Director, Consumer Technical Insights

About the role

The Consumer Technical Insight team translates pet and pet parent research and insights into competitive product experience design for Mars Pet Nutrition North America (PNNA). This role leads a team of associates and drives competitiveness of the portfolio by developing competitive innovation and product design strategy rooted in market, consumer, pets, trends, and competitor insights. The position will build out a scalable model for technical competitive intelligence and ensure that the overall R&D innovation, renovation, and value leadership program is shaped and delivered with pet and pet parent insight at its heart. This role leverages best-in-class consumer and sensory research approaches, data analytics tools, and rigorous logic to translate insights into clear recommendations for the business.

This leader will be part of the North America R&D leadership team and Global CTI community, focusing on building future capabilities and championing pet and pet parent centricity.

Responsibilities

• Champion the pet and pet parent voice as part of the NA R&D Leadership Team (RDLT), ensuring R&D strategy and plans integrate pet and pet parent needs.
• Develop a competitive product design and innovation strategy rooted in market, competitor, and consumer insights.
• Lead product experience insight generation and translation into new opportunities across multiple brands, technologies, and markets.
• Leverage product experience insights and performance understanding to protect the core product range.
• Develop internal and external networks to access cutting-edge tools and methodologies in sensory and consumer insights.
• Provide expertise in applying current and innovative sensory and consumer science methodologies, contributing to PN CTI standards and best practices.
• Define proposition-specific job stories and translate them into tangible differentiators for product experience as input to product and pack briefs for R&D.
• Lead sensory and consumer research programs, including consulting with stakeholders, developing learning plans, and delivering recommendations.
• Create collaborative relationships with Regional & Global CMI and Global CTI groups to advance functional excellence and business impact.
• Lead, develop, and engage the team of Consumer Technical Insights associates, building a strong talent pipeline in CTI.
• Embrace and live the Mars culture by leading with The Five Principles.

Requirements

• Minimum of a BS degree in a STEM field (Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, etc.); advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in R&D; CPG/Food Industry experience preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in qualitative and quantitative product and consumer research methodologies and techniques.
• Demonstrated understanding of applying product and consumer research methods, data analysis, and insight synthesis leading to measurable product performance improvements.
• Strong team orientation and ability to work collaboratively across regions and with cross-functional partners.
• Expertise in translating key learnings and insights into actionable plans and strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of the pet food/food industry, consumer trends, scientific innovations, data analytics, and its relation to sensory and consumer science.
• Relevant sensory and consumer science software and statistical skills.

Benefits

• Work with diverse and talented associates guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose-driven company striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Strong focus on learning and development, including access to Mars University.
• Industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Schedule

Less than 20% domestic travel.