Job Information
Mars VP, R&D Solutions, MGS in Aimargues, France
The VP, MGS R&D Solutions is a critical leadership role responsible for the strategic orchestration and operational excellence of Mars’ global R&D Solutions portfolio, which includes the MGS Laboratory Network and the R&D Functional Expert (FE) Network.
This role ensures that laboratory data and R&D processes are accurate, reliable, and timely, providing essential support for business decision-making, consumer and brand protection, operational excellence, and competitive advantage. The role drives a multi-year transformation agenda to deliver a high-quality, digitally enabled, and future-ready R&D infrastructure for all Mars segments.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Transformation
- Lead the development, deployment, and evolution of the integrated MGS R&D Solutions strategy, encompassing laboratory services and the cross-segment FE Network to meet present and future business needs, while driving the required transformation agenda to maintain a robust, high-quality, and digitally advanced ecosystem across laboratories and the R&D FE network .
Quality leadership across MGS
- Lead and champion quality across MGS with a specific focus on establishing and continuously improving the Quality Management System (QMS) following the split from corporate quality. This role is accountable for designing and structuring the quality team, ensuring robust governance of quality across all service lines, and maintaining comprehensive coverage of quality standards.
Governance & Performance Management
Accountable for the governance and performance of the MGS Laboratory Network and R&D FE Network, ensuring alignment with global and regional SLAs on quality, timeliness, cost, and technical capability, and ensuring rigorous processes for tracking and reporting key performance metrics.
Lead the development and maintenance of corporate standards, audit programs, and process improvement initiatives for both laboratory and R&D digital functions.
Operational Excellence in R&D Solutions
Ensure seamless, reliable delivery of laboratory and R&D digital services, maintaining high customer satisfaction throughout transformation and daily operations.
Supervise the establishment and continuous improvement of a global center of expertise for laboratory and R&D digital solutions, fostering collaboration across segments and functions.
Drive daily operational excellence in the Laboratory and FE Network, exceeding customer service expectations and enabling business growth and compliance.
Digital Transformation & Program Leadership
Lead the global deployment and maintenance of R&D digital capabilities, including data analytics, traceability systems, specification management, recipe management, quality and risk management, and regulatory affairs platforms.
Lead Partnership with Digital Technologies and cross-functional teams to resolve system issues and implement new capabilities, enabling accelerated digital transformation.
Talent & Organizational Development
Accountable for talent development, succession planning, and building a strong pipeline in laboratory sciences, R&D digital expertise, and functional leadership roles.
Lead and inspire a global, multicultural, and cross-segment team, including direct and indirect reports across Laboratory and FE Networks (approximately 330 associates across 15+ locations).
Stakeholder & External Relations
Manage relationships with key internal stakeholders, including segment and regional R&D, Supply, Commercial and Corporate leadership, ensuring alignment and effective business partnership.
Build and nurture collaborative relationships with external research institutions, suppliers, and industry forums to ensure Mars’ future testing needs are met.
Financial & Risk Management
Oversee significant global budgets (OPEX, CAPEX, and project costs), ensuring effective allocation of resources to strategic initiatives and operational excellence.
Deliver risk mitigation impact in areas such as product recalls and brand reputation, safeguarding Mars Incorporated’s NSV and profitability.
The VP, MGS R&D Solutions operates as a senior leader within a complex, global matrix organization and is a member of the MGS leadership team, requiring a high level of strategic leadership and managing vision and purpose to inspire engagement and create alignment across a large and globally dispersed multicultural organization.
The role provides strategic direction for all laboratory and R&D digital operations, leading a global transformation program that may require significant investment in new facilities, digital infrastructure, organizational design, business process change, and talent development.
This role is accountable for integrating laboratory sciences and R&D digitalization, driving operational excellence, and fostering a culture of quality, food safety, and continuous improvement. It achieves results primarily through people, requiring a high degree of influence with and without formal authority. The incumbent will frequently interact with senior leaders across Mars business units and functions (RDLT, Segment & Regional TLTs, QLT), and external partners leaders.
Leading a global laboratory services network requires a thorough understanding of laboratory sciences, technologies and methods in the areas of chemistry, microbiology and physical combined with a good understanding of what it takes to lead and operate a laboratory services network and how to leverage the shared services enablers within MGS to deliver effective services to business units.
The role requires strong communication skills to influence the beliefs and opinions of a large cross section of associates across a large range of job levels within the laboratory network and FE network and within the segments and business units. Combined with the ability to build overtly collaborative relationships with all segments/BUs and functions.
The role also Lead and champion quality across MGS with a specific focus on establishing and continuously improving the Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with Mars QMS requirements
Expect approximately 30-40% global travel, including multi-week trips and occasional weekends away from home.
Education:
Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in a relevant science or technology discipline (Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Food Science, or related field).
Significant experience in R&D, laboratory services, and digital transformation, ideally across multiple business segments and functions.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in Q&FS, SQA, SRA or in R&DExperience in working on global environment with cross segment accountability.
Proven line management skills as leader of leaders
Proven ability to lead teams of associates and contractors with a mindset of developer of talent and engagement
Proven ability to lead and influence senior leaders and their teams across all segments, all regions and across multiple functions
Strong experience in Laboratory sciences (analytical chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, physical sciences) and in audit, compliance, and risk management (ISO17025, Q&FS corporate standards)
Strong experience and understanding of business processes & systems. Experience in manufacturing and or supply chain is desirable.
Change management, business process optimization, and external collaboration
Excellent communication skills (oral and written). proficient in English with multicultural experience
Creative, flexible and enjoys working in a complex, rapidly changing environment
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 company bonus.
Qualifications
Manages Complexity
Cultivates Innovation
Plans and Aligns
Strategic Mindset
Balances Stakeholders
Drives Vision and Purpose
Persuades
Collaborates
Optimizes Work Processes
Business Insight