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Mars

Sr Specialist Food Safety, Quality Labs & New Technology

Salary:  $108,160 – $148,720 per annum
Location:  USA-Illinois-Chicago | United States of America
Location flexibility:  1 office day / week, 2 office days / week, 3 office days / week, 4 office days / week
Hey there, we’re really sorry but this job is no longer available. Please take a look at our other roles, and check back again soon as we’re adding new roles all the time!

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Job Description

Job Description:

About Mars Snacking Accelerator

Accelerator, a global Division of Mars Snacking, is on the front line of unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands to fuel what’s next for Snacking. It’s home to both emerging and enduring brands, including KIND, TRÜ FRÜ, NATURE’S BAKERY, RXBAR, EGGO, POP-TARTS, and RICE KRISPIES TREATS. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a start-up, our Division has the ambition to accelerate the future of snacking by delivering products consumers love today, discovering category-shaping innovations for tomorrow, and developing entrepreneurial teams whose impact will last for generations.

We’re looking for passionate talent who dare to dream big, agile collaborators who talk straight and decide fast, and driven performers with a growth mindset. We’re proudly part of Mars, while also building something boldly different. If this inspires and energizes you, you’ve found the right place where you can do cool things with fun people for one of the biggest snacking companies in the world!

The Opportunity: Why This Role Matters

This is a project-based, 24-month assignment for a food safety expert who thrives on driving change and innovation. We're looking for a specialist to lead critical laboratory and technology programs aimed at making our products safer, optimizing our processes, and reducing verification costs. In this role, you will be the bridge between cutting-edge technology and our manufacturing reality, taking new analytical methods from the lab bench and deploying them in the field. You'll also partner directly with our Supply Quality Assurance (SQA) team, acting as a microbiological expert for high-risk ingredient suppliers and serving as the authorized witness for critical food safety dispositions. This is your chance to make a significant, measurable impact on how we ensure quality across the Accelerator division.

What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities)

  • Lead Laboratory & Technology Programs:

Apply
Manage the network of third-party labs, optimize testing practices, and serve as the SME for internal laboratories. Validate and deploy new food safety technologies and analytical methods (e.g., CleanWorks, Gene-UP).
  • Drive Supplier Quality: Provide microbiological expertise and support SQA during audits of high-risk supplier manufacturing sites. Partner with SQA on Material Risk Assessments (MRA), ingredient specifications, and Inbound Verification Testing (IVT).

  • Manage Quality Incidents & Risk: Provide PRIMP support by managing escalated testing and leading laboratory investigations. Support the division's quality risk management activities, ensuring risks are documented and tracked in the Archer platform.

  • Oversee Data & Training: Oversee the trending of finished product test data, leading quarterly reviews to provide recommendations for optimization. Develop and deliver training to build food safety and laboratory capability among internal teams.

  • Act as Authorized Witness: Serve as the authorized witness for the disposition of food safety-critical materials, ensuring compliance with Mars corporate standards.

  • What We’re Looking For

    • A Lab & Technology Expert: Advanced knowledge of microbiological and allergen hazards, analytical methods, and laboratory quality systems (e.g., ISO 17025).

    • A Project-Driven Doer: Proven experience managing projects, from pilot trials and data validation to the full deployment of new technologies in a manufacturing environment.

    • A Supplier Quality Partner: Experience auditing operational processes, particularly for high-risk ingredient suppliers, and a strong understanding of MRAs and IVT.

    • An Independent Collaborator: The ability to work with a high degree of autonomy while building strong relationships with SQA, R&D, and external lab partners to get things done.

    Qualifications

    • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a closely related field.

    • Experience: 7+ years of experience in food manufacturing and laboratory quality systems.

    • Certifications: HACCP or related certification required. Certification and experience auditing operational processes required.

    • Location: Based in Chicago, IL or Battle Creek, MI.

    • Travel: Ability to travel (~30%) to labs and manufacturing sites.

    #Marsjobs

    #LI-LD1

    #LI-Onsite

    The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the below range, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, if eligible, including variable pay & general allowances (depending on the position and employee’s work schedule). Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans then in effect, and depending on the position offered and the employee’s work schedule (i.e., part-time schedule), eligible employees are automatically enrolled in a 401(k) plan, as well as participate in Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee’s eligible dependents, and may be eligible to take up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Employees will also receive the following paid-time off (which may be prorated based on start date and the employee’s work schedule): 120 hours of vacation per year, paid sick time for eligible Associates of 100% pay continuation for a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year, and 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year that include both fixed and flexible holidays.

    USD 108,160.00 - USD 148,720.00

    Working at Mars

    Hybrid

    Core hours 11–3

    Company employees:

    4,000 In the UK

    Gender diversity (m:f):

    57:43

    Hiring in countries

    Argentina

    Australia

    Austria

    Belgium

    Brazil

    Canada

    China

    Czechia

    Denmark

    Egypt

    France

    Germany

    Greece

    Hungary

    India

    Japan

    Office Locations

    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
    Shared parental leave
    Adoption leave
    Family health insurance
    Pregnancy support
    Neonatal leave
    Faith rooms
    Meditation space
    Dog friendly office
    Dog friendly co-working space
    Annual bonus
    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

    Awards & Accreditations

    1st - Most Family Friendly Company

    1st - Most Family Friendly Company

    Flexa awards 2026
    3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

    3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

    Flexa awards 2026
    Most loved - Large companies

    Top 5 - Most loved - Large companies

    Flexa awards 2026
    Best Work-Life Balance

    Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

    Flexa awards 2026
    1st - Most Family Friendly Company

    1st - Most Family Friendly Company

    Flexa awards 2025
    2nd – Pet Friendly

    2nd – Pet Friendly

    Flexa awards 2025
    Most Flexible Company

    Top 5 - Most Flexible Company

    Flexa awards 2025
    Most Inclusive Company

    Top 5 - Most Inclusive Company

    Flexa awards 2025
    Best Work-Life Balance

    Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

    Flexa awards 2025
    Best Career Progression

    Top 10 - Best Career Progression

    Flexa awards 2025
    Best Workplace Culture

    Best Workplace Culture

    Flexa awards 2025
    Best Workplace Benefits

    Best Workplace Benefits

    Flexa awards 2025
    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

    Kazakhstan

    Kenya

    Lithuania

    Malaysia

    Mexico

    Netherlands

    New Zealand

    Norway

    Poland

    Romania

    Russia

    Slovakia

    South Korea

    Spain

    Switzerland

    Thailand

    Türkiye

    Ukraine

    United Kingdom

    United States