Job Description:
P&O Business Partner
Fort Smith, AR
On-site
The P&O /HR Business Partner for Pet Nutrition North American factories work with the Factory and Technical Directors & and their Leadership Teams supporting local people strategy creation and execution, leading change initiatives as well as leading the talent agenda and engagement at a strategic level. The BP ensures day-to-day operational work is completed via MyP&O and two-way communication with COEs.
The BP has the ownership to co-design and co-implement the Mars Associate Experience as guardian of the MARS Five Principles, signature processes and governance procedures.
What are we looking for?
- Associates degree human resources or related field with related expereince, Bachelor’s degree preferred
- 3+ years of progressive P&O/HR experience
- Previous experience of being in a manufacturing setting preferred
- Solid knowledge of US labor regulations and understanding their application in solving business needs and ability to provide guidance
- Strong stakeholder management skills
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills, using a comprehensive approach with strong attention to detail
- Able to solve challenges with a data mindset; utilizes to influence and drive outcomes
- Strong communication and consulting skills and ability to influence decisions
- Ability to effectively manage and work within ambiguity and prioritize business needs and resources
- Willingness to travel up to 30%-35% annually
What would be your key responsibilities?
- Business Leadership: Partner with Operations business leaders to achieve goals aligned with a people agenda, provide thought leadership to the business and ensure
- Associate advocacy. The expectation will be to effectively partner with multiple site Leadership Teams and will require highly functional ways of working.
- Talent & Organizational Health: Drive a talent pipeline and strategy that supports growth and Associate development/engagement, keep a “pulse” of the business and develop appropriate OD interventions that strengthen the health of the organization and enable a high-performing culture. Coach LMs through the wow’s, enabling them to develop Associates and improve engagement and team wellbeing living up to the expectation of a Mars’ Great Line Manager.
- Unit Effectiveness: manage or deliver unit-specific projects to drive change and transformation, embed the adoption of Mars signature people programs and Essence of Mars and communicate emerging needs to CoEs.
- Enabling Operations: Guide, support and position the MyP&O team and LMs to most effectively and efficiently support Associates. Work to ensure efficiency and effectiveness with the Talent Acquisition and Associate Relations teams. Problem solves escalations throughout P&O model to drive resolution.
- Partner with the P&O Head and the P&O team to establish and achieve short and long-term goals to drive business success, ensure the people agenda lives and is acted upon within the unit, and emphasize Associate advocacy.
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with over 130,000 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.
- 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.
Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.
#LI-Hybrid#LI-MS1
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Mars Insights
Similar Jobs
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.
