Nestlé’s Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.   

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary: 

The Nestlé Development Center in Marysville is responsible for the ideation, renovation, and development of new and existing coffee and coffee enhancing products, business models, and services for the world’s biggest coffee brands. Our mission is to delight the consumer wherever, whenever, and however by delivering moments of genuine pleasure and indulgence - to achieve this we are committed to our talented, creative, and motivated team. If you are excited and passionate about coffee and its potential, come join us and help create the future. We are on the lookout for a Senior Specialist in Sensory & Product Experience to collaborate with project teams to lead sensory product research in support of Nestlé brands and R&D programs to drive consumer-centricity and guide decision-making. The Senior Specialist demonstrates thought leadership for the function and knowledge to ensure success in product innovation and renovation in a dynamic, international environment.  

Primary Responsibilities:  

• Provide consumer & sensory insights to innovation and renovation projects:   

• Assure early-phase collaboration between R&D and business to leverage existing category consumer knowledge. 

• Operate as a promoter of consumer perspective throughout the innovation / renovation development process. Be a key consumer/sensory business partner to R&D and Business Category Leads and help define questions and outcomes from a consumer and sensory insight perspective to add value and influence project 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 cultivate foundational knowledge of the product category and target consumers with a focus on how/why consumer perceive and interact with products to generate relevant insights. 

• Develop knowledge and promote best practices for delivering taste preferences, sensory cues, and benefits to ensure effective product and package design. 

• Uncover learnings and understanding from internal and external sources (trends, competitive benchmarking, preferences, sensory mapping, etc.) to inform product and packaging design to maximize the consumer experience.  

• Apply strong analytical knowledge (i.e., design of experiment, statistics) and understanding to translate consumer responses into key drivers of liking and key sensory attributes to delight consumers. 

Manage and execute consumer and sensory research studies with excellence:  

• Lead complex projects of strategic importance, by designing fit-to-purpose sensory science, consumer research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative), procedures, and processes to provide key insights to answer objectives and communicate outcomes and their potential implications. 

• Define clear, time-bounded plans and prioritize resources available.  

• Manage studies: plan, design, then analyze results, and communicate high-level recommendations and implications for efficient, effective, and timely decision making.  

• Support the identification and communication of risks and opportunities while working collaborative to identify solutions. 

• Demonstrate ability to draw upon knowledge of adjacent functions to provide a clearer and deeper understanding of products and consumers. 

• 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. 

• Provide sensory & consumer understanding as it relates to the product experience and translate into actionable insights:  

• Build and leverage knowledge to identify new opportunities and guide strategies.  

• Lead category preference mapping projects to identify drivers of liking, white spaces, and recommendations that can drive future growth.  

• Anticipate needs and nurture relationships with external service providers, such that they perform and serve as an extension of the Sensory & Product Experience function. 

• Ensure consumer & sensory insights continuous improvement and team development:  

• Drive new method development and adoption within and across the SPX function, including innovative and agile methods. Be a change agent for the team for new methods and digital technologies.  

• Model continuous improvement, technical knowledge sharing and functional know-how throughout the organization. 

• 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.  

• 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. 

• Design or contribute to internal trainings and knowledge sharing activities in the area of sensory & consumer research in partnership with our global network. 

• execution and with autonomy.  

• Drive category-specific sensory and consumer training, contributing to the improvement of competencies in markets and R&D.  

• Coach and train junior team members to achieve excellence in execution and autonomy. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS (Education, Experience and Knowledge):         

• Advanced degree (Master or higher degree preferred) in Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Market Research, Food Technology, Food Science, or other related fields. 

• Consideration: PhD with Minimum of 2 years of experience in a wide range of sensory analysis and consumer (qualitative, quantitative) testing techniques and their applications: OR Master's degree with minimum of 4+ years of experience; OR Bachelor's Degree with 7+ years of experience 

• Solid experience applying univariate and multivariate statistical methods to generate insights. 

• Strong analytical, statistics, and problem-solving skills are a must. 

• Experience in statistical design of experiments is a plus. 

• Experience leading trained sensory panels. 

• 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. Experience translating technical data into great storytelling for a variety of audiences. 

• Strong organizational skills. 

• Able to work well in a team environment. 

• Independently motivated. 

• Good interpersonal/teamwork skills and a sense of business/technical interrelationships 

Salary: $93,574.80 to $136,601.00  per year

Bonus Eligibility: 7%

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits.  Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits 

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
 
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.
 

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. 

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