Associate Director Ingredient Science - Flavors, Mint, Potato, Grains

Mars•Chicago, IL

3d•$153,600 - $211,200

About The Position

The Associate Director for Flavors, Mint, Seasonings, Grains, Potato, and Rice will lead a global, high-performing team with multi-cultural awareness and manage a portfolio of research programs within Science & Technology for the Mars Snacking business. In this strategic technical leadership role, you will advance science across these category programs to deliver breakthrough innovation, long-term supply resilience, and value leadership. You will shape the mid- and long-term technology development strategy in collaboration with internal and external partners, leveraging Mars business processes to deliver prioritized, relevant, and innovative solutions to key technical challenges across the segment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food chemistry, Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Crop Science, or related discipline; Ph.D. or Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum 10 years of progressive R&D leadership experience in food science, flavor chemistry, analytical science, crop science, or related CPG environments.
Proven track record of developing senior scientific talent, building inclusive team cultures, and driving accountability against clear technical and business milestones.
Demonstrated success in converting scientific research into commercialized, deployable ingredients and resilient supply chain solutions.
Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills, with experience navigating complex, multi-stakeholder global matrices.
Ability to travel globally up to 20%.

Responsibilities

Define and lead the 3–5+ year technology vision and research agenda across flavors, seasonings, mint, grains, rice, and potatoes in close partnership with Commercial Sourcing, and Innovation teams.
Translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into scalable, deployable technologies that unlock brand growth and enhance consumer experiences.
Lead technical initiatives in partnership with Commercial that de-risk ingredient supply chains, improve supply resiliency, and deliver cost and sustainability advantages.
Lead global flavor governance to simplify development, accelerate approvals, and secure patentable opportunities and intellectual property.
Lead, develop, and inspire a diverse team of scientists and technical experts; role-model inclusive leadership and line management excellence.
Ensure all programs adhere to the Mars Science Operating System (MSOS), maintaining top-tier research rigor, quality standards, and safety/QMP compliance.
Partner effectively with cross-functional teams—including R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply, Commercial, Regulatory, and external partners—to align technical pipelines with business priorities.
Build strategic, generational external ecosystems, collaborating with key suppliers, academic institutions, and research consortia to accelerate innovation.