GEM Regional Director

At Mars Snacking, we see digital and data as an increasing multiplier of value across not just Mars Wrigley, but also the Health and Wellness and Retail global business units of Mars Snacking.

The GEM Regional Director of Data & AI stewardship and delivery is part of the Chief Data Office (CDO) Organization within Mars Snacking, with dotted line reporting to the GEM Chief Information Officer (CIO). This director will coordinate the execution of the data and AI strategy with Regional GEM digital technology and business leaders.

Responsibilities include assessing and improving the data quality discipline in GEM, promoting user adoption of analytics and AI capabilities, publishing key performance indicators (KPIs), sharing insights, and managing escalations with governing bodies. Additionally, this role ensures data quality and reliability for analytic products through collaboration with the Supply Chain Analytic Products (SCDA) and One Demand Analytic Products (ODDA) organizations.

This position requires a balance of technical expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to influence senior leaders within the GEM region. Ultimately, it aims to ensure smooth delivery of data-driven insights while advancing our foundational data and AI capabilities.

What are we looking for?

• Extensive experience conducting data health assessments for a complex and large growing region such as GEM and deep knowledge of data domains in functional areas such as supply chain, sales and marketing, R&D, manufacturing, product quality, finance, and HR.
• Familiar with data and AI technologies and ERP systems, including SAP S/4 and MDG, Collibra, Informatica, MS Purview, MS Azure, Google Cloud, etc.
• Passion for researching and advancing data-led AI initiatives in the GEM region.
• Preferably a recent global data steward with at least 10 years in data strategy, architecture, governance, quality, and analytics.
• Proven leadership in establishing data-fluent organizations and effective governance programs.
• Experience in data transformation in the Consumer Products & Goods industry is a plus.
• Proficient in creating executive dashboards with Power BI or Tableau and leading agile product management.
• Strong communicator with technical and non-technical audiences at all organizational levels.
• Big 4 consulting experience preferred.
• Self-starter with business acumen and the ability to navigate change.
• Executive presence for presenting data insights to senior leaders.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Strategic Leadership:

• Implement a Data and AI stewardship strategy aligned with the CDO's vision for the GEM region, focusing on strategic data needs.
• Align data stewardship recruitment and investments with business priorities in GEM.
• Guide the GEM CIO, leadership teams, and business leaders on data and AI capabilities for improving data standardization, quality, and digitization.

Data Governance and Quality:

• Enhance data stewardship practices and ensure compliance with governance policies across GEM.
• Collaborate with the Data Governance office to address functional requirements and work with legal teams on ethical data use in AI.
• Maintain a robust end-to-end data management process that ensures metadata remains FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Data Support for AI/Analytics Deployment:

• Gather relevant project information (timing, status, etc.) from across the data and analytics ecosystem and manage the delivery of fit-for-AI data to support the scaling of AI and analytic products across GEM.
• Collaborate with data architects, data modelers/engineers, data scientists, and AI engineers to ensure that data is correctly mapped, tested, and prepared for AI and analytics models.
• Coordinate with the CDO leadership team to continuously improve, monitor, and publish KPI metrics related to the trust and usage of analytic data and AI capabilities in GEM.

Cross-Functional, Market, and Regional Collaboration:

• Work closely with data stewards and custodians from global, regional, and market teams to provide timely and appropriate support for data-related issues across GEM.
• Engage with and manage relationships with business and digital technology stakeholders to facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities effectively.

Continuous Improvement and Innovation:

• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.
• Adapt data stewardship processes to meet the evolving needs within GEM.
• Support change management and address data literacy/training needs across GEM.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and manage a team of GEM Regional Data and AI Stewardship associates.
• Recruit and retain GEM Data Stewardship team members across various countries within the GEM region to foster a culture of disciplined data practices.
• Support Regional Data Stewards as vital connectors among all regional and market-level entities that own, access, and leverage data assets within the business.

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 company bonus.

#TBDDT