The purpose of this role in the Healthy Pet Research Team is to drive the research program on Start of Life (SoL) and to identify solutions (diets or functional complements, services…) for healthy and potentially sick pets. As part of this team, the Early Life & Growth Research Senior Scientist will:

• Deliver innovative solutions implementable in Royal Canin product & service portfolio, for the reproduction, neonatal and growth periods of life, with a focus on microbiome, immunity & omics.
• Contribute to the scientific image of Royal Canin in the field of SoL
• Provide advice, recommendations, and scientific vision within the area of expertise

 
What are we looking for?

• Doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM or equivalent) or PhD where the person has developed an area of expertise in line with reproduction, paediatrics, nutrition, veterinary science, animal science and/or animal physiology.
• Post Doc or initial experience of 3+ years of Research & Development in a corporate environment is a plus.
• Experience in delivering products to market is a plus
• English is fluent.
  

What will be your key responsibilities?

Deliver Solutions implementable in Royal Canin Business

• Stay updated of the state of the art in the area of expertise.
• Create the research roadmap in their areas of expertise according to capabilities, science trends, epidemiology (including resource requested) and state of the art. This roadmap must deliver the solutions, knowledge, and tools to support product story and claims.
• Evaluate the critical success factors for transfer (new ingredients, technologies…).
• Execute this roadmap managing research projects and taking the lead from ideation to publication. This includes protocol validation, research contracting, ethical review, regulatory and legal checks, final reporting and scientific publication. This may include supervision and guidance of internships or PhD students on specific projects.
• Identify opportunities for Intellectual Property protection of the Insights generated.
• Keep internal customers engaged on projects defining the right pace of communication and involvement.
• Propose the potential routes for implementation in product. Transfer the requested knowledge to Design team to facilitate implementation in new products
• Be a stakeholder of the global R&D teams to take the best value of current pipeline and influence projects valuable for Royal Canin Business.
• Engage with the Pet Professionals and PSR Demand teams to align the research program with the innovation plan and business needs
• Support the SoL Scientists as needed

Engage with the other Research teams to deliver Innovation:

• With the Healthy Pet & the Therapeutic Nutrition research teams, on transversal research topics such as healthy ageing, gastrointestinal, weight management, mobility, dermatology…
• With the Predictive Science Research team on the use of data for new hypothesis generation that could drive novel benefits or modes of action for the health and wellbeing of pets and on predicting the potential fate and behaviour of novel active ingredients, and to adjust clinical studies according to these predictions.
• With the Product Research team on characterisation and effect of active ingredients in the product.
• With the Innovation Technology team regarding the product format and production.
• With the Open Innovation specialist on the identification and/or collaboration with potential partners in the external ecosystem.

Support the Design team regarding the scientific evaluation of new services and solutions for the wellbeing of cats and dogs.

Support Royal Canin technically

• Be able to expose their work (purpose, product & service related) to different levels of the organization including senior leaders.
• Contribute to product performance improvement within their area of expertise having a global view of Royal Canin product performance, competitor products performance, scientific state of the art and proposing improvements when needed.
• Provide technical expertise to subsidiaries when neither local nor scientific support can answer.
• Provide expert recommendations within R&D, commercial or QFS to help solving issues.
• Contribute to Royal Canin’s scientific image
• Discuss scientific topics with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and create a mutual and trust relationship with them.
• Create and drive a network of KOLs in the area of expertise: Provide the scientific materials of their work (paper publication in peer review journals, abstract communications during Veterinary congresses, etc.).

Be a stakeholder of the global R&D teams to take the best value of current pipeline and influence projects valuable for Royal Canin Business globally.

Internally:

• Royal Canin: Research teams, R&D teams, Facilities, Demand (Marketing), Regulatory, Commercial (Innovative Raw Materials), Corporate Affairs
• Mars ecosystem: Waltham, MGS and different Mars Petcare Units as appropriate (e.g., Mars Veterinary Health group, Science & Diagnostics division)

Externally:

• Key opinion leaders, experts and collaborators for research institutes and academia in the field of SoL research:
• Animal science and veterinary nutrition experts engaged in collaborative projects managed.
• Professional organizations linked to theriogenology, veterinary medicine, animal nutrition...
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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.
  

Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.