R&D Regional Systems Functional Expert

Job Purpose/Overview

In order to continue to deliver our commitment to the Quality Principle and protect our investment in strategic digital R&D and Quality capabilities, the business requires the right level of sustained functional expert support. The Functional Expert organization provides R&D process and systems expertise to the business units’ end users, in alignment with global and regional process and data requirements. It partners closely with and supports Mars Digital Technologies in resolving system issues and implementing new capabilities and system improvements.

The role of Regional Functional Expert is to ensure sustainability and maintenance of deployed enterprise R&D systems/ platforms in the region, across all segments (MW, Pet and Food) and delivers functional expertise to the business. This role has responsibility for operational support in the business units by driving business process compliance, continuous improvements/ upgrades and knowledge management. This role supports the Corporate R&D digitalization roadmap by owning the implementation of new capabilities in the business units, working closely with Corporate R&D Systems product owners, segment/unit stakeholders and MDT partners.  Regional Functional Expert ensures compliance to data quality requirements and works with Segment Data custodians to identify and address compliance gaps in the business units.  

Job Responsibilities

Key/End User support and Knowledge Management

• Providing ad-hoc support as a Second point of escalation on system issues to BU end users and first point of escalation to BU key users

• Responsible for development and maintenance of key/end user training curriculum and training materials as well as executing training sessions, including any refresher trainings as needed.

• Responsible for managing key/end user community and relevant business stakeholder, leading communities of practice and driving continuous improvements.

• Performance review of service level effectiveness (incident trends, SLAs) to drive continuous improvements

• Partner with development team to support resolution of system issues/bugs Drive rapid response to “Code Red” incidents and support technical teams by providing functional input into analysis, solutioning, testing and approval.

Governance (Business process and data quality)

• Supports global and segment process owners by activating the right actions with Business units to close compliance gaps in process and data quality.

• Provides audit support to unit’s key users

Change Management (CIPs/New Capabilities)

• Responsible for aligning and validating system functionality (regional CIPs, global CIPs and new functionality roll-outs) with business requirements

• Manages CIPs (creation of requests, testing, implementation in the units)

• Responsible for UAT (user acceptability testing) and End –to-end testing prior to rolling out new system functionality.

• Supports MDT (Mars Digital Technologies) team with impact assessment of system changes.

• Provides input into new capability global prioritization process

New capability deployment

• Supports deployment lead/project manager as a functional owner of system and business process implementation.

• Partners with unit/s stakeholders to define and validate business process and RACI. Leads coordination of data related activities.

• Validates system functionality (including UAT, BIT testing) and manages any unit specific changes.

• Manages Key/end user training journey (defining curriculum, developing training materials, executing training sessions, supports hyper-care)

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in science or IT systems or equivalent in food safety/food science or related subject area is desirable

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in R&D, R&D systems, Supply or DT/Business partnership Experience with R&D or Quality systems preferred

Knowledge / Experience

• Good understanding of Quest/Innovation process

• Good understanding of Mars standards (including MQM, PQM, EMQM)

• Excellent networker, easily builds rapport remotely

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).  Fluent in English