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.

Are you passionate about Sale, Marketing & Growth, Trade promotion and excited about how it can completely transform the way an organization efficiently and effectively prospects and improves top line growth? Do you have the strategic vision, technical expertise, and leadership skills to drive technology solutions that are cutting edge ? Do you want to work in a dynamic, fast-growing category? If so, you might be the ideal candidate for the role of TPM – Solution architect in the Enterprise Architecture function for Global Pet Nutrition (PN) at Mars.

The TPM - Solutions Architect is a technical leadership role that oversees delivery of digital and data capabilities that are critical to the success of our sales, marketing and growth teams. This role is responsible for the architecture, design and optimization of application & data platforms, operations, data engineering and the development of the TPM product for the multi-billion-dollar Pet Nutrition division.  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.'

• Industry leading expertise in building and delivering TPM solutions.

• Understanding of TPM concepts, processes, and best practices within the consumer goods industry or relevant sectors. This includes knowledge of trade promotion optimization, promotion planning, forecasting, budgeting, post-event analysis, and trade spend management

• Familiarity with TPM and Customer Planning software platforms and solutions is essential. The candidate should have experience with leading TPM software vendors and products, such as SAP TPM Salesforce TPM, Anaplan Exceedra, AFS TPM, XTEL, VF or others. This includes experiencing in configuring, customizing, and implementing TPM systems to meet the unique needs of T1 organizations.

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of satellite applications commonly integrated with TPM platforms, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Supply Chain Management (SCM) software, Finance Automation (e.g.: High Radius) and Business Intelligence (BI) tools. Identify integration points, data flows, and dependencies between the TPM platform and satellite applications to ensure seamless interoperability and data consistency.

• Experience in integrating and managing data from multiple sources is crucial for TPM platforms. The candidate should have experience with data integration techniques, data cleansing, transformation, and normalization. Knowledge of master data management (MDM) principles and practices is also beneficial for maintaining data integrity across the TPM platform.
  Knowledge of integration products (Mulesoft) desirable

• Established and deep understanding of a range of technology solutions & business process, across Sales, Marketing, growth, sales finance domain.

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

• Proven track record of selecting and configuring cloud/SaaS solutions in a sustainable fashion whilst catering for complex business needs in a global organisation.

• Knowledge of Azure based big data platform & exposure to other clouds such as GCP, SFCD is desirable.

• Proven track record of presenting solution options to design authorities and governance forums

• 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 & TPM product leadership to create and execute the Customer Planning & TPM strategy and roadmap for the Pet Nutrition segment, in alignment with the Pet Nutrition’s business strategic priorities and goals. Bring the "outside-In" by maintaining an external network of digital professionals to deliver value faster and build our capabilities of the future.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with PN brand, Marketing/sales/Growth/SRM, CMI, Digital Leadership & TPM and Analytics product teams. You align with and support Enterprise architecture efforts in Mars Petcare, corporate EA, GDO, CISO teams.

• Architectural guidance, governance, review and assurance: you are accountable for effective and proportionate governance to approve or reject high level solution designs, solution architectures, other Technology services, including granting waivers where justified. You ensure that critical Customer Planning & TPM  design decisions and issues escalated by delivery teams across PN DT & business 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. 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 accountable for setting out a roadmap to move from the current state architecture to the target architecture for TPM product, taking account of the change portfolio and expected future change plans. You ensure that the roadmap is maintained to account for evolving requirements. You will also consider Market Archetypes where appropriate to ensure relevant solutions are proposed and implemented.

• Work with development team & Architecture Leadership: you are expected to work with development teams/Sis to guide and offer expert advice to ensure the application is built the highest standards and is in line with Mars PN EA architecture principles and above all, the solutions meet business requirements. Ensure  comprehensive documentation, including solution architecture diagrams, technical specifications, and user guides are produced.

• 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.