Job Description:Senior Director R&D SimulationThe Senior Director, R&D Simulation sets and leads the global R&D Simulation strategy, establishing simulation as a core, integrated capability across R&D, Supply and Commercial (Procurement). The role accelerates technical and business decisions, reduces reliance on physical trials, and shortens development and industrialization cycles by embedding simulation into how Mars designs products, processes and supply solutions.
This role is a global, cross-functional leadership role, operating at the intersection of R&D, Supply, Commercial and enterprise digital programs. The Senior Director role leads a small specialist team and extensive virtual networks across regions and factories, working closely with senior technical and operational leaders.
What are we looking for?- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Applied Mathematics, Modelling / Simulation or relevant field. Advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum 10 years experience leading medium-large teams in a corporate R&D environment.
- Extensive experience applying simulation or advanced modelling in R&D, manufacturing or industrial environments.
- Deep knowledge of R&D systems, business processes and scale-up workflows.
- Proven experience integrating technical capabilities across R&D, Supply and Operations.
- Strong experience supporting factory digitization or industrial transformation initiatives.
- Ability to translate highly technical analyses into senior decision support.
What would your key responsibilities be?Set Global Simulation Strategy & Portfolio- Define and lead the global R&D Simulation strategy and roadmap, aligned to R&D, Supply and Commercial priorities.
- Prioritise the simulation portfolio toward highest-value cross-functional opportunities, including formulation, materials, process design and manufacturing performance.
- Quantify and report value delivered (cycle-time reduction, trial avoidance, capital efficiency, decision quality).
Integrate Simulation Across R&D, Supply & Commercial - Partner with Supply and Operations to integrate simulation into factory digitization and manufacturing transformation programs.
- Enable simulation-led decision support for: Process scale-up and industrialization; Equipment, capability and throughput trade-offs; Performance and variability reduction
- Partner with Commercial (Procurement) to support materials, sourcing and cost-value trade-offs where simulation can reduce risk and uncertainty.
Embed Simulation into R&D Ways of Working - Partner with Business Process Owners to embed simulation into core R&D decision points and standards.
- Partner with Work Systems leadership to activate simulation through routines, capability maturity models and performance cadence.
- Move simulation from expert-led application to repeatable, scalable adoption.
Technical Governance & Credibility - Establish global governance for model quality and trust, including validation, documentation and reuse standards.
- Ensure outputs are decision-ready, repeatable and auditable where required.
Data, Analytics & Technology Integration - Partner with R&DQ Analytics to operationalize simulation outputs into workflows and decision products.
- Partner with Data Stewardship, Central Data and DT to ensure model inputs, environments and integrations are fit-for-purpose.
- Guide sustain vs industrialize decisions where broader scaling is justified.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 192,560.00 - USD 264,770.00
