R&D Scientist

Post Consumer Brands is a leading provider of delicious food choices for every taste and budget. Our portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, PEBBLES, Grape-Nuts, and Malt-O-Meal cereal, as well as Rachael Ray Nutrish, Kibbles n Bits, and 9Lives dog and cat food.

We are seeking a highly skilled R&D Scientist to join our Products Research team. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading projects and product testing to understand consumer needs and translate them into technical requirements to drive business impact.

• Lead both qualitative and quantitative consumer research to understand consumer needs and inform product development.
• Advance capability to translate consumer-based needs into design actionability through working with the Product Development, Process Development, and Analytical teams.
• Lead foundational category product learning for fundamental R&D product understanding.
• Define and influence the Products Research methods and activities used for consumer understanding, product development, and qualification of projects.
• Create and improve methodologies related to technical product performance with dogs and cats.
• Initiate and lead Products Research methods and activities that guide current and future product innovation and technology platforms.
• Accountable for all Products Research deliverables in technical reviews for assigned projects.
• Integrate internal and external innovation capabilities to deliver key initiatives and drive Products Research capability.
• Leverage Products Research understanding and knowledge to train peers within the R&D organization.
• Actively collaborate and leverage relationships on cross-functional teams to achieve established shared goals or objectives.
• Works independently, guided by functional processes and seeks input or guidance on complex matters.
• Identify and implement Pet R&D work process improvements.
• As appropriate, lead cross-discipline project teams.
• Become a subject matter expert on the consumers and products related to their specific projects.

• A Bachelor's Degree in Science or Engineering is required; an advanced technical degree is preferred.
• Advanced degree in Sensory Science is a plus.
• At least 5 years of experience in the Consumer Products Industry is required.
• Experience in Consumer/Products Research is required.
• Experience in quantitative data analysis is strongly desired.
• Pet Food/Snack and/or related business experience is a plus.

• Strong experience in Products Research or Sensory within the Consumer Product Industry and track record of leveraging this experience to develop, qualify, and launch innovation.
• Demonstrated practitioner of large quantitative category learning and modeling.
• Experience designing, moderating, and interpreting qualitative interviews is desired.
• Passionate and driven team player, who is also able to independently manage projects and reach out for support when needed.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering with other functions to deliver results.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders across functions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must be passionate and driven, yet flexible and willing to embrace changing business priorities and ambiguity.
• Experience designing and placing research for demonstration of product benefit or support claims is desired.
• Expected to have strong experience in statistical analysis of large data sets utilizing software such as JMP, MiniTab or SPSS.
• Must have a proven track record of effective communication of data analyses, data-based decision making and turning quantitative analyses into actionable insights to influence the product development process.

• Up to 20%.