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Mars UK • Waltham, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Senior Research Manager - Feeding Performance

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top 3 scores:
94%

Location flexibility

91%

Hours flexibility

90%

Autonomy

Job Description

Job Description:

Senior Research Manager - Feeding Performance

In this role you will define, oversee and deliver a research portfolio that aligns with the priority science programmes and priorities of the business. The role is responsible for ensuring that the research teams deliver applicable and actionable knowledge that provides novel insights, maintains a technological competitive edge and is a driver of innovation for MARS Petcare across all divisions. In addition, the jobholder is responsible for the management, capability development and talent pipeline of associates in their team who carry out the research programmes/projects in a matrixed environment, providing strong technical and people leadership.

This role is also a contributor to the science strategy of WALTHAM and the wider science agenda in Petcare.

What are we looking for?

  • PhD in nutrition, physiology, metabolism or related health-science discipline
  • Significant experience of scientific leadership within an academic, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or related industry
  • A proven record in leading, developing and delivering a high quality research program in sensory mechanisms, health or nutrition through a team
  • Expertise in the field of sensory mechanisms, taste and odor reception, linking chemical profile with product performance would be advantageous
  • Good understanding of data use in healthcare research
  • Demonstrable technical expertise in at least one health science sub-discipline (e.g. nutrition, physiology, metabolism)
  • An ability to communicate complex science verbally and through written materials, to a variety of audiences including expert and non-technical audiences
  • Experience of excellence in line management with exceptional people management skills
  • An established network in the external scientific community

What will be your key responsibilities?

  • Defines, manages and executes a high quality research portfolio in feeding performance, health and wellbeing in line with the Mars Petcare division’s need and strategy (Understanding drivers of preference and aversion, developing tools to screen and predict performance of products and ingredients and identifying and creating products that will enhance product performance)
  • Ensures proprietary knowledge is generated from the feeding performance research portfolio that drives insights and innovations and that it is made available across the Petcare divisions
  • Sets priorities for the team to maximize value delivery from the whole matrixed team
  • Provides technical leadership and insight in the field of sensory mechanisms (taste and odor perception), understanding the drivers of sensory preference and aversion, pet health and/or nutrition and communicates this effectively to a range of stakeholders
  • Identifies and manages potential collaborations with external and internal partners & actively build relationships and influence in the field of pet health
  • Ensures the scientific robustness/quality of the research portfolio and manages project through the TRLs, ethics and welfare governance, and publication governance systems used at WALTHAM or external systems
  • Accountable for budget & resource planning, tracking and management of the Healthcare research portfolio
  • Ensures a knowledge management/intellectual property strategy is in place to capture and protect research outputs
  • Line management for 2-5 direct reports and lead the healthcare research team as a whole
  • Ensures that associates have an appropriate level of skill, are aware of their role and have the means to develop through regular review, objective setting and constructing compelling development plans
  • Improves the capability of the feeding performance team through a focus on talent development, recruitment, performance management and appropriate external partnerships

What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with over 130,000 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.

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

#LI-SS1

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

Office locations

London, Slough, Waltham, Castle Cary, Birstall, Plymouth

Hiring Countries

Brazil

France

Ireland

Netherlands

Poland

United Kingdom

United States

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

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