Job Summary

A critical enabler to the future success of the Mars Pet Nutrition business is to transform the way we innovate. We have built a new organization to create adjacent and disruptive innovations, which shift the portfolio into critical “must win” category spaces – servicing unmet pet and pet parent needs, delivering value through our interconnected ecosystem of pet and pet parent solutions and identifying and launching products into emerging category trends and white spaces.
The Senior Innovation Manager will lead the development and commercialization of innovative product formats in the pet nutrition sector. This role requires a visionary leader who understands market trends, consumer preferences, and the evolving landscape of pet nutrition. The ideal candidate will drive innovative projects from concept through to market launch, ensuring that Mars remains at the forefront of the pet nutrition industry.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Innovation, Marketing, or a related field; MBA or Master’s degree strongly preferred.
  
• Proven experience (8+ years) in marketing innovation management, portfolio management, or strategic leadership roles
  Experience with Lean Startup and/or Agile Innovation methodologies.
  
• Proven track record of successfully launching new products and driving innovation projects from concept to market.
  International experience working in teams across geographies and cross functions, with the ability to influence and engage diverse stakeholders
  
• A proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, willing to take calculated risks and ability for problem solving
  

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Responsible for the development of ‘Nourish’ Innovation projects in full and on time to enable delivery of Mars Pet Nutrition’s plan growth objectives (share gaining growth).
• Lead the ideation and development of new pet nutrition value propositions by collaborating with cross-functional teams, including R&D and internal and external manufacturing. These cross functional team is mainly based in Thailand, therefore the Senior Innovation Manager needs to be located in this market to co-develop agile prototyping.
• Delivers long-term innovation sufficiency (financials and KPIs) for specific innovation territories
• Conduct comprehensive market analysis to uncover trends and opportunities.
• Utilize consumer and pet owner insights to guide and refine product development strategies, ensuring alignment with market demands located in a wide variety of geographies.
• Identify gaps in the market and opportunities for new product development that align with consumer needs and preferences.
• Prepares materials and participates in governance forums as required in key geographies (online connections with flexibility on time zones and occasionally business trips)
• Collaborates with global brand teams and key regional teams to ensure flawless execution of innovations in applicable markets.
• Embodies the principles of “agile,” champions progress before perfection, leads and inspires dynamic resourcing recommendations over the lifecycle of assigned projects.
• Partners with regional and global insights teams to track and measure performance to continuously review and evolve innovation project plans.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 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 company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.