Process Technology Manager - Wet Food Manufacturing - Relocation Assistance Available

Mars; South Dakota; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five Principles

Mars University

Company bonus

401K matching

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Regional Wet Technology Manager to lead regional WET technology and people across North America and support Rapid Growth Markets. You will translate global strategies into a regional roadmap, align cross-functional teams, and drive conformance to manufacturing standards while building regional capability.

The role requires a strong track record in food technology development, process scale-up, and leadership in diverse environments.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Set Regional WET Technology Direction and Governance: translate global/regional strategies into a prioritized technology roadmap for North America and Rapid Growth Markets; provide regional decision leadership for deployment balancing innovation, quality, supply, sustainability, cost and risk; establish governance and escalation; represent region in global forums to shape standards and investments.
• Lead and Develop Regional Capability: coach and develop a high-performing technical team; build regional WET depth through coaching, standards, training, and knowledge transfer; foster an inclusive culture encouraging technical challenge and continuous learning.
• Lead Cross-Functional Industrialization: provide R&D leadership for industrialization, portfolio transfer, business continuity, quality improvement, sustainability, and innovation; align functions on scope and readiness; own regional Industrial Risk Assessment and ensure mitigations.
• Own WET Product and Process Conformance: lead deployment, validation and lifecycle governance of regional WET product/process specifications; ensure conformance to Royal Canin WET standards; drive process capability and continuous improvement with Q&FS and Operations.
• Lead Complex Technical Problem Solving: act as senior escalation point for raw material/product/process issues; frame problems, assemble cross-functional teams, select methods, lead investigations using DMAIC/Lean Six Sigma; translate findings into standards.
• Lead Validation and Commissioning: serve as CVS lead for regional WET technology; define validation strategy and acceptance criteria; coordinate readiness for process/product validation and handover; partner with Global specialists.
• Shape Future WET Technology and Specifications: provide regional input during development/validation/deployment; influence test strategy and risk assessment; capture lessons to strengthen global standards.

Job description

Job Description:

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 experiences 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
• Working in a company with multicultural and international features
• Demonstrated industry experience as R&D engineer or Quality & Food Safety Engineer
• Green belt or Black belt for Lean 6-Sigma is a plus

What would be your key responsibilities?

Set Regional WET Technology Direction and Governance

• Own and translate global and regional R&D strategies into a prioritized, time-bound WET technology 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 and ensure regional needs, lessons learned, and risks shape global standards and investment decisions.

Lead and Develop Regional Capability

• 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.

Lead Cross-Functional Industrialization

• Provide R&D leadership for complex regional industrialization, portfolio transfer, business continuity, quality improvement, sustainability, and innovation initiatives.
• Align Manufacturing, Engineering, Q&FS, Innovation, Project teams, Regulatory, Planning, and site leadership on scope, risk, resources, decisions, and readiness.
• Own the regional Industrial Risk Assessment for implementation of new raw materials, products, processes, and technologies; ensure mitigations and decision points are explicit.
• Direct industrial trials and Standard Running Condition definition, ensuring robust plans, data-based conclusions, and clear recommendations.

Own WET Product and Process Conformance

• Lead deployment, validation, and lifecycle governance of regional WET product and process specifications.
• Ensure conformance to Royal Canin WET manufacturing standards; identify systemic gaps, authorize regional changes within governance, and escalation global standard issues.
• Drive process capability and continuous improvement with Q&FS and Operations, including reduction of non-quality cost and recurring technical losses.

Lead Complex Technical Problem Solving

• Act as the senior regional escalation point for complex raw material, product, and process issues.
• Frame technical problems, assemble cross-functional expert teams, select robust methods, and lead investigations using DMAIC and Lean Six Sigma principles.
• Convert findings into sustainable standards, specifications, capability building, and network-wide learning.

Lead Validation and Commissioning

• Serve as the regional R&D CVS lead for WET technology and define the validation strategy, protocols, resources, and acceptance criteria for new equipment and lines.
• Validate detailed design inputs that affect product and process performance, including raw material handling, line allocation, production sequence, and equipment parameters.
• Own regional R&D readiness for process and product validation, commissioning, ramp-up, portfolio implementation, and handover in line with project governance.
• Partner with the Global WET Technology Specialist on major or global projects while independently leading regional and lower-complexity implementations.

Shape Future WET Technology and Specifications

• Provide regional input during development, scale‑up, validation, and deployment phases of QES and TRL projects.
• Influence test strategy, trial allocation, final risk assessment, and final R&D specifications using regional operating knowledge and industrial data.
• 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, 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 and 401K matching program.

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