Associate Director, Sustainability Data and Digital Systems

Job Description:

Job Purpose / Overview:

This role is the strategic architect and lead executor of the Mars Snacking sustainability digital strategy. This is a mission-critical role in the team because of the high reliance of sustainability teams on data and systems:

Sustainability teams rely on data and systems to plan, execute and defend our work. Regulatory scrutiny on sustainability continues to increase, requiring more robust systems, processes and data controls. To identify new impact opportunities, we need expanded connectivity and granularity of data feeding our sustainability calculations. And to drive more sustainable change within the business, we need to increasingly connect sustainability impacts and information end to end, from Soil to Snack. Our digital strategy will create a path by which all functions can contribute to Mars' sustainability plans, while also unlocking brand and customer connections to foster growth.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute Digital Sustainability Strategy:

• Build a multi-year digital strategy which serves Mars Snacking sustainability's strategic priorities, new global/regional operating model, and embedding of sustainability into the business
• Partner cross-functionally to identify interdependencies and opportunity areas where sustainability data & systems can support other teams and vice versa (e.g., Resilience)
• Secure and direct digital funding in partnership with Snacking Digital Technologies and Data & Analytics teams, and Corporate Sustainability/ MGS' Sustainability Mission Control program (SMC)
• Implement the digital strategy and manage Snacking Sustainability systems and analytics needs across all sustainability impact areas and teams, ensuring balanced prioritization.

2. Own Sustainability Digital Program & Process Design: 

• Act as the Snacking Sustainability GXO (Global Experience Owner), defining business processes and ways of working related to digital tools and accounting processes.
• Represent Snacking in relevant foundational digital programs (Digital Core, PLM, SMC) and holistic "Operating System" design work.
• Define Snacking digital product owners, and ensure representation and alignment of relevant Sustainability SMEs from Snacking in digital workstreams and forums.
• Define capability building and training needs, and execute in partnership with the team
• Partner with the Integration and Transformation lead to ensure fit-for-purpose design serving the new operating model (e.g. clear digital expectations for regions, global teams and cross functional partners)
• Document processes related to digital tools and partner with the team to build capabilities and training

3. Sustainability accounting & results process management:

• Support your direct team in on-time delivery of manual data feeding into Mars Inc. year-end sustainability accounting processes.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement in sustainability reporting processes, increasing digitization and driving data accountability with the right functions.   
• Partner with regional leads and transformation lead to define data & performance flows between region/ division & center team, and vice versa.
• Work with Mars Snacking & Mars Inc Sustainability Controllership to define appropriate data controls and ways of working to serve those control needs. Seek to automate these controls over time
• Define & communicate clear processes and data expectations for project level substantiation for external communication

Context & Scope

As the digital sustainability leader and process owner for Mars Snacking, this role will partner closely with:

• The Snacking Sustainability team (including center & regional teams) : Defining and prioritizing the needs of the digital strategy across pillars, defining key internal SME partnerships & ways of working.
• Cross-functional Snacking digital leads and GXOs: Aligning the digital sustainability strategy and defining cross functional sustainability integration points. Partnering to determine cross-functional digital support needs (e.g., w/Commercial COE)
• Mars Snacking Digital Technologies: defining Snacking specific digital needs and execution plans, securing funding.
• Mars Inc. Sustainability Mission Control program (SMC): Represent Snacking perspective in this forum. Look for cross-segment shared value opportunities (e.g., traceability)

Direct reports: This role also has two direct reports who play critical roles in our accounting and reporting processes. This role must prioritize supporting their work at critical points in the year (e.g., YE accounting) and look for continuous improvements in their processes.

Education & Professional Qualifications:

Degree in Data Science, Data Analytics, project management, and/or sustainability related topics. Other degrees considered with relevant experience.

Knowledge & Experience

- Preferred: 7+ years’ recent experience working in sustainability accounting and data in a matrixed CPG company.

- Or, minimum 5 years’ experience working in a quantitative data analysis field plus 3 years’ experience working in or with sustainability accounting or controls functions

- Demonstrated understanding of supply chain and demand functions

- Demonstrated understanding of sustainability accounting concepts

- Strong experience with data processing and data tools (e.g. Excel, PowerBI, etc.)

- Outstanding attention to details and rigor

- Creativity and problem-solving desired
 

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.
A strong focus on 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.

#LI-JH1

#LI-Hybrid

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.