Sustainability Open Innovation & Technology Leader - UK
Job Description
Segment: Mars Food & Nutrition
Location: Paddington
Type of contract: permanent, full-time
Drive the Future of Sustainable Packaging Innovation
At Mars Food & Nutrition, we're reimagining packaging to help create a more sustainable future. From advancing circularity and recyclability to exploring breakthrough materials and technologies, innovation is at the heart of delivering our sustainability commitments.
We're looking for a Sustainability Open Innovation & Technology Lead to identify, develop, and scale the next generation of sustainable packaging solutions. This is a highly visible role where you'll connect external innovation ecosystems with internal business priorities, translating emerging technologies into real-world impact across our portfolio.
You'll build strategic partnerships with startups, suppliers, universities, research institutes, and industry leaders while working cross-functionally with Packaging R&D, Sustainability, Regulatory, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams to bring future-ready packaging solutions to life.
If you're passionate about innovation, sustainability, and shaping what's next, we'd love to hear from you.
What are your Key Responsibilities?
Open Innovation & Technology Scouting
If you're excited by emerging technologies, external innovation, and building partnerships that accelerate sustainability, this could be your opportunity to make a lasting impact at Mars.
Apply today and help us transform innovative ideas into sustainable solutions for tomorrow.
Segment: Mars Food & Nutrition
Location: Paddington
Type of contract: permanent, full-time
Drive the Future of Sustainable Packaging Innovation
At Mars Food & Nutrition, we're reimagining packaging to help create a more sustainable future. From advancing circularity and recyclability to exploring breakthrough materials and technologies, innovation is at the heart of delivering our sustainability commitments.
We're looking for a Sustainability Open Innovation & Technology Lead to identify, develop, and scale the next generation of sustainable packaging solutions. This is a highly visible role where you'll connect external innovation ecosystems with internal business priorities, translating emerging technologies into real-world impact across our portfolio.
You'll build strategic partnerships with startups, suppliers, universities, research institutes, and industry leaders while working cross-functionally with Packaging R&D, Sustainability, Regulatory, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams to bring future-ready packaging solutions to life.
If you're passionate about innovation, sustainability, and shaping what's next, we'd love to hear from you.
What are your Key Responsibilities?
Open Innovation & Technology Scouting
- Identify, assess, and prioritize emerging packaging technologies, materials, suppliers, startups, research organizations, and innovation partners.
- Build and manage an external innovation network across academia, technology providers, industry associations, and sustainability ecosystems.
- Continuously monitor packaging technology trends, regulatory developments, competitive activity, and market innovations.
- Evaluate new technologies and materials against sustainability, technical feasibility, cost, scalability, and business requirements.
- Translate external innovation opportunities into actionable business recommendations and project pipelines.
- Lead the identification and development of innovative packaging solutions that support recyclability, recycled content, material reduction, alternative materials, and circular economy objectives.
- Conduct technical assessments, feasibility studies, and proof-of-concept evaluations for new packaging technologies and materials.
- Support development and implementation of packaging solutions that address current and emerging sustainability requirements.
- Build technology and material roadmaps aligned with business priorities, sustainability targets, and regulatory commitments.
- Identify opportunities to accelerate delivery of sustainability goals through innovation and external collaboration.
- Establish and manage strategic relationships with suppliers, startups, universities, research institutes, and technology providers.
- Facilitate collaboration between internal stakeholders and external partners to accelerate innovation delivery.
- Support evaluation, onboarding, and management of innovation partners and development projects.
- Identify opportunities to leverage capabilities across Mars segments, Corporate and external networks.
- Lead innovation projects from opportunity identification through feasibility, development, pilot validation, and implementation.
- Partner with Packaging R&D, S&T, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Sustainability teams to scale new technologies and materials.
- Support technology transfer and implementation across internal manufacturing sites and co-manufacturing partners.
- Identify and proactively manage technical risks, barriers, and implementation challenges.
- Support development of business cases, and stakeholder recommendations for innovation investments.
- Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
- Degree in Packaging Science, Materials Science, Engineering, Sustainability, Food Science, or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of experience in Packaging R&D, Sustainability, Open Innovation, Materials Development, Packaging Technology, or related functions.
- Experience evaluating and implementing packaging innovations, new materials, or emerging technologies.
- Experience managing external innovation partnerships and supplier collaborations.
- Strong understanding of packaging materials, recyclability, circular economy principles, and sustainability trends (M.Sc./Ph.D. projects in relevant areas are welcome).
- Experience leading technical projects from concept through implementation.
- Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
- 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
If you're excited by emerging technologies, external innovation, and building partnerships that accelerate sustainability, this could be your opportunity to make a lasting impact at Mars.
Apply today and help us transform innovative ideas into sustainable solutions for tomorrow.