Wet Technology Specialist

The Regional Wet Technology Manager provides regional technical and people leadership for WET technology across North America and virtual support to Rapid Growth Markets. The role connects global technology leadership with local execution, owns the regional deployment and conformance of WET product and process specifications, and builds sustainable regional capability. It works through influence across functions and sites, sets technical direction and priorities, and leads decisions where product, process, quality, engineering, innovation, and operational requirements intersect.

What are we looking for?

• B.S. in Science, Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Food) or related technology program; M.S. degree preferred
• 5+ years of relevant experience in food technology development, process & product scale‑up and/or implementation
• 2+ years of experience as a people leader developing and engaging a successful team
• Demonstrated factory experience
• Experience working in a multicultural and international company
• Industry experience as an R&D engineer or Quality & Food Safety Engineer
• Green Belt or Black Belt for Lean Six Sigma is a plus

Key Responsibilities

• Set regional WET technology direction and governance; translate global and regional R&D strategies into a prioritized, time‑bound roadmap for North America and Rapid Growth Markets.
• Provide regional decision leadership for WET technology deployment, balancing innovation, quality, supply continuity, sustainability, cost, and operational risk.
• Establish governance, priorities, performance indicators, and escalation pathways; proactively resolve gaps that threaten delivery or specification conformance.
• Represent the region in global WET technology forums, ensuring regional needs, lessons learned, and risks shape global standards and investment decisions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing technical team; set clear accountabilities and build succession and capability plans.
• Build WET technical depth across regional and site PPI communities through coaching, standards, training, and structured knowledge transfer.
• Create an inclusive, accountable culture that encourages sound technical challenge, disciplined experimentation, and continuous learning.
• Provide R&D leadership for complex regional industrialization, portfolio transfer, business continuity, quality improvement, sustainability, and innovation initiatives; align cross‑functional teams on scope, risk, resources, decisions, and readiness.
• Own the regional industrial risk assessment for new raw materials, products, processes, and technologies; ensure mitigations and decision points are explicit.
• Direct industrial trials and define Standard Running Conditions, ensuring robust plans, data‑based conclusions, and clear recommendations.
• Lead deployment, validation, and lifecycle governance of regional WET product and process specifications; ensure conformance to Royal Canin WET manufacturing standards and manage systemic gaps.
• Drive process capability and continuous improvement with Q&FS and Operations, reducing non‑quality cost and recurring technical losses.
• Act as senior regional escalation point for complex raw material, product, and process issues; lead investigations using DMAIC and Lean Six Sigma principles and convert findings into sustainable standards.
• Serve as regional R&D CVS lead for WET technology; define validation strategy, protocols, resources, and acceptance criteria for new equipment and lines.
• Validate detailed design inputs affecting product and process performance; own regional R&D readiness for validation, commissioning, ramp‑up, portfolio implementation, and handover.
• Partner with the Global WET Technology Specialist on major projects while independently leading regional and lower‑complexity implementations.
• Provide regional input during development, scale‑up, validation, and deployment phases of QES and TRL projects; influence test strategy, trial allocation, risk assessment, and final R&D specifications.
• Capture and share validation and start‑up lessons to strengthen global standards and future project execution.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose‑driven company focused on building the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best‑in‑class learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University.
• Industry‑competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus and 401(k) matching program.