Sensory & Product Specialist

 

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.

 

JOB SUMMARY: 

• Provide appropriate Sensory and Consumer Preference knowledge in close collaboration with Strategic Business Units / Markets / R&D to ensure innovation and renovation meets consumer expectations and is aligned with business strategies.
• Continuously seek for improving consumer & sensory best practices and promoting the use of Sensory and Consumer Research in innovation and renovation process at R&D and Market level.
• Manage and execute research with excellence.

 

 

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 evaluation and consumer methodologies.
  • Play an active part in cross-functional project teams, from front-end innovation until launch. Ensure CSI knowledge is transferred to the industrialization stage, guiding 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
  • Train the factory sensory analysts and assist them with the implementation of sensory specifications.

 

• Build and share knowledge: Contribute to the i