Senior Principal Scientist – Consumer Science; Beverages

Overview

The Senior Principal Scientist – Consumer Science (Beverages) is a senior technical leader responsible for driving consumer‑centric strategy and product superiority for carbonated beverages. This role shapes innovation, renovation, and in‑market performance by embedding deep consumer and sensory understanding into every stage of beverage development. Operating at the intersection of sensory science, consumer insights, and product design, this role ensures Pepsi Co delivers superior taste and holistic experiences that win against competitors in global beverage markets.

• Serve as a recognized expert in beverage consumer and sensory science, shaping decisions, capabilities, and outcomes across the broader organization.
• Partner‑advocate for career development of others through mentoring, building capability through technical and personal growth, and contributing to Pepsi Co being the employer of choice as measured by OHS scores.
• Act as an influential business partner and consensus builder, providing actionable insights to guide current and new R&D projects, and ensuring recommendations fit within in‑market business complexities and competitive positioning.
• Communicate research implications and importance to executive leadership and project teams, creating concise summaries and presenting clear recommendations to senior/executive leaders.
• Own learning plans and research strategy, independently designing and conducting actionable research as documented in integrated learning plans with alignment among key senior stakeholders across R&D, Consumer Insights, and Marketing.
• Manage external relationships, building relationships with research suppliers, negotiating contracts, and providing feedback on vendor performance.
• Facilitate budget management, helping PD and Finance plan and manage the consumer research portion of the product development budget and confirming invoicing according to the budget management process.
• Act as a digitization enabler, ensuring all Consumer Science requests and reports are shared through Lab Vantage and guiding newcomers to the appropriate digital channels.
• Support one Pepsi Co culture by nurturing a culture of excellence, collaboration, engagement, and capability building, maintaining open communication lines with the global Consumer Science team and ensuring partners operate as one Pepsi Co.

• Expected compensation range: $123,500 – $206,750.
• Location, confirmed job‑related skills, experience, and education considered for actual starting salary.
• Performance bonus of up to 15% of annual salary paid annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick leave, and bereavement.
• Comprehensive benefits package:
  Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), and Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Sensory Science, Food Science, Psychology) with a strong theoretical background in test design, research methodologies, and statistical analysis.
• Minimum 10 years in CPG R&D.
• Proven expertise in sensory and consumer product research, enabling sensory‑informed product design decisions.
• Deep subject‑matter expertise and experience in quantitative sensory and consumer research methods for new and existing products; beverage knowledge preferred.
• Proven ability to design, analyze, and interpret sensory and consumer findings into actionable implications that refine product, packaging, and brand strategies.
• Strategic thinker capable of identifying opportunity spaces the organization can leverage for meaningful consumer solutions.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional decision making to keep human centricity at the heart of project decisions.
• Horizon scanning and implementation of in‑house cutting‑edge sensory science methods.
• Clear understanding of the broader business environment and application of technical and commercial knowledge.
• Position limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

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