Solutions Architect

Job Description:

Pet Nutrition (PN) is the most vibrant category in the FMCG sector. As we work to transform this exciting category, a new program, Digital First, has been mobilized by the Mars Pet Nutrition (PN) leadership team. Digital First places pet parents at the center of all we do in Mars PN, while digitalizing a wide range of business process areas, and creating future fit capabilities to achieve ambitious targets in top line growth, earnings, and pet parent centricity. The Digital First agenda requires Digitizing at scale and requires you to demonstrate significant thought leadership, quality decision making, deep technical know-how, and an ability to navigate complex business challenges while building and leading a team of world class data and analytics leaders.

Are you passionate about Data and Analytics and excited about how it can completely transform the way an enterprise works? Do you have the strategic vision, technical expertise, and leadership skills to drive data-driven solutions? Do you want to work in a dynamic, fast-growing category? If so, you might be the ideal candidate for the role of Solution Architect Data Foundations, in the Enterprise Architecture function for Global Pet Nutrition (PN) at Mars.

The Solution Architect Data Foundations plays a significant role in supporting DDF which is a key component for the success of the PN Digital Transformation. The role oversees delivery of cross product transversal data capabilities that is foundational to our success. This role is responsible for the architecture and design and optimization of data platforms, data architecture, data operations, data engineering and the development of data assets/products for the multi-billion-dollar Pet Nutrition division’s digital needs. Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Architecture, the person in this role will be a part of the Global PN Architecture of Tomorrow team. The role operates globally and partners with PN business and digital leaders across all functions.

'This role is an incubation role (temporary) with an estimated end date of December 2026. The purpose is to fast-track and support the build of this specific product. At the completion of the product, a permanent BAU role will open to maintain and support the product: the role will be permanent and will have a different job description more suited to the need of the organisation at end state. If you are unable to secure the role by December 2026 you will be eligible for a separation package.'

• Bachelor’s degree or Equivalent (IT Degree preferred in particular computer science, data science or related field)

• Industry leading expertise in building and delivering data foundations, preferably in the CPG, or retail industry.

• Established and deep understanding of a range of technology solutions & business process, across CPG functional capabilities

• Proven track record of delivering value through data products in a fast-paced, agile environment.

• Extensive knowledge of data principles, architecture/modeling, ingestion, ETL principles and practices

• Extensive knowledge of Azure based big data platform & exposure to other clouds such as GCP is desirable.

• Experience in architect and design data platforms such as data lakes, data warehouses, and the data pipelines and data services that support various types of data and analytics use cases.

• Prior experience of successfully leading large-scale data initiatives to support analytics, BI & AI use cases.

• Prior experience in decentralized data management, specifically, in data governance of managing fragmented data domains like sales, finance, marketing.

• Proven track record of establishing and leading a DDF design authority

• Proven track record to master new and emerging technologies

• Successful experience, established over several years, to perform architecture leadership within a Technology environment

• A strong customer centric mindset especially within an internal customer base with the purpose of driving adoption and use

• Strategic thinking, problem solving and innovation, with the ability to anticipate and navigate challenges and opportunities.

• Excellent in engaging with technical and functional leadership in a matrix organization.

• Ability to navigate complex matrix organisation

• Motivational and thought leading

• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment and manage multiple priorities

• Experience working in a multi-region business team with potentially conflicting needs/views and ability to navigate a complex organizational landscape

• Must be customer focused with demonstrated ability to form productive relationship including business & DT leaders

• Learning agility and desire to learn new technology and business.

• Mars Principles: Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.

• Strategy and Thought Leadership: Work with PN Digital Leadership to create and execute the data foundations strategy and roadmap for the Pet Nutrition segment, in alignment with the Pet Nutrition’s business strategic priorities, goals and analytics needs.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with PN D&A leadership, PN product owners, and segment D&A leadership. You align with and support Enterprise architecture efforts in Mars Petcare, corporate EA, GDO, CISO teams.

• Architectural governance, review and assurance: you are responsible for effective and proportionate governance to approve or reject high level solution designs, solution architectures, other Technology services or substantial changes to existing services for compliance, including granting waivers where justified. You ensure that critical DDF design decisions and issues escalated by delivery teams across PN DT are reviewed and resolved promptly. You ensure that the governance, review and assurance processes provide insight and information to drive future revisions of the strategy and roadmap, so that the Technology architecture continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of the Mars PN. You drive architectural governance, review and assurance in partnership with the Technology Leadership Team, PN/Petcare/Corporate EAs and colleagues in the wider Mars PN.

• Roadmap to achieve the target architecture: you are responsible for setting out a roadmap to move from the current state architecture to the target architecture for DDF, taking account of the change portfolio and expected future change plans. You ensure that the roadmap is maintained to account for evolving requirements.

• Data as a Product: Bring technical mastery, knowledge, and acumen to lead the creation and deployment of scalable, secure data platforms and data assets tailored to our organization's evolving requirements while ensuring data quality and trust. Embed thought leadership in modeling data such that it is domain driven, easly discoverable and self service enabled (where appropriate) with a strong-willed approach to avoid duplication and promote trust and integrity in data assets.

• Work with over 130,000 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.

• Best-in-class 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.

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Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.