Senior Specialist - Sensory/Product Experience

JOB SUMMARY:

Design and drive sensory and consumer understanding activities to ensure product innovation and renovation elevates consumers' product experience, working in close collaboration with cross-functional teams and strategic partners. Demonstrate sustained evidence of successful sensory & consumer research design, execution, statistical analysis, and visual storytelling to drive successful product launches. Build category product insights to inspire and influence Innovation & Renovation pipelines and business strategies. Continuously seek for improving practices and promote agile research.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide consumer & sensory insights to I&R projects:
  • Partner proactively with Project Managers and help define questions and outcomes from consumer and sensory insight support to add value and influence project's success.
  • Provide guidance on choice and use of sensory and consumer research methodologies. Lead design, execution, statistical analysis, and visual storytelling to generate actionable insights for product design
  • Play an active part in cross-functional project teams, from front-end innovation until launch. Ensure sensory & consumer knowledge is transferred effectively to industrialization, acting as an advisor in the setup of consumer-centric sensory specifications.

• Build sensory & consumer preference knowledge on product experience:
  • Build and leverage knowledge to identify growth and/or cost optimization opportunities.
  • Support Product and Process Mastership to better understand the effect of recipe and process parameters on sensory attributes and consumer acceptance.

• Manage and execute consumer and sensory research studies with excellence:
  • Define clear, time-bounded plans and prioritize resources available.
  • Manage studies: plan, design, then analyze and results in line with best practices and with impact to the cross-functional team and business partners.
  • Ensure collaboration with Sensory Panel Leaders, Technicians, and external agencies in order to ensure lean and transparent execution. Contribute to management of internal and external project execution by sensory panels.

• Ensure CSI continuous improvement and team development:
  • Be responsible for continuous improvement of consumer & sensory practices.
  • Ensure high quality results through panel maintenance and performance. Participate in the selection and training of panel members. Coach Sensory Panel Leaders to reach excellence in execution and with autonomy.

• Support Quality Management to ensure products sensory consistency:
  • Advise Quality Management in Markets (head office and factories) to reduce sensory defects
  • Coach the factory sensory analysts and assist them with the implementation of In/Out tests on the category.

• Build and leverage knowledge:
  • Build and leverage product sensory & consumer insights to identify new opportunities and guide strategy.
  • Apply Nestle global sensory & consumer guidelines and contribute to the development of new research methods.
  • Contribute to the improvement of sensory and consumer competencies in Markets and R&D.
  • Design or contribute to internal trainings and knowledge sharing activities in the area of sensory & consumer research in partnership with our global network.
  • Coach more junior team members to reach excellence in execution and autonomy

JOB QUALIFICATIONS (Education, Experience and Knowledge):

• Advanced degree (Master or higher degree preferred) on Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Market Research, Food Technology, Food Science, or other related fields
• Min. 3 years of experience in a wide range of sensory analysis and consumer product testing techniques and their applications
• Experience applying solid univariate and multivariate statistical methods to generate insights.

Experience in statistical design of experiments is a plus

• Experience leading sensory activities and/or working with sensory agencies
• Experience in market research with exposure to a variety of consumer testing techniques and/or working with consumer research agencies on product testing
• Experience in consumer-packaged goods, experience in both R&D and business sides is a plus
• Software knowledge: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook, SAP
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Able to work well in a team environment
• Independently motivated
• Good interpersonal/teamwork skills and a sense of business/technical interrelationships

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

A proactive, independent person, able to lead/manage/complete projects with minimal supervision. Creative and innovative with a sense of urgency and passion. There will be at least two formal meetings with the Manager to evaluate the progress toward the goals. There is also the opportunity to work closely with other members of the team for guidance. There will be formal training sessions set up for all newcomers to Nestl as well as specific courses required as an R&D employee. The Manager will set up a training plan, and it is the responsibility of the individual to execute the plan.

SUPERVISION GIVEN:

This individual does not have any direct reports but should be able to coach/mentor team members in projects that he/she is leading.

FINANCIAL/S

This position is in support the R&D Nestl Global environment and deliver services to various operating companies.

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