Now is the most exciting time to join IFF and be part of its transformation with the recent merger with Dupont Nutrition & Biosciences. We are looking for a Senior Researcher for Product Experience (PX) Innovation & Portfolio. Are you passionate about sensory and consumer insights and how they can impact product design, development, and formulation? Do you want to work in a diverse team to tackle global innovation challenges and opportunities?

As PX Innovation & Portfolio Senior Researcher, you will be responsible for guiding and supporting the global innovation programs on ingredients, technologies, and end-uses, through actionable sensory and consumer insights. This will also include validation and helping to build the value propositions before the go-to-market phase.

Your KPIs will primarily be the external adoption of innovations as well as the project win rate in key innovation areas, linking into the overall financial performance of the IFF Nourish division globally.

About You:

To be successful in this role you must have at least 8 years of experience in the field of sensory and consumer research, preferably in the food and beverage industry, and ideally involved in innovation programs. You are naturally curious and creative, yet pragmatic and result-driven. You are also convinced that insights should always have a direct impact on product design and formulation. More than anything you are passionate about the field and want to make a difference.

As a PX Innovation & Portfolio Senior Researcher, you will...

• Engage with global cross-functional innovation teams to understand and define the needs, and discuss and align on the most relevant overall approach
• Be the voice of the consumer during the entire innovation process
• Define, drive, and implement sensory & consumer research, always keeping in mind speed, quality, and differentiation as priorities
• Generate sensory and consumer data through:
  • Effective use of discriminative and descriptive sensory methods
  • Design of quantitative consumer tests
  • Execution of qualitative consumer research (from creating moderator guides to moderating, assimilating results, and reporting)
  • Other alternative and innovative methods
• Analyze complex consumer and sensory data using statistical models, textual analysis, etc.; translate raw data into insights and actionable recommendations that support the design, development, and formulation of products
• Effectively communicate research approaches, findings, and recommendations to internal or external stakeholders, adapting the content and the style depending on your audience to ensure a maximum impact
• Collaborate actively with the other members of the PX team to explore and leverage new methods, or to mutualize efforts on a project and create synergies

Required Skills:

• Strategic thinking, learning agility, creativity, problem-solving, drive for results, action-oriented, and strong business acumen
• High level of expertise in sensory (descriptive, discriminative) and consumer (qualitative, quantitative) research methods and related data analysis (multivariate analyses, predictive modeling); being at ease with statistical programs such as R, SPSS, JMP, Xlstat.
• Strong people skills, influencing and networking skills, and an effective team player
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to craft compelling stories driven by data
• Demonstrating inclusive leadership within cross-functional and cross-cultural teams
• Fluent in English, additional languages preferred

Required Experience:

• Minimum 8 years' experience sensory and consumer research, preferably within the flavor/fragrance / ingredients or food & beverage industry
• Masters and/or Ph.D. in Sensory Science, Experimental Psychology, Neuroscience, Food Science or related area

Culture Principles

• ACT AS AN OWNER - We take ownership and work with passion and integrity. Our teams are empowered to make decisions and help the entire organization thrive.
• BE AGILE - We constantly push for progress and respond to the needs of our customers and the world with speed, skill, and creativity.
• COLLABORATE AND WIN TOGETHER - Our bond with our customers and colleagues powers innovation and our shared success.
• BE INCLUSIVE - We have a proud history of honoring and fostering diversity and inclusion. Our commitment is to embrace diversity of thought, enhance the feeling of inclusion for all employees and transform our future.Your Uniqueness Unleash Our Potential!