Scientist, Operations Labs, Technical Consumer Data Research

The Scientist role in Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) reports to the Senior Director, TCDR, LATAM, and is primarily a lab-based position responsible for leading internal sensory operations and supporting business-critical projects across the Latin America Operating Unit (LATAM OU). The role plays a key part in delivering high-quality sensory and consumer data to enable product, packaging, and equipment development aligned with productivity, renovation, and innovation priorities.

As an individual contributor, the TCDR Scientist designs, manages, and executes sensory and consumer research within internal sensory lab environments, ensuring rigorous study preparation, execution, and analysis. The role supports cross-functional business projects by generating reliable data, actionable insights, and clear recommendations tailored to Operating Unit needs.

Working closely with the broader TCDR team and business partners, the Scientist contributes to local innovation initiatives by applying human-centric design principles and integrating consumer understanding into development processes. This includes building product and category knowledge, uncovering consumer preferences, and translating insights into guidance that strengthens the innovation pipeline and ensures market-relevant, consumer-preferred solutions.

Organizationally, TCDR sits within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy function, enabling strong integration of sensory and consumer insights into strategic decision-making and reinforcing the role’s impact on delivering competitive, market-leading offerings.

FunctionalRelated Activities / Key Responsibilities

• Manage and lead all internal Sensory laboratory operationsto include laboratory,and personnel such aspanels, contractors, technicians, interns,asappropriate.

• Maintain laboratory to highest standard and lead required annual audits successfully.

• Conduct and manage laboratory-based experiments, ensuringaccuratedata collection, adherence to protocols, andtimelydelivery of high-quality results to support research and businessobjectivesfor the OU requirements.

• Design, executeand conduct sensory & consumer research studies to meet specific projectobjectivesgaining valuable sensory insights and providing guidance to the development team and Business partner. Manage all phases of the study including experimental design, test execution, statistical analyses and reporting of the results,aligned with OU TCDR leader.

• Provide recommendations on business solutions based on strong technical consumer research.

• Conduct competitor benchmarking and Product/Packaging/Equipment evaluation to understand the competitive landscapeinsupportof OUcategoriesand brands.

• Understand and define fundamental consumer/sensory requirements of your categories and inject the knowledge into solution development.

• Be curious,proactivelyleverageexternal knowledge (supplier, symposium, literature review) toidentify &provealternativebeneficial future forwardmethods(AIassisted), aligned with TCDR global category leader.

• Work as a close partner with the R&Dcategories team, Marketing andHumanInsight team.

• Work with minimal guidance and in close collaboration with project leaders.

DataAnalytics& Synthesis

• Perform analysis and interpret test results; form conclusions on studies conducted.Prepare and present technicalconclusion.

• Knowledge andintermediateusage ofStatistical software (SPSS,SAS, JMP,etc.), Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Project, Word.

• Harness evolving technologies and data analytics to develop tools and solutions that bolster competitiveadvantageand deliver market-leading results.

• Bring theoutside in, remain current with relevant scientific literaturefrom external resources.

TechnicalRiskManagement

• Skilled inidentifyingand assessing technical risks, mitigate risks, and implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity.

BusinessUnderstanding& SystemKnowledge

• System Thinking, ability to listen to and influence those in less technical roles to act and invest in capabilities with compelling business cases.

TechnicalCommunication& DataStorytelling

• Translate strategic visions into actionable plans, using knowledge of current business processes and best practices.

• Prepare and present technical conclusions to technical and non-technical audiences.

Influencing& StakeholderManagement

• Function as a key business partner by effectively managing and nurturing internal and external relationships, including collaboration with research suppliers, academic institutions, and cross-functional project teams, to supportresearch initiatives.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Educational Requirement: Batchelor Science Degree BScorMSc/ PhDfrom an accredited University inFood or Sensory Science, Engineering,BehavioralPsychology, or related field, andtechnical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics,to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches.

• Work Related Experience:4+ years of experience withinFMCGBeverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer researchand data,working in a FMCGorganizationwithPD,Marketing and Human Insight,ability totranslatedataresultsinto businessrecommendations.Operational Sensory laboratoryexperience inpreferred.

Desired Skills and Competencies:

Human-Centered Design:Design a research plan to address key questions for a specificproject.

• Sensory Science& Consumer Science

• Social & behavior science

• Research Design Principlesfor qualitativeand quantitativeresearch.

• Foundations of technicalriskmanagement

• User experience

Technical Communication:Simplify complex information in a concise format that isappropriate forthe audience.

• Analyze and communicate research in a fit for purposeformat.

• Technical Communicationand Storytelling with data

• Data Engineering, databasedevelopment &understanding

Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data.

• Excellent statisticsand data analysisskills.

• Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles,demonstratingan eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively.

• Understand and work in data management tools andproficiencyin visualization (PowerBIor other)

Business Partnerships:Work with multiple functions to execute project work (R&D, Marketing,HI, etc.)

• Serves as a trusted advisor, offering insights into relevant markets, business strategies, and operating environments to support informed decision-making across the organization and among individual team members.

• Cultivatestrong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders by providing valuable market analysis and strategic guidance to enhance business operations and drive organizational success.