Position Snapshot

Location: Singapore

Company: Nestle R&D Center, Singapore

Type of contract: Permanent

Position Summary

Joining Nestlé means you are joining the largest Food and Beverage Company in the world. At our very core, we are a human environment – passionate people driven by the purpose of enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. A Nestle career empowers you to make an impact locally and globally, as you are provided with the opportunity to make a mark and stand out, as long as you seek it. With Nestle, you are enabled and encouraged to grow not only as professionals, but also as people.

We are looking for a Sensory Specialist to provide appropriate sensory knowledge in close collaboration with R&D/Markets/SBU to ensure innovation and renovation meets consumer expectation, and is aligned with Business strategies. The Sensory Specialist will also lead sensory external panel activities, with the assistance of a sensory technician. This includes playing an active role in recommending appropriate methodologies, generating & analyzing sensory data, and establish reports with conclusions and recommendations aligned with project objectives. 

Continuously seeks for improving Sensory best practices and promoting the use of Sensory Research in innovation and renovation process at R&D, PM, AG level, as well as understanding the importance of Consumer Research in the innovation and renovation process. Demonstrate and execute research with excellence on a timely basis.

A day in the life of…

1) Provide Sensory insights to I&R projects: 

- Partner pro-actively with PMs and help define questions and outcomes from sensory insight support to add value and influence project's success.

- Play an active part in cross functional project teams within NPTC/R&D and provide guidance on use and choice of sensory evaluation methodologies.

- Interact closely with the Sensory & Product Experience Specialist of the product category to integrate sensory and consumer data within projects, to ensure consumer preference.

2) Manage & execute sensory studies with excellence: 

- Define clear and time-bound plans and prioritize resources available.

- Manage sensory studies: planning, design, data analysis, reporting and presentation of results in line with best practices and expectations.

- Ensure collaboration with technicians and Sensory & Product Experience Specialists in order to ensure lean and transparent execution.

- Manage products under tests (procurement, storage and disposal, incl. compliance document tracking such as NesTMS PR).

3) Understand the relevance of Consumer Research in innovation and renovation:

Provide guidance to AGs and Market HO/Factory Sensory on setting up the consumer centric sensory specifications (including acceptability limits). 

4) Ensure SPX support continuous improvement and team development:

- Be responsible for NQMS process continuous improvement and application for SPX support.

- Ensure high quality results through panel maintenance and performance (e.g. via panel performance KPIs) , and participate in the recruitment, training of present and future panel members.

- Ensure collaboration and communication within SPX team, tools in place for active participation and organisation of all team members. Coach SPX Associate Specialists, sensory technicians to reach excellence in execution and autonomy.

5) Ensure SPX knowledge transfer throughout the I2L stages of the project:

- Ensure SPX knowledge transfer to the Industrialize stage and provide guidance to AGs and Market HO/Factory Sensory on setting up the consumer-centric sensory specifications (including acceptability limits). 

- Assist the market with sensory references for panel training whenever relevant for the project.

6) Define, deliver and maintain sensory methods and tools specific to the product category:

- Manage the sensory glossaries for the product category by driving the harmonization and ensuring adoption of the harmonized glossaries everywhere in Nestlé (Good Taste, Preference Scoring, etc.).

- Keep the reference library up-to-date for the relevant product categories.

- Develop category-specific sensory methods and tools, maintain their documentation and drive category-specific sensory training to markets & SBUs.

7) Build and share knowledge: 

- Enhance and explore sensory research methods within NPTC/R&D and across Nestlé.

- Contribute to internal trainings and to knowledge sharing in the CSI / SPX knowledge network across R&D and Nestlé.

- Drive the bridging of sensory and consumer research.

8) Manage & train sensory panels:

- Screen and train new external panellist.

- Train and monitor performance of internal and external panels.

- Maintain records of external panel attendance and administer panels information.

9) Manage and execute sensory trainings with excellence: 

Manage the development and excecution category-specific sensory trainings (screening, product specific sensory training, technical tastings) for R&D and markets as relevant.

What will make you successful....

Academic Experience:

- Master degree or equivalent in Sensory Science, Food Technology, Food Science, Consumer Science or other related field

Operational Experience:

- More than 3 years of experience in a wide range of sensory analysis techniques and their applications

- Solid operational experience in leading sensory panels and technicians

- Fluent in German and English

- Computer-literate (MS-Office and dedicated technical software) 

- Experience in FMCG from R&D side is a plus 

- Experience in dairy or infant nutrition field is a plus

We are Nestlé, the largest food and beverage company. We are 308,000 employees strong driven by the purpose of enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Our values are rooted in respect: respect for ourselves, respect for others, respect for diversity and respect for our future. With more than CHF 91.4 billion sales in 2018, we have an expansive presence with 413 factories in more than 85 countries. We believe our people are our most important asset, so we'll offer you a dynamic inclusive international working environment with many opportunities across different businesses, functions and geographies, working with diverse teams and cultures. Want to learn more? Visit us at www.nestle.com.