Global Food Technology Implementation Specialist (H/F/X)

Job Description

Segment: Royal CaninType of contract: PermanentLocation: Aimargues (Campus) near Montpellier, France

As the Global Food Technology Specialist , you will be at the forefront of shaping the future of Royal Canin by leading the introduction of innovative raw materials, processes, and products across a dynamic international network of over 15 manufacturing sites. You will serve as the driving force behind Royal Canin’s R&D process and product leadership, expertly evaluating and mitigating industrialization risks to ensure the seamless and successful rollout of groundbreaking innovations. The Global Food Technology Specialist will be pivotal in defining and developing robust R&D specifications that set the standard for excellence in manufacturing—both for existing Petfood technologies and pioneering new advancements. This encompasses the full spectrum of specifications, from raw material processing and product quality to process flow, sequence, and equipment parameter settings, empowering our teams to deliver superior products that enrich the lives of pets worldwide.

What Profile We Are Looking For

• B.S. or M.S. in a relevant technical or scientific discipline such as Food Science/Technology, Biology, Chemistry, or Engineering sciences.
• Demonstrated >10 years of industry experience in petfood and/or food technology development, process & product scale-up and/or implementation as an R&D engineer or Quality & Food Safety Engineer.
• Lean 6‑Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.
• Experience working in a multicultural and international company.
• Experience or interest in nutrition within the food environment will be considered an asset for this position.

What Will Be Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Global Industrialization of new petfood products: Take ownership of the industrialization process for petfood products within Royal Canin’s innovation pipeline. Manage scale‑up activities across more than 15 manufacturing sites worldwide, ensure a smooth transition from R&D prototypes to full production, consolidate feedback, conduct risk assessments, define final specifications, and oversee first production runs by coordinating cross‑functional teams.
• Develop, Define and Maintain R&D Specifications of petfood products: Define, write, and update comprehensive process and product specifications related to petfood technology, including raw material processing, product quality attributes, process flows, and equipment parameter settings. Ensure specifications meet existing manufacturing standards and support new technologies and ongoing innovation.
• Define Process and Product Validation requirements: Create validation protocols for new equipment and production lines across the manufacturing network, working with Engineering, Quality & Food Safety, and R&D teams. Plan resources, develop training, ensure protocols are up to date, support project handovers, and continuously improve validation procedures.
• Drive Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Knowledge Management: Collaborate closely with central R&D teams and regional process/product engineers to align industrialization strategies and technical requirements. Facilitate knowledge sharing and training initiatives and establish a comprehensive knowledge management system documenting specifications and best practices.
• Apply Problem Solving and Statistical Process Control (SPC): Demonstrate structured problem‑solving methodologies and utilize SPC tools to monitor, analyze, and optimize manufacturing processes.

What can you expect from Mars?

• You will work in a multicultural environment (more than 40 nationalities) and your dog will be welcomed by more than 100 other Associates’ dogs at the office.
• You will work in a unique campus that gathers more than 800 Associates, including the international HQ, the French subsidiary, two laboratories, a kennel and a cattery with more than 200 cats & dogs, and finally the most important factory of the Royal Canin group.