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Mars

Food Safety Management Systems Lead

Location:  DEU-Lower Saxony-Verden | Germany
Location flexibility:  1 office day / week, 2 office days / week, 3 office days / week, 4 office days / week
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Job Description

Job Description:

Food Safety Management Systems Lead

Location: Any Mars Petcare Site

At Mars Petcare, our purpose is simple: A Better World for Pets. Every day, millions of pet parents trust our brands to provide safe, high-quality nutrition for their pets. As our Food Safety Management Systems Lead, you'll play a critical role in protecting that trust by driving world-class food safety standards across all global Pet Nutrition Units, Pet & Innovation Centres, and is the liaison with the Food Safety Hub and Corporate team.

This is a highly visible global role responsible for leading the governance, implementation and continuous improvement of Food Safety Management Systems across Mars Petcare. Working across more than 65 manufacturing sites and partnering with regional, segment and corporate stakeholders, you'll help ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, Food Fraud and Food Defense requirements while driving a culture of continuous improvement.

What will you do?

As the global subject matter expert for Food Safety Management Systems, you'll partner with Quality, Manufacturing, R&D and Corporate teams to strengthen food safety capabilities and ensure consistent standards across our Petcare operations.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the global deployment, governance and continuous improvement of FSSC 22000 across Mars Petcare Nutrition Divisions.
  • Drive compliance with Food Safety Management Standard, HACCP, GMP, Food Fraud and Food Defence programmes.
  • Monitor food safety performance, identify risks and opportunities, and ensure robust action plans are in place.
  • Develop food safety standards, processes and documentation aligned with evolving regulatory and business requirements.
  • Support and coordinate external certification audits and technical food safety assessments.
  • Build capability across the organisation through training, coaching and food safety community leadership.
  • Partner on digital transformation initiatives that enhance food safety compliance and effectiveness.

What are we looking for?

  • Strong experience in Food Safety Management Systems within a manufacturing environment.
  • Deep knowledge of HACCP, ISO 22000 and ideally FSSC 22000 standards.
  • Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across global organisations.
  • Auditing experience within HACCP, GMP or ISO/FSSC 22000 environments.
  • Excellent communication, facilitation and coaching skills
  • Strong capability in risk management, continuous improvement and programme governance.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Science, Technology or a related discipline.

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 Mars University.
  • An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Please note: This is a global role requiring approximately 25% international travel to support manufacturing sites, audits and stakeholder engagement activities across the Mars Petcare network.

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

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Core hours 11–3

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
Enhanced paternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
“Pawternity” leave
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Bank holiday swaps
Shared parental leave
Adoption leave
Family health insurance
Pregnancy support
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Dog friendly co-working space
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Employee discounts
Cinema discounts
Referral bonus
Joining bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Theme park discounts
Lunch and learns
In house training
Learning license
Studying sabbaticals
Open to part time work for some roles
Menopause support
On-site gym
On-site barista
Secure on-site parking
On-site catering
Private booths
On-site wellness room
Collaboration spaces

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1st - Most Family Friendly Company

1st - Most Family Friendly Company

Flexa awards 2026
3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

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Most loved - Large companies

Top 5 - Most loved - Large companies

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Best Work-Life Balance

Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

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2nd – Pet Friendly

2nd – Pet Friendly

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Top 5 - Most Flexible Company

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Top 5 - Most Inclusive Company

Flexa awards 2025
Best Work-Life Balance

Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

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Top 10 - Best Career Progression

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Best Workplace Culture

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Best Workplace Benefits

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1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

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Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022
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4,000 In the UK

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