Principal Scientist, R&D

Job Description
Job Purpose ​​ThePrincipal Scientist for CX Product Insightsis the technical authority and methodologist for consumer experience research across an assigned portfolio within Product Insights. You architect fit-for-purpose CX learning strategies across the end-to-end product lifecycle,from front-end exploration and ideation through launch readiness,ensuring methodological rigor, evidence quality, and decision-ready synthesis that accelerates innovation and renovation. You translate consumer needs into clear product and packaging experience requirements, influence cross-functional teams toward consumer-centric decisions, and balance speed vs. rigor based on decision risk. You elevate functional capability through coaching, playbooks/toolkits, and ways of working, and guide internal teams and suppliers to the right level of rigor for the decision at hand.
You’llpartner closely with R&D (Product & Process Development, Packaging, Sensory), Marketing/Brand,Insights,Analytics, Culinary, and external suppliers to ensure consumer learning is converted into practical product, packaging, and technical decisions.​ EssentialFunctions &Responsibilities ​​Provide CX technical leadership for the assigned portfolio/platforms, defining key information needs tied to business and technical decisions at each development milestone.​Architect end-to-end CX learning plans (qualitative + quantitative) from upstream exploration to downstream validation, with clear decision framing, success criteria, and evidence standards.​Serve as portfolio CX methodologist/SME—selecting, applying, and advising onappropriate methodsacross learning phases, aligning rigor to risk and timeline.​Translate consumer learning into clear experience requirements that guide product and packaging development, including managing design tradeoffs and aligning on what success looks like.​Lead high-stakes stakeholder readouts,synthesizingfindings,tailoringstorylineand technical depth for executive vs. technical audiences; ensure implications are clear, succinct, and actionable.​Serve as technical consultant to the CX team on study designs, analysis plans, and interpretation for high-stakes readouts and gate/milestone decisions.​Evaluate, pilot, and standardize emerging CX methods and analytics (including vendor capabilities), documenting best practices, limitations, and evidence thresholds before scaling.​Coach and upskill scientists and partners through training, playbooks/toolkits, best practices, and consultative support, including shaping ways of working that embed CX rigor across the function.​Audit vendor strategy and performance for the portfolio—capabilitymatching, scoping, quality expectations, data integrity checks, performance management, and deliverable acceptance criteria.​Lead multiple simultaneous workstreams with strong prioritization, operating discipline, documentation, and stakeholder communication in a fast-paced environment.​Provide continuity/backup coverage for the senior team as needed.​Ensure compliance with data integrity, privacy, and internal research governance requirements.​Expected Experience& Required Skills​​Bachelor’sdegree minimum (Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Marketing Research, Engineering, Food Science, Human Factors, Industrial Design, or related STEM field).​Minimum of6+ years (BS), 5+ years (MS) or4+ years (PhD) in consumer/product research, consumer experience, or applied insights supporting product development and commercialization—CPG or food & beverage strongly preferred—with demonstrated progression as a technical authority across multiple brands/platforms and vendor ecosystems.​Recognizedexpertiseacross CX research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including end-to-end study design, instrument development, analysis planning, synthesis, and storytelling; ability to select methods based on decision risk and learningobjectives.​Proven ability to influence product and packaging innovation/renovation decisions by translating consumer needs into clear experience requirements and decision criteria.​Strong technical oversight: expert scoping, critical review of study quality, and ability to QA vendor work (methods, analysis, and interpretation).​Clear, succinct communication across audiences, including leadership-level implications, tradeoffs, and uncertainty/limitations.​Demonstrated capabilitybuilding:coaching, technical training, andestablishingbest practices/standards in a matrixed organization.​Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management; sound escalation judgment and ability to correct misinterpretations of evidence.​Strong prioritization and independent execution across a complex portfolio with multiple concurrent projects.​Workingproficiencywith quantitative/statistical interpretation used in CX and product testing; comfort using and overseeing common research platforms and analysis tools (survey/testing platforms, analysis packages, dashboards/BI), consistent with internal s