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Job description
Senior Manager, Dairy Climate Smart Agriculture
The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. At Mars, our Sustainable in a Generation (SIG) Plan is our roadmap to creating a healthy planet where people and pets can thrive. Following the ambition of Mars, Incorporated to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across our entire value chain by 2050, and in alignment with our Healthy Planet strategy under the Sustainable in a Generation Plan, dairy represents one of our most critical raw material footprints and emissions reductions opportunities.
The Senior Manager, Dairy Climate Smart Agriculture is a high-impact leadership role responsible for the end-to-end global strategy for Dairy sustainability across Mars, while directly leading and executing regional implementation in North America. This role will be responsible for translating Mars Snacking's global Healthy Planet commitments into on-the-ground operational reality under a unified framework targeting holistic impact across carbon (-50% GHG reduction by 2030), water, regenerative agriculture, farmer livelihoods and animal welfare.
This role acts as a critical strategic bridge, connecting global Commercial, R&D, and regional brand teams with key value chain partners such as raw material suppliers, farmers, and 3rd party partners. By driving mutuality and co-investment, you will create generational resilience from Soil to Snack by derisking the climate smart dairy transition for farming communities while securing long-term supply chain resilience for Mars Snacking. This role serves as Mars Snacking's key dairy sustainability expert, building strong partnerships to lead the industry in climate-smart food systems.
Key Responsibilities
Global Dairy Sustainability Strategy & Performance Management
Regional Execution and Scaling
Global Category Governance and Performance Management
Transition Finance & Funding
Supplier Engagement, Capacity Building & Partner Management
Measurement, Reporting & Verification
Innovation, Industry Collaboration & Commercial Activation
Internal Capability & Leadership
Context and Scope
The Senior Manager operates with a high degree of autonomy, navigating a complex, matrixed global organization.
Internal Context: This role acts as a critical link between global corporate sustainability commitments and regional procurement teams. The associate must successfully influence global Commercial Directors to embed sustainability criteria into dairy sourcing strategies. They will lead a global team with a direct report in Europe, requiring excellent cross-cultural leadership, virtual collaboration, and performance-management skills.
External Context: The dairy industry is unique due to the dominant role played by farmer-owned cooperatives. The candidate must possess the commercial and political savvy to negotiate with cooperative executives, the technical credibility to engage with industry experts and the ability to build relationships with our value chain partners, including strategic customers and retailers.
Job Specifications /Qualifications
Education & Professional Qualifications
Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy, Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, or a related technical discipline.
Preferred: Master's Degree in a related technical agricultural field.
Knowledge / Experience
8+ years of direct industry experience (corporate, agribusiness, agriculture consulting or related sustainability industry) managing dairy sustainability programs or agricultural sourcing initiatives
Knowledge/understanding of global and regional dairy systems, with experience working with procurement teams to build comprehensive sourcing strategies
Proven ability to collaborate across multiple functions and track record of building trust and influencing diverse stakeholders, from multi-generational family farmers to executive commercial directors and downstream brand teams.
Strategic financial acumen and analytical capabilities. Strong command of agribusiness economics. Comfortable navigating digital systems for data management and reporting.
Experience with measurement and accounting working with MRV systems across relevant metrics (e.g. carbon, soil health, water, biodiversity, et) and knowledge of standards like the GHG Protocol
Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple issues, manage scope and risks
Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills. Proven ability to translate highly technical information into compelling narratives and drive fact-based decision making within all levels of the organization
What can you expect from Mars? 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.
Worksite address
chicago, IL, 60290, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.