Senior Scientist, R&D - Consumer

Job Purpose

The Senior Scientist for CX Product Insights leads consumer experience learning plans and product research for an assigned set of brands/platforms within the Kraft Heinz North American Zone. You'll proactively define key information needs and design fit-for-purpose research approaches with appropriate methodological rigor to answer critical business and technical questions, guiding product and packaging development from ideation through launch readiness. You synthesize learning into decision-ready recommendations and clear experience requirements that enable winning renovation and innovation, while demonstrating best-in-class CX tools, methods, and ways of working across the business.

You'll partner closely with R&D (Product & Process Development, Packaging, Sensory), Marketing/Brand, Insights, Culinary, and external suppliers to ensure consumer learning is converted into practical product, packaging, and technical decisions.

Provide consumer experience (CX) leadership for the assigned portfolio/projects.

Lead day-to-day CX learning plan execution, aligning research to the highest-value business and technical decisions at each milestone (prototyping, qualification, launch readiness).

Ensure projects enter and exit key development stages with clear, validated CX direction and appropriate documentation .

Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research focused on product and package experience.

Identify actionable recommendations from CX research for assigned categories/brands, synthesizing findings across phases and relevant data sources.

Translate consumer needs and Jobs-to-Be-Done into clear product and packaging experience targets, design criteria, and requirements that teams can apply in development and qualification.

Deliver decision-ready recommendations ("so what / now what") that clarify risks, tradeoffs, and next steps, and drive cross-functional alignment.

Manage external research suppliers: scoping, proposals, timelines, budgets, quality expectations, fieldwork oversight, and deliverable quality.

Lead multiple projects with effective prioritization, operating discipline, documentation, and stakeholder communication.

Ensure compliance with data integrity and privacy requirements.

Bachelor's degree required ; advanced degree preferred in Engineering, Food Science, Physical Science, Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Industrial Design, or Marketing with a strong consumer research focus. Marketing Research professional certification also relevant.

Minimum of 4+ years (BS) or 3 + years (MS) in consumer/product research or consumer experience roles supporting product development and commercialization , CPG strongly preferred , food & beverage ideal .

Demonstrated ability to translate consumer learning into actionable direction that informs product and package decisions.

Qualitative and quantitative research capability: study design, instrument development, synthesis, and storytelling.

Comfort with common research , survey/testing, and analysis platforms.

Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management in a matrixed environment.

Project management strength: prioritization, navigating ambiguity, attention to detail, and on-time delivery.

Clear written and verbal communication; ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Analytical problem-solving with high detail orientation.

Ability to manage multiple priorities.

May provide informal mentorship or guidance to junior team members.

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…