Job Description:Job DescriptionThe
SQA Fit for Purpose Material Specifications Lead (2-year assignment) is a critical role responsible for SQA inputs to R&D in defining, aligning, and accelerating global material risk assessment (MRA) and specification processes across all Pet Nutrition. The Lead drives the digital and analytical evolution of material qualification by translating process and quality data into optimized, objective risk profiles. By bridging the gaps between supplier-signed capabilities, legacy specifications, and optimal manufacturing runnability, this role directly influences supply chain resilience, innovation speed, and product compliance on a global scale.
The role requires extensive stakeholder management, working seamlessly at a global level across multiple Pet Nutrition business units, regional manufacturing sites, global R&D networks, IT/Digital partners, and third-party supplier bases. Successful execution will directly impact effective use of resources and accelerate the safe launch of high-quality products.
What would be your key responsibilities?MRA Risk Optimization & Data-Driven Risk Allocation- Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with global R&D and Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) teams to align risk-tiering definitions with operational reality and changing raw material risk categories.
- Data-Driven Allocation: Lead SQA's contributions to the global risk optimization workstream, utilizing quality data, historical testing metrics, and supplier performance history to establish objective, scientific risk allocations in Material Risk Assessments (MRAs).
Global Pet Nutrition MRA Governance & SQA Critical Steps- Procedure Design & Ownership: Lead SQA's technical contribution to the global Pet Nutrition (PN) MRA procedure, establishing clear, standardized governance for the end-to-end risk review process.
- Critical Step Standardisation: Define, document, and standardize risk-mitigation protocols and verification activities for all identified SQA critical steps in the onboarding and qualification cycles.
Fit-for-Purpose Specification & Runnability Optimization- Specification Gap Analysis: Lead the comprehensive definition and mapping of "fit-for-purpose" specifications, systematically identifying and analyzing discrepancies between supplier-signed specifications, currently approved specs, and optimal targets.
- Runnability & Factory Alignment: Collaborate with R&D to establish specifications that take into consideration inbound testing data on compliance and non-conformance driving product performance.
Digital Tool Orchestration & Performance Governance- Process Automation: Identify workflows within the MRA and specification lifecycle that are high-potential targets for automated tracking, routing, and approvals.
- KPI & Dashboard Alignment: Validate standardized metrics and support the creation of user-friendly performance dashboards to track process cycle times and raw material compliance at the source.
What are we looking for?- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Quality Management, Food Safety, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline is benefitial.
- Consistent experience in technical function, ideally across SQA/R&D/Q&FS.
- Experience implementing projects with senior x-functional stakeholders.
- Preferred: Certifications in Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), Business Process Management (BPM), Agile Project Management, or Change Management.
- Substantial experience in Quality Systems, SQA, Manufacturing Quality, or Supply Chain Operations within the FMCG, food, or pharmaceutical industries.
- Process Mapping Mastery: Proven experience leading end-to-end business process mapping and design (e.g., Value Stream Mapping) to drive efficiency and lean operations.
- Digital Strategy & Collaboration: Experience collaborating directly with Digital/IT functions to co-create long-term roadmaps, deploy enterprise-level digital tools, or drive large-scale digital transformations.
- Systems & Database Expertise: Deep understanding of enterprise quality, MRA and specification management software.
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.
- 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 a company bonus.
