Job Purpose/Overview

At Mars, we believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This job exists within Royal Canin to enable the delivery of our Mars Sustainable in a Generation (SiG) Plan, driving impact across both Healthy Planet and Thriving People pillars, while meeting the expectations of regulators and other key stakeholders and differentiating the Royal Canin brand with customers and consumers.

This role leads the implementation of sustainable sourcing requirements in our Commercial (procurement) organization, including Human Rights program targeting high and extreme risk supplier facilities and origins, and support climate action regenerative agriculture projects. The Sustainable Sourcing Manager will bring a strong project management approach and technical subject matter knowledge to drive progress towards Royal Canin and Mars SiG Plan goals.

This role will also offer an opportunity to expand into commercial (procurement)related topics and work. The ideal candidate will be willing to learn fast, be agile, and support other procurement work as needed, broadening skills over time across social and environmental aspects of sustainable sourcing.

Key Responsibilities

DEPLOYMENT AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Leads the implementation of the new Human Rights program with our suppliers

• Leads the implementation of sustainable sourcing compliance: seafood, no deforestation, and traceability.

• Support the implementation of climate regenerative agriculture projects at origins.

• Works closely with sourcing leads to ensure full alignment, drive participation of the suppliers, and input into the sourcing strategies.

• Works closely with Royal Canin APAC Commercial, Legal, Corporate Affairs, and relevant functional leaders when action is required with a supplier.

• Works closely with the Royal Canin and Mars Thriving People and Legal teams to ensure adherence to the program and legislation

• Works closely with counterparts in other divisions/segments to ensure common approach in case of shared suppliers

• Manage external implementing partners

• As needed and time permitting, support procurement related work.

REPORTING:

• Track KPIs

• Flag and escalate issues where needed to Commercial leadership team

• Lead external and internal reporting ensuring data quality and completeness.

• Ensure up-to-date visibility of supply chain partners  

INTERNAL STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT:

• Ensure up-to-date visibility of supply chain partners  

• Help to drive continuous improvement of the program, delivering input to the Corporate team and other segment leaders where relevant.

Context and Scope

The role sits on the Royal Canin Commercial team and reports to the Sustainable Sourcing Senior Manager.

This position will:

• Work closely with the Mars Corporate Thriving People team to conduct Human Rights risk screening

• Follow through with suppliers to evaluate risk through on-site 3rd party audits (e.g. SMETA IV-Pillar)

• Work with suppliers and commercial team to address the risks identified based on the audit report and follow through the corrective actions.

• Influence the commercial buyers/NSQ team to embed the sustainability requirements into sourcing strategy and operations.

• While the main focus is on sustainability, this role will be involved in procurement related activities which opens an entry point to a broader commercial (procurement) experience and career pathing within the organization.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Must have: Experience with social compliance / human rights issues and programs

Nice-to-have: Experience with agriculture sustainability programs or sustainable sourcing or carbon reduction

Nice-to-have: Procurement or Supplier Quality Assurance related experience

Nice-to-have: Degree or Masters in Sustainability or equivalent subject matter

Knowledge/Experience

• +3 yrs experience in human rights issues and social compliance / due diligence within the private sector or within NGO / development organizations. Familiarity with the Sedex platform and SMETA audits strongly desired.

• Solid experience in program development, deployment, and results measurement and reporting

• Experience in stakeholder management, including internal teams (sourcing, communications, legal, etc) and external relevant actors (suppliers, NGOs, contractors, etc.).

• Ability to influence others, at all levels, without direct authority.

• Highly effective collaborator and networker - able to build and manage complex relationships internally and externally.

• Interpersonal skills and experience engaging with businesses, civil society groups and governments on long-term solutions to human rights challenges.

• Ability to design new approaches to solve complex problems.

• Outstanding communication skills with ability to represent Mars to a wide range of external audiences

• Languages: Chinese and English (required), Korean (preferred)