Job Description:
Location : Flexible in France - Hybrid from a Mars site or 100% Remote
Segment : Royal Canin
Type of contract : CDD/Contract until the end of June, with a strong possibility of extension depending on projects
As Innovation Project Manager, you will be leading cross-functional teams to develop and launch new Royal Canin products. This role manages projects from initial brief to industrialization, ensuring smooth execution across all development stages.
This position works closely with teams across R&D, Regulatory, Supply, Marketing, Finance, and more. Managing 4 to 6 projects simultaneously at different maturity stages, the Innovation Project Manager leads a cross-functional project team of about 10 people, establishes clear roadmaps, ensures adherence to innovation processes, aligns and communicates effectively at all organizational levels, and tracks progress to secure successful project outcomes.
What are we looking for?
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An experienced Project Manager with a generalist background, not a technical expert but a strong in project execution.
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5+ years of project management experience, ideally in an innovation or product development environment.
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Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align and engage senior leaders.
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A strong sense of ownership and decision-making, ensuring the best outcomes for the project while balancing stakeholder expectations.
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A natural motivator who fosters collaboration and drives momentum.
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PMP or PRINCE2 certification is a plus.
What will be your key responsibilities?
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Drive the end-to-end development process to successfully launch new products.
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Define and implement project timelines, mobilizing cross-functional teams in line with the stage-gate process.
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Track and communicate key decision points, risks, issues, and required actions to ensure smooth execution.
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Foster alignment and collaboration across all departments, ensuring seamless stakeholder connectivity.
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Facilitate project execution by maintaining momentum, organizing meetings, tracking actions and milestones, raising alerts, and escalating issues when necessary.
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Lead post-launch reviews, capturing key learnings and embedding best practices within the team.
What can you expect from Mars?
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At Mars, we believe in a relationship of mutual trust, dignity and respect between our company and Associates that is more meaningful than the standard employer/employee relationship.
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As Associates, we can expect to be respected, supported and valued as individuals, to be treated fairly and equitably.
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A unique and ideal work environment to become the leader in health through nutrition for cats and dogs!
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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.
Mars Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mars and has not been reviewed or approved by Mars.
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Healthcare Strength — The benefits package is positioned as comprehensive, with broad medical coverage and additional protections like life insurance and short- and long-term disability. Mental health support is emphasized, including free mental health services and wellbeing programming under initiatives such as Mars Be Well.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is highlighted as market-leading in the U.S., with an example of 18 weeks fully paid for both parents. Additional family-related leave types such as sick time for caregiving and bereavement leave are also described as part of the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are described as strong, including 401(k) matching (with a 6% match cited) and pension plans in some cases. The broader package also references retirement savings options and contributions aligned to local market practice, supporting long-term financial security.
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What We Do
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, MILKY WAY®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, SKITTLES®, WHISKAS®, COCOAVIA®, and 5™; and take care of half of the world’s pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, Pet Partners™, and VCA™. We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
