Global Packaging Technology Specialist - Dry Food H/F/X

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Description:

Job Title: Global Packaging Technology Specialist – DRY Food H/F/X

Segment: Royal Canin

Location: Aimargues, France (near Montpellier)

Contract type: Permanent. Full time. Onsite.

The role of the Global PACKAGING Technology Specialist is to lead the implementation of new packaging material, new packaging process and new product in global factory network from finished good silos to truck loading on DRY process and from Cans Labelling / Pouch BBD writing to truck loading on WET process.

The Global PACKAGING Technology Specialist covers primary, secondary and tertiary packaging and is managing any type of packaging materials.

The Global PACKAGING Technology Specialist is responsible to develop and defines R&D specifications related to packaging process applied for manufacturing of DRY & WET products on existing manufacturing standard and for new technology. His/her functional perimeter is Global, including ROYAL CANIN and PETNUTRITION manufacturing network.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in science, Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Food) – Packaging is preferred.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in packaging industry as R&D Engineer, or Quality & food Safety in the factory environment.

• Proven experience working in multicultural and international companies.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.

• Fluent English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Lead of PACKAGING INDUSTRIALIZATION pillar for DRY & WET at Global.

• Drive End-to-End Industrialization: Lead and own the industrialization stream within the QUEST stage-gate innovation process, ensuring seamless scale-up and execution across all Royal Canin and Pet Nutrition manufacturing sites:

  • Ideation: Partner with cross-functional project teams from kick-off to launch, evaluate project complexity, initiate draft Industrial Risk Assessments (IRA), consolidate factory feedback, and design industrial test plans.
  • Prototyping: Update IRAs based on pilot line outputs and actively participate in Go/No-Go decision gates.
  • Industrialization: Define and coordinate factory test run validation plans, sampling protocols, and recommended process settings in close collaboration with regional DEPLOY teams.
  • Launch: Establish and release final packaging material and format R&D specifications and validate final IRAs for deployment.

• Factory & Regional Support: Act as the escalation point for regional teams, providing advanced troubleshooting, root-cause problem-solving, intra-regional product transfers, and pipeline workload visibility.

Lead of PACKAGING GOVERNANCE pillar for DRY & WET at Global.

• Packaging Specifications & Conformance: define, publish, and govern global R&D process and product packaging specifications, establishing statistical process control targets (Cp/Cpk) and capability measurement methods.

• New Technology & Material Deployment: Lead the validation and rollout of new packaging materials, line upgrades, and novel packaging technologies applying TRL / QES frameworks (DoE design, risk assessments, and DVFS handovers).

• Commissioning, Validation & Start-up (CVS):

  • Define and publish process and product validation protocols across lines, systems, and standard equipment.
  • Partner with Global Engineering on layout reviews, MPAR resource estimations, and Corporate Project handovers (HO0 / HO1 sign-offs).

• Knowledge Management & Technical Capability Building:

  • Build and maintain a robust technical knowledge repository across Petcare communities of practice.
  • Upskill and train global/regional R&D DEPLOY teams on packaging technologies, standard operating procedures, SPC methodologies, and structured problem-solving.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Global Impact: Work at the heart of Royal Canin's international HQ, a unique campus housing 800+ associates, two laboratories, and our flagship factory.

• Innovation Culture: Join a team that is actively moving toward "Second Brain" AI integration and cutting-edge longitudinal research.

• Career Growth: Access world-class development through Mars University and opportunities for cross-functional moves within the global Mars Petcare ecosystem.

• Purpose-Driven Work: Every day, you will contribute to our mission: A Better World for Pets.

• Competitive Package: Industry-leading salary, benefits, and company bonus.

#LI-KD1 #mars #royalcanin

About Mars: Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

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