Sensory & Consumer Science Excellence Associate

Description

Sensory Consumer Science Excellence is a product experience research team within Reckitt R&D challenged with embedding consumer insight, preference and appeal into product or science visualization propositions early in the NPD process. SCSE are responsible for the interpretation of consumer needs and market opportunities (provided by category marketing, Insight & Analytics and Medical Science) into product embodiments or, with the support of category colleagues, new business opportunities outside of physical product-in-box. 
SCSE are responsible for building consumer sentiment into the product innovation programs of R&D through the planning and management of innovation in-the-field, consumer observation, provocation, prototyping and other consumer-product touch point activities SCSE is multi-disciplinary and autonomous in the strategy it employs to deliver against its objectives requiring leadership and sound business understanding from all team members.
Role Purpose: 

To support LATAM and US Nutrition Consumer Product innovation related projects, mainly working with the product development teams. Partner with R&D and Marketing innovation team to design consumer product research to answer key business questions. Provide insightful and Reckitt relevant data/insights to enable business growth.

Objectives:

•    Design, execute and manage, end to end quantitative and qualitative consumer research studies (focus groups, 1:1 interview, ethnography, online survey, Quantitative CLT, HUT research etc.), to produce actionable consumer insights to drive business impact, whilst meeting the required standards, project objectives and agreed timelines.
•    To build and manage creative yet efficient on-line consumer panels to enable project team access to local consumers.
•    Synergize sensory and consumer insights via Drivers of Liking research to provide actionable recommendation and product guidance to product development team to enable product success in the market via superior consumer user experience. 
•    To proactively identify and trial new consumer interaction approaches and methodologies to gain and explore superior and emerging behaviors and insights. 
•    To identify, form and manage partnership with appropriate agencies with value added external consumer capability. 
•    To ensure that all consumer work complies with Market Research codes of best practice and that data protection requirement are adhered to, across all geographies, predominantly LATAM and US.
•    To promote and maintain a safe working environment through compliance with established company and regulatory policies and SOP’s. 
•    To actively participate in the development and implementation of best practices across the SCSE team 

Scope: 
•    Reckitt Nutrition Category, LATAM & US, predominantly Infant Formula/Children's Nutrition, Adult Nutrition.
•    Additionally, may be requested to support other Reckitt categories requiring sensory and/or consumer product insight related to product experience such as VMS Category.
•    Sensory and consumer product research to support innovation product development. 
•    Product attributes or comparative appeal.

Additional requirements

Skills & Experience required:

•    Solid experience within FMCG or consumer nutrition companies in product categories where consumer science makes up an important part of product development.
•    Solid Consumer research experience – designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative consumer research studies.
•    Able to effectively summarize sensory and consumer insights and connecting different dots into powerful stories.
•    Able to effectively analyze both qualitative and quantitative data and derive insights from data breakouts to form a strong conclusion.
•    Experience presenting to small/medium groups (<20) and senior management. 
•    A genuine and demonstrated interest in early product innovation/development within consumer-packaged goods industries.
•    An excellent team player, willingness to become part of a very close-knit, agile, flexible team and work in collaborative fashion with team members.
•    Must be self-motivated, autonomous, a natural leader, ability to work seamless with global team members, strong time management and prioritization skills, an influential business partner and ambitious.
•    Fluent in English Language; Spanish is a plus.
•    Being mobile or willing to travel.

Technical / professional qualifications required: 

Preferred: Degree level in a Food Science, Behavioral Science or psychological discipline and/or industry qualification in market research / consumer science disciplines. 
+3 years industry experience, preferably in roles that require translating consumer insight into product solution recommendations, such as Front End Innovation.

Equality

At Reckitt, we recognise that in real life, great people don’t always ‘tick all the boxes’. That’s why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don’t meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. Come and join a team whose purpose is to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world.

All qualified applicants to Reckitt will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.