Our client’s nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow, to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our clients leading brands to help get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest life.
Our client’s Midwest location currently has an opportunity for a Section Manager – Sensory & Consumer Science. In Research & Development (R&D) their ambition is providing innovative high-quality products, creating sustainable value, delivering superior user experience and enhancing health outcomes at all stages of life
The role of the Consumer Science team is to deliver deep understanding of consumer needs – current & future, articulated & unarticulated, and translate needs into technical problems to be solved/design requirements. The Consumer Science Team also works with Commercial Innovation teams to identify new market/consumer driven innovation opportunities. Additionally, this team works with regional/global product development and packaging R&D teams to translate consumer feedback into new and/or improved product and packaging ideas.
The Consumer Science team has an opening for Section Manager – Sensory & Consumer Science to lead the sensory function in support of product innovation and renovation programs for our clients pediatric and adult nutrition businesses. This is a high visibility role reporting to the Director-Global Consumer Science and will be expected to function as internal subject matter expert on sensory research.
Our sensory scientists perform work at the consumer/product-packaging interface and will be responsible for preparing / securing products to be tested with internal and external panels, vendor selection, research design, planning and executing consumer research with research partners, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to validate consumer acceptance and guide product / packaging development.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Manages the Sensory function including development of 4 direct reports + 2 contingent employees
- Ensures smooth functioning of the sensory lab in Ohio in a manner compliant with our client’s policies.
- Establishes a strong relationship with regional R&D centers, mentors global and regional sensory talent through community of practice, enables capability development through sharing and standardization of sensory processes and standards
- Subject matter expert responsible for defining and executing the sensory program including action standards, delivering the sensory support and development for new and existing products in a manner compliant with our clients Quality and Food Safety requirements.
- Primary contact on sensory issues for key stakeholders in Commercial, Quality and Supply Chain
- Drives constant improvement of the center of excellence for sensory science, in both knowledge and capabilities
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE, YOU’LL BRING
- MS / PhD in Sensory Science with a background in consumer psychology / behavioral science and statistics or other relevant fields; experience with Products Research a plus.
Skills/Experience Requirements Required
- 10+ years of deep expertise in designing and executing sensory research with food and beverage products; sensory experience with nutritional and/or dairy products are an added plus
- Minimum 5 years of prior team leadership and talent development experience along with budgetary responsibility
- Ability to define a complete sensory research program, inclusive of appropriate qualitative/quantitative tools including descriptive analyses, drivers of liking, central location and/or home use tests to understand consumer preferences and guide product development
- Team oriented, with high energy and desire to achieve results. Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and meet business goals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to communicate with technical and commercial stakeholders the full relevance of scientific observations and to produce documents and reports. Strong organizational skills required.
- Basic and some advanced computer skills (includes word processing, spreadsheets), experience with Compusense is a plus
Preferred
- 15+ years of deep expertise in designing and executing sensory research with food and beverage products
- Experience in Products Research, planning and executing programs to develop technical consumer insights and helping teams translate these into new products and packaging innovation opportunities. CPG/ FMCG experience is a plus.
- Ability to generate and translate innovative concepts into technically feasible and consumer relevant products with proven track record of bringing winning products / packages to market through technical consumer research
- Experience directing & interpreting SEM or Bayesian modeling methods to link product
/packaging attributes to weighted purchased intent & leveraging such models to drive product improvements / new offerings that grow margin and sales.
- Strong background / knowledge in data analytics and associated software
WHAT THEY OFFER
Our client has a good job that can grow into a great career. They offer:
- Training and career development, with onboarding programs for new employees and tuition assistance
- Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives and retirement plans
- Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, wellness and occupational health programs
- Paid time off
- 401(k) retirement savings with a generous company match
- The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and history of being actively involved in local communities
For more information, contact Moira McGrath at moira@foodscience.com or (954) 428-3888.