VP, Consumer Insights & Ninja Test Kitchen

About Us 

SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proven track record of bringing disruptive innovation to market, and developing one consumer product after another has allowed SharkNinja to enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than 3,300+ associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world.  

The Vice President (VP) of Global Consumer Insights and Ninja Test Kitchen will be responsible for leading and driving the strategic vision of consumer insights, innovation, and product development through the Test Kitchen and consumer research. This role will oversee the company’s global efforts to deeply understand consumer needs, behaviors, and trends, leveraging those insights to shape product development, marketing strategies, and overall brand positioning. The VP will also lead the Test Kitchen operations to experiment, prototype, and refine product concepts in real-time, ensuring products meet the highest standards of consumer satisfaction, taste, and market readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Consumer Insights Strategy:
   1. Develop and implement a global consumer insights strategy to drive product innovation, marketing strategies, and customer engagement across all consumer touchpoints.
   2. Lead a global team of consumer researchers, analysts, and data scientists to collect, analyze, and interpret consumer data and market trends.
   3. Utilize both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., surveys, focus groups, ethnographies, in-home usage tests) to generate actionable insights for various business functions.
   4. Provide deep insights into consumer preferences, needs, and pain points, ensuring the company remains consumer-centric in all product development initiatives.
2. Test Kitchen Leadership:
   1. Oversee the Test Kitchen’s operations as a key hub for product innovation, prototype development, and culinary experimentation.
   2. Work closely with R&D, Product Development, and Marketing teams to translate consumer insights into testable concepts and product prototypes.
   3. Manage the testing of new product concepts, formulations, flavors, and packaging, ensuring consumer feedback is effectively integrated into the product development process.
   4. Develop and refine the Test Kitchen’s capabilities to scale for global innovation and cross-functional collaboration.
3. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
   1. Partner closely with the Product Development, R&D, and Marketing teams to ensure that consumer insights and feedback are embedded at every stage of the product lifecycle.
   2. Collaborate with senior leadership to align insights and innovation efforts with company growth objectives, brand strategies, and emerging market opportunities.
   3. Work with external partners, including suppliers, agencies, and culinary experts, to further enhance product development efforts and consumer understanding.
4. Consumer Testing & Innovation:
   1. Lead the creation of comprehensive consumer testing frameworks to assess product concepts, packaging, and messaging, ensuring products resonate with target audiences before large-scale production.
   2. Oversee the creation of sensory testing programs and other product validation techniques to ensure optimal product quality, taste, and consumer appeal.
   3. Leverage insights to drive continuous innovation, testing new product categories, flavors, ingredients, and consumer experiences.
5. Global Trends and Competitive Intelligence:
   1. Lead efforts to identify and analyze global consumer trends, industry shifts, and competitive market activity to inform long-term product strategies and innovation pipelines.
   2. Provide thought leadership and foresight into emerging consumer needs, particularly within the consumer goods or food and beverage sector.
   3. Conduct competitive analyses to evaluate competitor product offerings, identify white spaces in the market, and uncover growth opportunities.
6. Data-Driven Decision Making:
   1. Develop and implement data-driven approaches to consumer insights and