Director, Consumer Technical Insights

Mars Pet Nutrition NA - Director Consumer Technical Insights 
 
The Consumer Technical Insight team translates pet and pet parent research and Insights into competitive product experience design for Mars Pet Nutrition North America (PNNA). This role leads a team of associates and drives competitiveness of the portfolio by developing competitive innovation and product design strategy rooted in market, consumer, pets, trends and competitor insights.  The role will also build out a scalable model for technical competitive intelligence. 
 
This position will ensure that the overall R&D innovation, renovation and value leadership program is shaped and delivered with pet and pet parent insight at its heart, so that we design and deliver superior pet parent product experiences, drive Superior Proposition of our Core and deliver category building innovation.  By using best in class consumer and sensory research approaches, data analytics tools and techniques, and rigorous logic this role will leverage consumer empathy, deep qualitative research as well as quantify and interpret data and then translate into clear insights and recommendations to the business. This role will remain current with sensory, consumer science, and product research methodologies and continuously stay abreast of new developments in the field, actively implementing them within the business. 

This leader will be part of our North America R&D leadership team and Global CTI community.  There will be a focus on playing a key strategic role in building our capabilities for the future, partnering with the Global CTI Senior Director and championing pet and pet parent centricity and Superior Proposition in the NA R&D team and RDLT

What are we looking for?

• Minimum of BS degree in a STEM field (Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, etc.). Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in R&D. CPG/Food Industry experience preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in qualitative and quantitative product and consumer research methodologies and techniques

• Demonstrated understanding of applying product and consumer research methods, data analysis, and insight synthesis leading to measurable product performance and acceptance improvements.

• Strong team orientation and ability to work collaboratively across regions and with cross functional partners

• Expertise in translating key learnings and insights into actionable plans & strategies.

• Preferred experiences: Understanding of the pet food/food industry, consumer trends, scientific innovations, data analytics and its relation to sensory and consumer science; and relevant Sensory and Consumer Science software and statistical skills.

What will be your Key Responsibilities?

• Champion pet and pet parent voice as part of the NA RDLT, ensuring R&D strategy and plans are integrating pet and pet parent needs and innovation / renovation / VL activities are shaped to deliver towards pet and parent needs. This includes ensuring that product experience CSFs are aligned and delivered to ensure projects deliver against product job-to-be-done and meet our Superior Proposition ambition. 
• Develop a competitive product design and Innovation strategy rooted in market, competitor and consumer Insights.
• Lead product experience insight generation and translation into new opportunities across multiple brands, technologies & markets. Leverage product experience insight and product performance understanding to protect our core product range performance. 

• Develop internal and external networks to ensure access to cutting-edge tools & methodologies in the sensory & consumer Insights field.

• Provide expertise in developing and applying current & innovative Sensory and Consumer Science methodologies, contributing to the creation of PN CTI standards and best practices. 

• Accountable for the definition of proposition specific job stories and the translation into tangible differentiators for the product experience as input to the product and pack brief for R&D. Lead sensory & consumer research programs; this includes consulting with key stakeholders to determine program objectives, developing product experience learning plans to develop and validate the product proposition,  as per best practice standards and consistent with PN global Superior Proposition guidelines, and delivery of recommendations to relevant R&D and business partners.  

• Able to adjust, adapt, respond to, and be resourceful in the face of changes to deliver business objectives.

• Create collaborative relationships with the Regional & Global CMI and Global CTI groups to ensure the most efficient and effective research community, helping to advance functional excellence and business impact.

• Lead, develop and engage the team of Consumer Technical Insights associates. Be a champion for talent in the R&D and CTI community, collaborating with the Global CTI Senior Director to develop a strong talent pipeline in CTI. They will ensure the Global CTI Director is involved in recruitment and talent processes as appropriate.
• Less than 20% domestic travel

• Embrace and live the Mars culture by leading with The Five Principles.

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.
A strong focus on 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.

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