D&a Technical Lead

Mars Pet Nutrition is embarking on an unprecedented Digital Transformation agenda, Digital First, that will touch every function and operating entity across our business. The Smart Factories digital transformation makes up a significant piece of the Digital First scope, with its focus on creating a true Industry 4.0 manufacturing capability in service of our mission to make A Better World for Pets. Smart Factories encompasses digital products spanning Manufacturing Control Tower, Self-Optimizing Plants, Robotics & Automation, and Connected Associates. This program will not only create and implement critical new digital products, but also drive the accelerated digitalization of our talent. 

As the D&A Technical Lead for Smart Factories (Global), you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the Data Strategy for Smart Factory within Pet Nutrition Division. You will collaborate with cross-functional and cross-regional teams to develop, implement, and optimize Smart Factories strategies that align with the Pet Nutrition’s transformational goals and objectives. Your expertise in manufacturing, innovation and leadership will drive our technological capabilities to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. 

This position is project-based with an expected end date of December 31, 2026. As we approach this date, we will collaborate with you to explore other employment opportunities within the Mars family of companies. If a suitable alternative role is not available at that time, your employment will conclude.

What are we looking for?

• 10+ years’ experience working in this space, with particular focus on working with Manufacturing, CPG data

• At least 5 years’ experience in a senior data/architecture/leadership role with demonstrable thought leadership abilities

• Experience in Architecture as a code approach. 

• Experience in modern data stack technologies such as: 

• Azure Stack \ Data Bricks \ Python (inc. Django framework) 

• Manufacturing data platform tools like Thingworx, Litmus is a plus 

• Experience in data pipeline architecture. 

• Knowledge of containerisation/microservices (Kubernetes/docker). 

• Knowledge of API architecture REST, Webhooks, SOAP. 

• Experience working in a multi-business unit or multi-client environment that emphasizes collaboration, efficiency and team-work. 

• Proven technical experience in the four key pillars of a complete data solutions offering: analytics & reporting, governance & security, architecture & technology & marketing & activation. 

• Experience engaging and inspiring the most senior leaders through the data solutions journey. 

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Determine, implement and ensure adherence to global architectural and data standards and principles for Pet Nutrition Data & Analytics products across all regional markets, in conjunction with the Petcare Data Product leaders and Infrastructure teams. 

• Create data strategy for Manufacturing function which to be scaled to all regions. Drive design initiative to standardize, tag and enrich factory data sets, design data models for Smart factory to deliver large solutions, projects and programs; through manufacturing expertise and knowledge translate high-level business requirements into smaller practical deliverables and oversee quality of delivery via data models, seeing the whole picture and how the components combine and interact. 

• Direct large specialist teams to undertake the delivery of a comprehensive data-centric project and ensure governance, quality stds are followed. 

• Manage senior business stakeholders to secure strong engagement for the data foundation, gather data requirements and ensure that the delivery of the architecture aligns to longer-term strategic roadmaps. 

• Develop and manage prioritized backlog across architecture and data models. 

• Work as part of the program management team on large programs, governing and shaping the delivery of architecture and data; work closely with external suppliers to ensure proposed solution makes best use of tools, technology. 

• Keep an e2e view of all use cases being delivered across all regions and globally.  

• Understand Smart Factory function, its complex environment, data sources, operating model and develop accordingly develop Manufacturing data strategy. 

• Simplify the existing data architecture, delivering reusable services and cost saving opportunities in line with the policies and standards of the group. 

• Lead collaborative team working with other areas within the wider Data & Analytics function to ensure that all solutions are complete, operable, conform to business processes and meet the business needs with the agreed quality of service. 

• Be responsible throughout entire project lifecycles for the end-to-end solution architecture of the project and compliance with enterprise data model and logical data groups. 

• Provide clear, continuous, and consistent data architecture leadership at a detailed level within the solution. 

• Provide mentoring and coaching for engineers and technical leads. 

• Ensure the end-to-end solution is fit for purpose, meets the needs of business, the IT strategies and governance principles/frameworks are both pragmatic and supportive of the strategic architecture direction. 

• Lead and participate in the peer review and quality assurance of project architectural artifacts across the Data & Analytics function through architectural and design forums; report key architecture decisions and implications to the wider Data & Analytics Function. 

• Participate from time to time in the supplier selection process, evaluating usefulness and cost of products and making appropriate recommendations. 

• Drive project knowledge back to the enterprise data model and ensure that it evolves correctly. 

• Lead the design, development, implementation and maintenance of complex data systems and solutions. 

• Develop conceptual, logical and physical data models to support data science, data analysis and business intelligence. 

• Create and maintain current and target-state data architectures. 

• Ensure an architecture that drives improvements in data quality. 

• Oversee end-to-end data life cycle management activities. 

• Work with IT teams, product managers and data analytics teams to understand data needs to develop Smart Factory data landscape. 

• Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies for data management, storage and analytics. 

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.

#TBDDT