Senior Scientist, R&D - Consumer Experience

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.​  

Essential Functions & Responsibilities  

• ​​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.​ 

Expected Experience & Required Skills 

• ​​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.​ 

Work Environment & Schedule 

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 modern workplace, this position will be able to work virtually for up to two days each week and will be expected to work in-person at the assigned work location at least three days per workweek.