Position Title: Sr. Sensory Scientist
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Shanghai
Grade: Grade 05
Requisition ID: 30499
JOB PURPOSE AND SCOPE:
The Senior Sensory Scientist is a key member of the Asia Pacific and South African (APACSA) regional Sensory UX team and reports into the regional Sensory Innovation Manager (APACSA).
This role is based in Shanghai and has accountability for supporting the China and JKSEAT business.
The Senior Sensory Scientist leads, develops and applies sensory and consumer research best practices and methodologies to provide guidance and insights to McCain’s regional and local Product Development teams throughout the stage gate process.
The Senior Sensory Scientist collaborates with R&D, Marketing, Consumer Insights, Operations, and other internal and external partners on local and regionally overarching projects to drive McCain’s profitable growth. This role partners with cross-functional team leaders to lead sensory research projects with scientific rigor (balancing risk and opportunity), issues reports, and creates actionable recommendations to stakeholders. The position also prioritizes timelines and resources to meet the Sensory research budget for the region.
As part of the Global Sensory UX team, the Senior Sensory Scientist provides leadership to internal team members to expand McCain’s global sensory capabilities. This includes the optimization and standardization of sensory tools and the development of new or hybrid methods. It also includes developing new training materials, assessing and onboarding new vendors, identifying and closing gaps the company has in regard to its sensory needs, and contributing to investigations regarding the linkage between sensory methods or attribute intensities to instrumental test methods.
Given the role supports both the China and JKSEAT business, the Senior Sensory Scientist will be required to travel within the APACSA region to achieve objectives. All business travel is supported by McCain.
The Senior Sensory Scientist is part of the broader APACSA R&D team, and is required to collaborate to meet the total regional team agenda. As such, this role may, at times, be required to assist the Sensory Innovation Manager in directing and activating sensory research/training in the region.
1. Partners with Consumer Insights, Research and Development, Marketing, Packaging, Supply Chain, and other business leaders to align on priorities, build project connections and guide the organization towards strong customer and consumer understanding and insights.
2. Drives projects through appropriate product and packaging consumer and sensory learning plans from optimization to confirmatory testing, inclusive of building foundational product knowledge, protecting product quality, and enhancing consumer understanding.
3. Plans and leads multiple research projects with minimal guidance from manager, including engaging relevant external partners, to deliver against objectives, timings and budget. Includes report preparation and delivery.
4. Courageously champions product design and product quality as the sensory representative on the R&D and business teams.
5. Further strengthens best sensory practices within the R&D teams and provoke a consumer-first mindset.
6. Encourages all to apply design of experiments to sensory and consumer testing.
7. Grows overall skill sets of Sensory Scientists and Technicians to turn data into actionable insights. This includes a synthesis of qualitative consumer learning and interpretation of statistical analyses of quantitative sensory and consumer testing.
8. Brings sensory change management to the organization by educating, connecting and making sensory approachable by translating complicated concepts into simple terms.
9. Develops and fosters strong relationships with key sensory and consumer testing vendors to ensure flawless execution of tests and appropriate pricing.
10. Partners with stakeholders to measure and understand the competitive space and give actionable guidance.
Required qualifications and experience:
Master’s degree in Sensory Science, Food Science, Statistics, Psychology, or related field, Master's degree with emphasis in Sensory Science preferred.Minimum 8 years of experience in sensory and consumer research across a range of research techniques for CPG. Experience managing product research projects, end to end, from planning and briefing, to engaging vendors, to analysis and reporting of outcomes, and working into the business for impact. Experience in planning and executing sensory and/or consumer research in partnership with R&D and CI / Marketing.Fluent in design and activation of analytical sensory techniques (eg Discrimination testing, Descriptive Analysis) and quantitative and qualitative consumer research methodologies (eg Focus Groups, Ethnography, CLT’s, IHUTs etc). Experience in integrating these methodologies to understand the connection between design and consumer liking/behaviour/emotionDemonstrated track record of supporting the delivery of winning product innovations from early stage scoping, to in market activation and surveillance, through providing sensory and consumer input that addresses customers/consumers’ needs and influencing to impact the teams’ decisionsExperience connecting, collaborating, and managing external research vendors to deliver project objectives, on time and in budgetFundamental understanding of applied statistical analysis, including design of experiments and multivariate analysis techniquesProficient in the use of Microsoft Successful and inspiring leader of people with proven record of coaching, teaching and improving performance of employees, not within their direct line of reporting.
Key Competencies:
Exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, and influencing skills.Ability to manage and prioritize resources and own capacity in a fast-paced environment.Depth of knowledge in sensory science/product testing principles.Strong English communication skills ie verbal and writtenAbility to communicate effectively with diverse audiences ranging from highly scientific/technical to non-technical personnel and customers.Knowledge of Food Chemistry/Biochemistry/Statistics desired.Demonstrated track record of supporting the delivery of winning product innovations through providing sensory input that addresses customers’ needs and influencing skills that sway teams to do the right thing.Ability to recognize, disseminate, and reconcile information into insights and trends that advance McCain’s ability to make better business decisions.Self-motivated, adapts easily to change.Experience in managing external relationships with vendors.Scientific curiosity.Engaging individual that encourages the team’s experimentation mindset yet exhibits and applies business savviness across projects and decisions.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
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Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Sensory Innovation APACSA
Location(s): CN - China : Shanghai : Shanghai
Company: McCain Foods (Harbin) Co.