Senior Director, Flavors & Ingredient Innovation

Mars Incorporated in; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 154,000 - 211,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated seeks an Associate Director of Ingredient Science for Flavors, Mint, Grains, and Potato to lead a global, high-performing team within Science & Technology for the Snacking business. This strategic role shapes long-term technology strategy, translating research into scalable, innovative ingredient solutions and resilient supply chains.

The role emphasizes executive communication, stakeholder management, and collaboration with internal and external partners, with travel up to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; PhD or Master's preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive R&D leadership experience in food science or related CPG environments.
• Proven track record of developing senior scientific talent and driving milestones.
• Experience translating research into commercialized ingredients and supply solutions.
• Strong executive communication skills in global matrices.
• Willingness to travel 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 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.
• Cultivate High-Performing Teams: 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.

Skills

Leadership

R&D Leadership

Stakeholder management

Global collaboration

Travel up to 20%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/related

Advanced degree (PhD/MS) preferred

Job description

Mars, Incorporated seeks an Associate Director of Ingredient Science for Flavors, Mint, Grains, and Potato to lead a global, high-performing team within Science & Technology for the Snacking business. This strategic role shapes long-term technology strategy, translating research into scalable, innovative ingredient solutions and resilient supply chains.

The role emphasizes executive communication, stakeholder management, and collaboration with internal and external partners, with travel up to