Sr. Scientist Nutrition

mars; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Sr. Scientist Nutrition to join our Nutrition Discovery team, shaping the science behind our health and wellness brands. You will translate complex nutrition science into actionable opportunities and drive cross-functional collaboration to advance breakthrough concepts.

You will lead literature reviews and data analyses, building compelling scientific rationales to support strategic product directions. Travel up to 15% to engage external partners and collaborators.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in R&D with early-stage discovery and translational science experience in food, supplements, or pharma.
• Broad knowledge of human nutrition and physiology; excited by emerging science signals.
• Ability to connect emerging science to long-term business strategy and differentiate products.
• Influential communicator who can champion scientific visions to leadership across functions.
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of working across organizational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Translate scientific complexity into opportunities by literature reviews and data analysis.
• Collaborate with Strategy, Marketing, and R&D to build platforms and advocate new scientific concepts.
• Substantiate differentiated product concepts to feed the discovery pipeline.
• Monitor nutrition trends and competitive landscape; develop tools to synthesize research and inform strategy.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Science communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

MS or PhD in Nutrition Science/related life sciences

Job description

Job Description:

As the Sr. Scientist Nutrition, you will be responsible for identifying evidence-based opportunities that support our nutrition strategy. Our Nutrition Discovery team is committed to delivering breakthrough innovations, shaping the future of health & wellness for our brands. As a member of this cross-functional team, you will translate scientific complexity into differentiated opportunities. Your role is to look over the horizon, explore emerging frontiers of nutrition science, and identify the credible scientific basis that will give our products a decisive competitive advantage that is protected from regulatory and policy changes. You are an inspired scientific expert with a unique ability to translate complex, ambiguous data into clear, actionable opportunities in a fast-paced business environment.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• MS or Ph.D. (preferred) in Nutrition Science, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, a related life sciences field or equivalent
• 7-10 years of experience in a research and development environment, with a proven track record in early-stage discovery and translational science within the food, supplements or pharmaceutical industry.
• Broad knowledge of human nutrition and physiology. Passion for identifying signals in emerging science. Expertise across multiple health and wellness benefit areas (e.g., metabolic health, cognitive function, immunology, gut health) is highly desirable.
• Strategic analytical thinker. Able to connect emerging science to long-term business strategy, identifying opportunities that are protected and differentiated.
• Influential science communicator. Skilled at articulating a complex scientific vision and can effectively champion your recommendations to cross-functional partners and senior leadership in a variety of different settings.
• Intrinsically Collaborative. Recognition that every function is critical to project success. Proven track record of working across organizational boundaries to deliver goals and have successfully engaged external partners to unlock new possibilities
• Energized by collaboration between R&D and cross-functional teams to ensure a smooth translation of ideas into the innovation pipeline.
• Ability to travel up to 15%

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in discovering differentiated approaches in an ambiguous scientific landscape, synthesizing complex information, and building a compelling, data-driven case for new research directions or technology platforms.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership through influencing the direction of early-stage projects within a collaborative fast-paced environment.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Translate scientific complexity into opportunities , conducting literature reviews, analyzing preclinical, clinical, and observational data, and building scientific rationale to pursue new avenues of research. Leverage your expert network and build strategic relationships with researchers to operate on the leading-edge of functional benefits.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Strategy, Marketing, and R&D to build technology platforms, champion and advance new scientific concepts . Use your excellent communication skills to create influential narratives for internal and external stakeholders to gain alignment and support.
• Leverage your research expertise to substantiate differentiated product concepts to feed the discovery innovation pipeline.
• Establish and lead a systematic process for monitoring and interpreting nutrition trends and the competitive landscape to enable discovery of differentiated and protected products . This includes developing tools to synthesize emerging research, intelligence on wellness trends, product solutions and marketing, to inform strategic direction.

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.

Accelerator, a global Division of Mars Snacking, is on the front line of unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands to fuel what's next for Snacking. It's home to both emerging and enduring brands, including KIND, TRÜ FRÜ, NATURE'S BAKERY, RXBAR, EGGO, POP-TARTS and RICE KRISPIE TREATS. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a start-up, our Division has the ambition to accelerate the future of snacking by delivering products consumers love today, discovering category-shaping innovations for tomorrow and developing entrepreneurial teams whose impact will last for generations.

We're looking for passionate talent who dare to dream big, agile collaborators who talk straight and decide fast, and driven performers with a growth mindset. We're proudly part of