Mars Inc

Senior Manager R&D - Nature's Bakery

Mars Inc$119K — $163K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Nutrition, or a related technical discipline.
  • 10-12+ years of experience in product development and complex project leadership.
  • Proven people leadership experience with a focus on team development.
  • Deep expertise in product innovation, formulation, and quality systems.
  • Strong skills in technical strategy, data analysis, and risk assessment.

Responsibilities

  • Set team priorities and manage product development activities for the R&D team.
  • Plan and execute technical work for product innovation and commercialization.
  • Make recommendations based on data analysis and risk assessment to resolve complex issues.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on project objectives and compliance requirements.
  • Document all aspects of projects in line with governance requirements.
  • Lead investigations, influence technical strategy, and optimize team performance.

Benefits

  • Access to Mars University for learning and development.
  • Work within a diverse and purpose-driven company culture.
  • Participation in a company bonus program.
  • Comprehensive medical and dental benefits.
  • 401k participation and paid time off available.
Full Job Description
Job Description:
What You'll Do

As the Senior Manager R&D for Nature's Bakery, you will lead product development activities while providing advanced technical leadership for product innovation, solving complex problems, and building functional capability across the portfolio. You will serve as the technical leader for a team of three direct reports, guiding their professional development and managing resource allocation, while remaining actively engaged on the benchtop leading and developing high-impact innovation and renovation projects. This role operates with high autonomy and is accountable for technical delivery, prioritization, risk management, and associate development.

What will be your key responsibilities?
  • Set team priorities, direct product development activities, allocate work, manage delivery trade-offs, and coach up to three direct reports.
  • Plan and execute technical work to deliver product innovation, formulation, prototyping, product quality, scale-up, and commercialization readiness against project objectives, timelines, quality, safety, and compliance expectations.
  • Use data, experimentation, risk assessment, and technical judgment to make recommendations and resolve complex issues.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams including R&D, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, commercial, regulatory, and external partners.
  • Document assumptions, specifications, methods, decisions, learnings, and handoffs in accordance with governance requirements.
  • Lead complex investigations, establish best practices, influence technical strategy, develop talent, and ensure effective team performance.


What are we looking for?
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Nutrition, or a related technical discipline.
  • 10-12+ years of experience with recognized product-development expertise, complex project leadership, and demonstrated people leadership.
  • Deep expertise in product innovation, formulation, ingredient functionality, prototyping, product testing, scale-up, quality systems, and commercialization readiness.
  • Strong capability in technical strategy, experiment planning, data analysis, risk assessment, and technical documentation.
  • Proven ability to lead complex programs, direct team execution, develop standards or best practices, and make risk-based technical recommendations.
  • Flexibility to travel to laboratories, pilot plants, manufacturing sites, suppliers, or consumer/market learning locations as needed.


What You Can 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 from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
  • An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.


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 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00

About Mars Inc

Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products. It was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Mars operates in six business segments: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. Some of its most popular brands include M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, and Pedigree. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability and has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 67% by 2050.
Learn more about Mars Inc
Size
125,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1911

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Mars Inc

More Food & Beverages Jobs

Find similar Senior Manager R&D - Nature's Bakery jobs: