Senior Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Statistician

Senior Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Experience Statistician

The Senior Principal Scientist for Consumer Experience is a high-impact R&D leadership role responsible for the strategic integration of statistical expertise into the consumer research lifecycle. You will serve as the primary architect for experimental frameworks that drive product innovation and legally defensible global claims. Beyond data analysis, you will lead end-to-end consumer experience projects, manage an elite ecosystem of external research partners, and ensure the operational excellence of research facilities worldwide.

This role requires a blend of advanced technical mastery and proactive project leadership to transform consumer insights into a competitive market advantage.

• End-to-End Project Leadership:
  Lead and oversee consumer experience projects from inception to completion, ensuring statistical rigor is embedded in the research design and that findings directly influence R&D innovation roadmaps.
• Vendor Ecosystem & Strategy:
  Define and maintain a preferred network of global consumer and sensory research agencies. Leverage extensive industry knowledge to select partners that offer cutting‑edge methodologies and best-in-class data quality.
• Quality Assurance & Facility Auditing:
  Conduct on-site audits of vendor facilities and research sessions to ensure compliance with protocols, data integrity standards, and best practices in sensory/consumer testing.
• Research Travel:
  Travel as necessary to observe research in the field, supervise complex data‑collection sessions, and ensure the execution of studies aligns with strategic objectives.
• Claims Substantiation:
  Lead the statistical design and analysis for consumer‑centric research to support global product claims, ensuring all evaluations meet the highest standards for legal and regulatory defensibility.
• Methodological Innovation:
  Identify and implement emerging statistical techniques (e.g., Bayesian modeling, predictive analytics) to uncover non‑obvious consumer insights and product white spaces.
• Consultative Influence:
  Act as a senior consultant to R&D and Marketing leadership, translating complex statistical findings into compelling business narratives that guide executive decision‑making.
• Regulatory & Industry Influence:
  Maintain active engagement with professional associations and standards‑setting bodies (e.g., ASTM, ISO) to stay ahead of emerging statistical, methodological, and claims‑support standards and translate these advancements into internal best practices.

• Master’s degree (MS) in Statistics, Biostatistics, or a related quantitative field is required.
• A minimum of 7 to 10+ years of post‑graduation practical experience, with a heavy emphasis on the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or sensory research industries.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale external research agencies and navigating the vendor ecosystem to deliver high-quality results.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary projects and providing senior-level guidance in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Expert knowledge of ANOVA, Multivariate Methods, DOE, Regression, Hypothesis Testing, and Power Analysis.
• Ability to audit and evaluate the technical capabilities of external research facilities and data collection methodologies.
• Deep understanding of multiple research methodologies (CLT, IHUT, Sensory Profiling) and the rigorous requirements for product claims support.
• Exceptional ability to "story tell" with data, presenting findings to both technical experts and non‑technical executive audiences.
• Ability to work independently, manage high‑stakes project commitments, and influence cross‑functional peers without direct authority.
• Ability to travel up to XX% of the time for business needs.

This position operates primarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview, IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week, with an expectation to work on-site at least…