· Partner with Data Stewards: Work closely with global and regional data stewards to define and enforce strict rules for trade item data, ensuring alignment with standards and regional logistics requirements.

· Systematically Cleanse Data Gaps: Proactively identify, prioritize, and remediate "orphan" or inconsistent packaging component records, aligning them with the new global packaging taxonomy.

· Enforce Global Standardization: Monitor and police adherence to global packaging and trade material standards, escalating unauthorized local workarounds or process deviations.

As the program evolves, your responsibilities may need to shift to support the team where needed most.

What do we look for?

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Packaging, Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, Food Science, Food Technology, or a related scientific discipline (preferred)
• 4-6 years of relevant experience (e.g., R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, data or analytics or business support roles)
• Interest in digital systems and data; prior experience with R&D/Quality/PLM systems is a plus
• Good understanding of packaging R&D processes, material properties (primary/secondary/tertiary), and basic supply chain/logistics flows.
• Excellent networker, easily builds rapport remotely
• Exceptional English communication skills (oral and written).
• Good understanding of using computer systems to do your work. Basic use of AI chat services to support your learning would be useful.
• High learning agility with a proven ability to adapt rapidly to changes in a fast-paced, digital transformation environment.
• Proven ability to navigate undefined processes and troubleshoot on-the-go.
• SAP experience would be highly desirable
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and work effectively with cross-functional, multicultural teams from various R&D, SRA, Procurement, and IT backgrounds.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a passion for data accuracy and logical system flows

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.
• A strong focus on 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.