Job Description

Job Title: R&D Solution Validation Officer H/F/X

Job function: R&D

Segment: Royal Canin

Location: Aimargues, France (near Montpellier)

Contract type: Permanent. Full time. Hybrid.

To support Royal Canin’s ambition of becoming a Health through Nutrition Company, the R&D team aims to drive a step change in the longevity and quality of life of cats and dogs ​by offering personalized, proactive, predictive, and participatory health through nutrition solutions. As the company accelerates its focus on wet solutions, this role is crucial to support the wet strategy journey in validating product performance.

The Solution Validation Officer is accountable for demonstrating and illustrating the efficacy of Health through Nutrition solutions by managing and coordinating Solution Performance measurements of these new solutions globally.

This is a highly cross-functional role requiring close collaboration with multiple functions across all Royal Canin units, especially Markets, Marketing, Regulatory, Commercial, Regional team, all R&D entities internally.

The role also involves extensive collaboration with external agencies and close interaction with markets to develop networks of cat and dog breeders and key opinion leaders across all regions.

What are we looking for?

• You hold a Master’s degree in Engineering, Animal Science, Nutrition (Engineer Bac+5).

• You have experience managing external Cat & Dog consumer panels and/ or animal facilities and/or Breeders.

• You have solid knowledge of R&D, Markets/ Marketing, and Supply Chain (Logistics).

• You are comfortable with data management and communications.

• You have knowledge of Petcare methodology.

• You are fluent in English.

What will be your key responsibilities?

The scope is global and includes new solutions specifically designed for cats and dogs across the brands of Royal Canin.

Understand needs, insights and opportunities in Product Performance

• Collect data from the field and update knowledge in collaboration with research team.
• Support the Solution Designer in shaping innovative solutions for cats and dogs to address customer and pet owner’s needs.

Lead and define Solution Performance studies

• Align with the Pet & Product Scientist and Marketing team to define performance plans for new solutions that support product claims and Product KQA and to prove the efficacy of the solution globally.
• Coordinate and organize the defined study.
• Develop and manage timelines to ensure on-time delivery of Solution Performance studies.

Monitor and deploy Solution performance studies

• Support the supply and logistics of products required for Product Performance studies.
• Organize and coordinate all internal validation and external product performance tests.
• Compile the study report and the statistical power of the results.
• Review and communicate validation of the product performance to all stakeholders.
• Create the communication material at the end of the study for the Product launch webinar.

Maintain and develop relationships with internal & external partners

• Maintain international relationships with external agencies, collaborate with markets to network with Cat and Dog breeders/KOLs in all regions, and guarantee the image of Royal Canin R&D expertise in Dog and Cat world.
• Contribute to the community of practice to maintain the foundation of the animal trial best practices (SOP, Target, methodologies).

What can you expect from Mars?

• Global Impact: Work at the heart of Royal Canin's international HQ, a unique campus housing 800+ associates, two laboratories, and our flagship factory.
• Innovation Culture: Join a team that is actively moving toward "Second Brain" AI integration and cutting-edge longitudinal research.
• Career Growth: Access world-class development through Mars University and opportunities for cross-functional moves within the global Mars Petcare ecosystem.
• Purpose-Driven Work: Every day, you will contribute to our mission: A Better World for Pets
• Competitive Package: Industry-leading salary, benefits, and company bonus.

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