Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Experience Packaging Research SME

About this role

Job Description Job Purpose   

​ ​ The   Principal Scientist for CX Product Insights   is the technical authority and methodologist for consumer experience research across an assigned portfolio within Product Insights. You architect fit-for-purpose CX learning strategies across the end-to-end product lifecycle ,   from front-end exploration and ideation through launch readiness ,   ensuring methodological rigor, evidence quality, and decision-ready synthesis that accelerates innovation and renovation. You translate consumer needs into clear product and packaging experience requirements, influence cross-functional teams toward consumer-centric decisions, and balance speed vs. rigor based on decision risk. You elevate functional capability through coaching, playbooks/toolkits, and ways of working, and guide internal teams and suppliers to the right level of rigor for the decision at hand. You’ll partner closely with R&D (Product & Process Development, Packaging, Sensory), Marketing/Brand,   Insights ,   Analytics , Culinary, and external suppliers to ensure consumer learning is converted into practical product, packaging, and technical decisions.   ​    

Essential   Functions &   Responsibilities    

• ​ ​ Provide CX technical leadership for the assigned portfolio/platforms, defining key information needs tied to business and technical decisions at each development milestone.  

• ​ Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for packaging design consumer research, providing specialized methodological   expertise .    

• ​ Architect end-to-end CX learning plans (qualitative + quantitative) from upstream exploration to downstream validation, with clear decision framing, success criteria, and evidence standards.  

• ​ Serve as portfolio CX methodologist/SME—selecting, applying, and advising on appropriate methods across learning phases, aligning rigor to risk and timeline.  

• ​ Translate consumer learning into clear experience requirements that guide product and packaging development, including managing design tradeoffs and aligning on what success looks like.  

• ​ Lead high-stakes stakeholder readouts,   sy nthesizing   findings ,   tailoring storyline and technical depth for executive vs. technical audiences; ensure implications are clear, succinct, and actionable.  

• ​ Serve as technical consultant to the CX team on study designs, analysis plans, and interpretation for high-stakes readouts and gate/milestone decisions  

• ​ Evaluate, pilot, and standardize emerging CX methods and analytics (including vendor capabilities), documenting best practices, limitations, and evidence thresholds before scaling.  

• ​ Coach and upskill scientists and partners through training, playbooks/toolkits, best practices, and consultative support, including shaping ways of working that embed CX rigor across the function.  

• ​ Audit vendor strategy and performance for the portfolio—capability matching, scoping, quality expectations, data integrity checks, performance management, and deliverable acceptance criteria.  

• ​ Lead multiple simultaneous workstreams with strong prioritization, operating discipline, documentation, and stakeholder communication in a fast-paced environment .  

• ​ Provide continuity/backup coverage for the    CX leadership    team as needed.  

• ​ Ensure compliance with data integrity, privacy, and internal research governance requirements. ​  

Expected Experience   & Required Skills  

• ​ ​ Bachelor’s   degree minimum (Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Marketing Research, Engineering, Food Science, Human Factors, Industrial Design, or related STEM field) ,   with   an advanced degree preferred    

• ​ Minimum of   6+ years (BS), 5 + years (MS) or   4 + years (PhD) in consumer/product research, consumer experience, or applied insights supporting product development and commercialization—CPG or food & beverage strongly preferred—with demonstrated progression as a technical authority across multiple brands/platforms and vendor ecosystems.  

• ​ Recognized expertise across CX research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including end-to-end study design, instrument development, analysis planning, synthesis, and storytelling; ability to select methods based on decision risk and learning objectives.  

• ​ Proven ability to influence   product and   packaging innovation/renovation decisions by translating consumer needs into clear experience requirements and decision criteria    

• ​ Direct experience in   consumer research methodology focused on   packaging technical   design    

• ​ Strong technical oversight: expert scoping, critical review of study quality, and ability to QA vendor work (methods, analysis, and interpretation).  

• ​ Clear, succinct communication across audiences, including leadership-level implications, tradeoffs, and uncertainty/limitations.  

• ​ Demonstrated capability building: coaching, technical training, and establishing best practices/standards in a matrixed organization.  

• ​ Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management; sound escalation judgment and ability to correct misinterpretations of evidence.  

• ​ Strong prioritization and independent execution across a complex portfolio with multiple concurrent projects.  

• ​ Working proficiency with quantitative/statistical interpretation used in CX and product testing; comfort using and overseeing common research platforms and analysis tools (survey/testing platforms, analysis packages, dashboards/BI), consistent with internal standards.  

• ​ Ability to travel up to   20 %   of   the time. ​  

Work Environment & Schedule  

We believe the office is a critical driver of innovation, connection, and development, but also realize providing flexibility to our employees is critical. To create a more agile and modern workplace, this position will be able to work virtually for up to two days each week and will be expected to work in-person at the assigned work location at lea

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