Job Description:

We are seeking a Senior Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager to join Mars and represent the company’s voice on scientific, regulatory, and public policy matters relevant to the UK and Irish markets.

This is a senior, individual contributor role centered on horizon scanning, shaping internal positions, and influencing external policy.

The role requires an experienced professional with proven expertise in advocacy, trade association participation, and strategic engagement with regulators and stakeholders.

You will help craft and articulate regulatory and scientific opinions for Mars on ingredients, nutrition policies, product governance, and claims.  You will lead our participation in local industry forums and trade associations.

This position is hybrid, with approximately two days per week based at our Slough site.

Salary from £68,000, plus car allowance £7,500 and ~20% annual bonus.

What will be your key responsibilities?  

• Lead the external regulatory and scientific advocacy strategy for Mars in the UK & Ireland, ensuring Mars’ positions are clearly defined, aligned internally, and effectively communicated externally.

• Serve as the company’s primary representative and spokesperson on regulatory and scientific matters within trade associations, policy forums, and other external stakeholder engagements.

• Build strong, credible relationships with regulators, industry bodies, and other key external stakeholders to proactively shape the regulatory landscape in line with business priorities.

• Provide strategic guidance and thought leadership to internal partners on the implications of emerging legislation, ingredient acceptance, product governance and industry trends.

• Monitor and interpret scientific, regulatory, and policy developments to identify opportunities and risks, and recommend courses of action.

• Lead the development of Mars’ positions on the safety and acceptability of ingredients, product claims, and nutrition policies.

• Act as the senior point of contact on local strategic regulatory challenges (e.g., HFSS restrictions, interpretation of chocolate and chewing gum regulations, trading standards complaints), ensuring the business is prepared and well-positioned.

• Lead or contribute to brand and consumer marketing campaigns by providing regulatory and scientific guidance to ensure alignment with external standards and internal strategy.

• Adheres to internal compliance processes and practices, and continuously reviews and improves these processes and procedures; ensures ingredients, recipes, labelling, and packaging are fully compliant.

What are we looking for?  

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, nutrition, biology, chemistry, toxicology, or a related technical field (Master’s degree desirable).

• Fluent in English.

Knowledge & Experience

• Advanced experience in scientific and/or regulatory advocacy, with a strong focus on influencing external stakeholders and shaping public policy.

• Proven track record of leadership in advocacy efforts and trade association representation; previous active roles in relevant trade associations required.

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale consumer-facing marketing campaigns, with an understanding of brand strategy and consumer engagement from a regulatory perspective.

• Significant experience with High Fat, Sugar, or Salt (HFSS) brands and related regulatory and policy challenges.

• Deep understanding of the confectionery and chewing gum category, including market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and regulatory environment.

• Hands-on leadership experience managing complex regulatory challenges such as trading standards complaints, from start to resolution.

• Strong ability to craft persuasive arguments and communicate complex scientific and regulatory concepts to diverse audiences.

• Skilled in stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration, with credibility and influence at senior levels internally and externally.

• Experience of leading complex and strategically important projects, with local, regional, and sometimes even global scope and impact.

What can you expect from Mars?  

• Work with over 140,000 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 a company bonus. 

Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site. 

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions or are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here

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