Localisation: Aimargues (30 minutes from Montpellier)

Type of contract: temporary contract

To support Royal Canin to become a Health through Nutrition Company, R&D team has an ambition: Step change the longevity and quality of life of cats and dogs ​by offering personalized, proactive, predictive and participatory health through nutrition solutions.

Centralized R&D is an important element of Royal Canin R&D and global innovation process. This operating model relies on best in class facilities located at Aimargues campus (France) and at Lewisburg (Ohio, US).  Facilities team provides product prototyping and animal testing capabilities to all RC R&D teams.

R&D technical center is a critical element of R&D Facilities supporting the innovation process, product development and deployment activities globally, delivering product prototypes and data for all products and solutions being developed by Royal Canin R&D.

The current technical center based in Aimargues was built 20 years ago. Its capacity, design, equipment, layout and capabilities need to evolve to match with future business needs and Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards. As a consequence, we will build a new technical Center in Aimargues that will enable future  innovation for RC  and compliance to all relevant Mars Standards.

The New Technical Center Project Manager is a 2 year project role which will support the strategic capability construction and will be directly accountable for:

• Defining scope and functional specification of the technical center, its building, layout, equipment and other relevant capabilities
• Leading the equipment identification and purchasing
• Overseeing the building and construction
• Defining and managing the process for commissioning and technical start-up
• Coaching the technical center team to ensure successful operational implementation

What are we looking for?

• Degree in Food Science or Engineering
• Fluent in English
• Minimum 5 years’ experience
• Experience in running pet food operations
• Experience in managing capital projects
• Comfortable with cross-functional partners internally and externally
• Experience in R&D would be a plus

What will be your key responsibilities?

Lead New Technical Center design and implementation

• Define the project scope and develop all technical specifications working directly with all customers from R&D, Supply, Commercial, Corporate Affairs and other relevant functions consolidating, prioritizing and aligning their requirements and needs (incl. layout design, utilities requirements, equipment, safety, sustainability, regulation, etc)
• Accountable to provide support and consultancy to Supply/Engineering regarding site masterplan, layout, project cost evaluation, MPAR submission and approval, building execution and check-out and equipment procurement and installation
• Accountable to manage external relationship to get project approval and potential grant from French authorities
• Ensure excellence in execution in terms of performance, compliance and timeline

Lead New Technical Center commissioning and start up

• Own process and results for New Technical Center commissioning and operations start-up
• Provide support to Technical Center manager and the team to deploy the process and tools to build and implement start-up plan

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.

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