Job Description:

Location: Aimargues (3O min from Montpellier)

Type of contract: Permanent (CDI)

Entity: Royal Canin

RCA Pet center is a vital component of Royal Canin’s R&D Facilities, supporting global innovation, product development & deployment by delivering animal results, product prototypes and data to generate new knowledge and nutritional solutions.

RCA Pet center Manager is responsible for the overall performance of the Pet center, leading a highly motivated Unit Operations team. The job holder is accountable for operational delivery, ensuring that all work is completed safely and in compliance with all local regulations and Royal Canin/Mars Standards and SOPs. Key stakeholders include internal R&D teams, external regulatory authorities, and visitors.

What are we looking for?

• Experience working with animals

• People management experience (manager of managers)

• Project management experience

• Experience in operational environments (pet center, laboratory, factory)

• Understanding animal testing methodologies

• Native or Fluent French is essential (required for interactions with local authorities) and good spoken and written English.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Define and execute strategic roadmaps for site, operations, and capability development, aligned with overall R&D Facilities strategy. Actively contribute to the broader RC R&D Facilities team strategy and execution.

• Ensure delivery of internal animal trial results and product prototypes meeting quality, budget, and timeline targets.

• Foster collaboration with internal customers, ensuring their needs are understood and met.

• Oversee Pet center performance in safety, efficiency, environmental, regulatory compliance, animal welfare, sustainability, and associate engagement. Ensure site operations comply with all relevant internal standards (QMS, HACCP, animal welfare, safety, sustainability, methodology etc.).

• Provide leadership and management to a team of approximately 40 associates. Allocate resources, drive daily operations, and support associate development and engagement.

• Lead the implementation of new methodologies, technologies, capabilities, and capital projects.

• Maintain animal welfare standards in line with Mars and legal requirements. Serve as the primary contact for French administration/authorities regarding site activities.

• Deliver outstanding visitor experience for over 4,000 internal and external visitors annually.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with 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.

• You will work in a unique campus, which gathers more than 800 Associates working for: the international HQ, the French subsidiary, two laboratories, a kennel and a cattery with more than 200 cats & dogs, and finally the most important factory of the Royal Canin group

• A strong focus on 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.