Global Commodity Research Director

Job Description

Job Description:

Global Commodity Research Director

Do you have the ability to set strategy, articulate vision, drive research quality, and make a difference through great people leadership?

Do you want to work for an organization that is family-owned, future-facing and purpose-driven? Do you want to make a positive impact in this ever changing world? Come learn more about Mars where The Five Principles are our guiding philosophy. https://www.mars.com/

Mars Inc. is exposed to significant commodity price volatility which is proactively managed through robust price risk management processes and by leveraging internal competitive market intelligence. Our Global Commodity Research Director role is a key leadership role and will set strategy and lead the Commercial Applied Research Team (CART). This team is comprised of commercial desk researchers and field researchers who develop and communicate commodity market decision support to sourcing managers of Mars Inc.’s major raw material spend areas ( > $4 Billion commodity spend in scope).

The role is responsible for the process by which competitive market intelligence is created in-house or purchased, supporting their use in price risk and supply risk management strategies across Mars Wrigley, Petcare, and Food segments, and proactively communicating market risks and opportunities to Sr. leaders. In addition, the person will be a leader in commodity market intelligence, foresight, and translation of this intelligence into business risk and opportunities discussions.

Location: Chicago/NJ locations strongly preferred on a hybrid basis & UK considered.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelors' Degree in Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Agricultural Business, or Agricultural Meteorology. Advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years experience in commodity market research and applications for price risk management strategy

• Minimum of 2 years people leadership

• Advanced experience in generating unique fundamental commodity market analysis, and identifying macroeconomic trends which are pertinent to business strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to set strategy, articulate vision, drive research quality, and develop a remote team with specialized backgrounds

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing experience across multiple levels and functions within an organization, including senior leaders, business units, and buying teams.

• Ability to present and communicate complex analysis to a broad, diverse audience

• Passion for advancing commodity research through implementation of new methods, technologies, and external partnerships, in line with evolving business needs

• Understanding of how commodity market intelligence and price risk management actions influence financials and the P&L of a Consumer Packaged Goods company

• Ability to travel internationally up to 10% of the time

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Global accountability for the team’s commodity market intelligence, macroeconomic risk analysis, and translation of both into applicable business insights related to the evolution of inflation/deflation and supply security across major commodity spend areas for Mars Incorporated.

• Elevate communication of the team’s insights and influence strategy discussions across multiple levels of the business including Commercial Sourcing, Finance, Segment Leadership and Corporate Leadership.

• Protect and extend the competitive advantage in agricultural weather forecasting, yield, production, and price forecasts through continuous improvement, leveraging internal and external capabilities and new innovative methods and technologies. Create and set strategy and vision for commercial desk researchers and cocoa field researchers to deliver competitive market intelligence that reduces Mars prime costs and supply risk.Expand decision support, capabilities, and influence across Mars units and additional spend areas as business needs evolve.

• Proactively communicate market opportunities and risks. Challenge market assumptions held by Commercial buying teams, and influence strategies to ensure rigor and consistent translation of market insights.

• Line manage a team of 3 direct reports and a broader team of 12 associates who conduct on the ground cocoa market intelligence in West Africa and SE Asia.

What can you expect from Mars?

• The opportunity to take charge of your own career and development right across the Mars business

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package.

Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.

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.