Job Description:
Product Development Scientist
Location: Slough, UK, hybrid type (50% min on-site)
Salary: £43,500 - £54,000, annual bonus, benefits
Contract: Permanent Associate
As Product Development Scientist at Mars, you will support Innovation and NPD product launches, value leadership and recipe adjustments required to keep us abreast of regulatory changes. We're looking for someone with strong drive and problem solving skills to progress projects and strong personal development skills and agility to learn from experience.
What are we looking for?
Bachelor of Science in a technical area including engineering, chemistry, food science is required
Proven Project management skills typically acquired through 3+ years of professional experience in leading development projects as the key technical member on a cross-functional team.
Experience of translating ideas and concepts with marketing, influencing stakeholders on direction and execution with suppliers and factories.
Proven track record of management of complex projects through execution, preferably with cross functional teams
Development and growth mindset, agility in learning, self-development, communication and problem solving.
What will be your key responsibilities?
Responsible for leading product development activities and is accountable for the execution of the allocated programs and work streams to bring project through to commercialization
Ensures that the product development delivers for the brands and that they are designed to meet the brand key quality attributes.
Develops products through kitchen and pilot plant stage.
Develops products in line with timelines to ensure successful market launches.
Ensures that the product specifications are accurate to ensure correct costing and inputs into recipe systems.
Ensures that Product quality standards for each new and current product to ensure performance at the required level for our products.
Works within cross-functional teams to ensure that desirability, feasibility and viability are evaluated for all projects as part of the development process.
Works closely with R&D Factory Innovation peers to ensure products developed can be scaled effectively within existing internal manufacturing technology capabilities.
Collaborates with regional R&D peers to ensure the effective technical delivery of the project
Remains abreast of new developments in food technologies, packaging, design, category trends and related fields
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 a company bonus.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site: https://careers.mars.com/global/en
Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science in engineering, chemistry, food science, or related technical area
- 3+ years leading development projects as key technical member on cross-functional teams
- Proven project management skills and track record managing complex projects through execution
- Experience translating ideas and concepts with marketing and influencing stakeholders, suppliers and factories
- Development and growth mindset, agility in learning, strong communication and problem-solving skills
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.
Mars Insights
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.
