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Mars UK • Batley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Mars R&D Leadership Experience 2025 - Graduate Programme

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top 3 scores:
94%

Location flexibility

91%

Hours flexibility

90%

Autonomy

Job Description

Job Description:

Your future as a leader starts today.

Our R&D Graduate Leadership Programme: The Mars R&D Leadership Experience is the perfect grounding for a career in R&D. You’ll manage projects, take on roles with local and international exposure, and make decisions with real consequences. The work will come thick and fast, preparing you for the challenges of tomorrow.

The R&D Programme comprises of three 12-month placements. You’ll spend at least 2 of those years in our R&D function, exploring and contributing to what goes on in a function that plays a critical role in the making and developing of our most loved products. There will also be a potential opportunity to spend your 2nd placement in either Procurement or Supply, giving you a unique opportunity to experience a breadth of roles in another side of our business.

What will you do?

  • 3 x 12-month placements, with 2-3 placements in R&D and the potential opportunity for 1 year in either Procurement or Supply.
  • Opportunities to manage your own projects, allowing you to develop every day.
  • After the 3 years you will sign off into a role in our R&D function.

Who are we looking for?

  • You’ll be passionate about being a future leader in R&D and be able to demonstrate leadership potential.
  • A minimum of a 2:1 in any STEM degree subject. Graduating next summer or graduated within the last 2 years.
  • Technically and digitally minded.
  • ​​​​​​​Mobile within the UK. Your home site could either be Slough or Birstall (Leeds) but you may need to relocate for 1 of your placement years.

What are the benefits?

  • Starting salary of £33,000 and joining bonus of £2,000.
  • Wide range of competitive benefits, including competitive pension and healthcare scheme, annual bonus and flexible working hours.
  • We’ll give you access to inspiring mentors and coaches to help you grow.
  • Join our global graduate community, create friends for life and join a global business.

What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with over 140,000 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.

For more information, please visit careers.mars.com/UK/en/students-graduates

#MRDLE25

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.

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
Pregnancy loss leave
Bank holiday swaps

We asked employees of Mars UK what it's like to work there, and this is what they told us.

Location flexibility
94%
Employees are very happy with their working location freedom
Hours flexibility
91%
Employees are very happy with the flexibility in the hours they work
Benefits
84%
Employees are very happy with the benefits their company offers
Work-life balance
80%
Employees feel that they can switch off quite easily from work
Role modelling
81%
Employees feel that flexible working is part of the culture
Autonomy
90%
Employees feel they have complete autonomy over getting their work done

Additional employee ratings
(these do not contribute to the FlexScore®)

Diversity
75%
Employees feel that the diversity is good and there are continued efforts to improve it
Inclusion
78%
Employees feel that the culture supports equity and inclusivity well
Culture
86%
Employees feel like it is a really great environment to work in
Mission
84%
Employees feel very excited about and aligned with the company mission
Salary
70%
Employees feel that their salary is good and matches the value they bring

Working at Mars UK

Company employees

4,000 In the UK

Gender diversity (male:female)

57:43

Currently Hiring Countries

Brazil

France

Spain

United Kingdom

United States

Office Locations

Awards & Achievements

1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

Flexa100 2023
Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022