DIRECTOR SENSORY & CONSUMER SCIENCE

Sensory & Consumer Science Director

Haddenham, UK (hybrid)

The Head of Sensory & Consumer Science EMEA defines and leads the Sensory & Consumer Science strategy and research programme. Thought leadership enables consumer-centric research that identifies product and category insights that drive growth as well as optimise cost and nutrition of the Flavour Solutions, Consumer and Flavours segments. Research results guide product development, Marketing and Commercial decision-making. They lead the Sensory & Consumer Science team across EMEA.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provides strategic Sensory and Consumer Science (SCS) leadership across all business units (B2B, Consumer, Flavours) for EMEA region. Provides actionable research plans, data analysis and interpretation to guide and validate new product developments, cost improvement activities, business continuity, change management and capacity expansions.

· With Commercial and Marketing partners develops cross-functional roadmaps that incorporate end-to-end consumer and sensory science research plans in support of the strategic LTP growth agenda of global and regional Flavour Solutions customers and McCormick’s branded Consumer Growth Platforms.

· Leads a central EMEA team of SCS excellence, that provides actionable data to support R&D activities.

· Provides training across the region to enable local self-sufficiency for agile, local decision making and trains teams in SCS best practices in accordance with customer requirements ensuring consistency across the region.

· Trains external customers to demonstrate capability, expertise and thought leadership, to build customer trust and intimacy.

· Ensures that EMEA testing facilities follow global norms and are fit for purpose.

· Acts as senior SCS expert to support technical and commercial customer facing interactions. Provides a regionally, and where appropriate globally aligned research approach to streamline efficient communication and data management.

· Active participant in the global SCS Centre of Expertise advocating and implementing best practices internally and externally.

· Stays abreast of new methodologies and leverages Consumer Science disciplines and related sciences, i.e., behavioural psychology, sociology, ethnography, statistics, etc to enable a holistic and multisensorial research approach, to provide comprehensive multi-dimensional insights, to enable competitive advantage and in-depth market and product category understanding through the perception of the consumer.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

· Degree Level in Sensory Science, Food Science or related discipline

· Demonstrable experience in leading a Sensory & Consumer Science function;

· Sensory and technical Consumer Science experience within FMCG sector

· Project management experience of complex projects

· Experience in applying multiple Sensory and Consumer Science methodologies to meet strategic business needs, including qualitative and quantitative research

· Ability to translate data insights into actionable recommendations to support business growth agenda

· Proven track record of team and strategic leadership

· Ability to lead and influence cross functional teams managing through complex projects

· Business partnering skills

· Experience of running consumer-based surveys or product testing

· Experience of leading customer presentations and/or training

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.