Sensory Scientist

Position Title: Sensory Scientist

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Position Location: Florenceville Main

Grade: Grade 04

Requisition ID: 31178

JOB PURPOSE:

The Sensory Scientist applies sensory and consumer research best practices and methodologies to provide guidance and insights to McCain's regional and local Product Development teams throughout the stage gate process.

This position is a key member of the global sensory team, supporting the Canadian regional team providing direction and training to various stakeholders on all sensory aspects of McCain's products. The Scientist, Sensory partners with cross-functional teams to integrate sensory best practices and testing, where appropriate, throughout the product development process. This position also partners with PD, and sensory quality in support of key product attribute (KPA) identification and assists with global platforms as needed.

The role is responsible for using existing tools/methods and implementing new sensory consumer user experience and sensory methods as needed to guide product development, enable successful innovation launches and guide renovation efforts. The Sensory Scientist designs and leads testing plans, created in partnership with Consumer Insights counterpart, with scientific rigor, issues reports and creates actionable recommendations to stakeholders.

The Scientist, Sensory collaborates with R&D, Marketing, Consumer Insights, Operations, and other internal and external partners on new products, processes, product stewardship, SCA/VE, quality improvements and cost savings to drive McCain's profitable growth.

As part of the Global Center of Excellence of Sensory and User Experience team, the Scientist, Sensory also works with internal team members to expand McCain's global sensory capabilities. This includes the optimization and standardization of sensory tools and the development of new or hybrid methods. This person also works closely with his/her manager and team to develop new training materials, assessing and onboarding new vendors, build additional capabilities such as descriptive analysis and discrimination testing locally and identifying and closing gaps the company has in regard to its sensory needs.

The position executes and reports sensory and consumer research studies providing insights and recommendations to facilitate data-based decision making. As such, the Sensory Scientist builds and maintains strong relationships with core vendors, supervises the application of best scientific practices by such vendors and manages test costs and timelines. This person should also be willing and able to travel as needed, approx. 20% of the time.

Core Accountabilities/Outcomes:

• Partners with Consumer Insights, Product Development, ATI, Marketing, Packaging, Supply Chain, and other business and product teams to guide the optimization of innovation products, product improvements, and define product quality as designed.
• Drives projects through appropriate product and packaging consumer and sensory learning plans from early guidance (as needed) to optimization to confirmatory testing, inclusive of building foundational product knowledge, protecting product quality, and enhancing consumer understanding.
• Facilitates consumer/operator interactions to grow consumer/operator empathy.
• Courageously champions product design and product quality as the sensory representative on the Research & Development and business teams.
• Further strengthens best sensory practices within the Research & Development teams and provoke a sensory mindset.
• Applies design of experiments to sensory and consumer testing.
• Translates data to insights through synthesis of qualitative consumer learning and interpretation of statistical analyses of quantitative sensory and consumer testing.
• Communicates recommendations and key findings in a relevant and easy to understand manner and guide business teams to next steps in the product development process.
• Develops and fosters strong relationships with key sensory and consumer testing vendors to ensure flawless execution of tests and appropriate pricing.
• Is a core team member of cross-functional project teams.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Sensory Science, Food Science, Statistics, Psychology, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years (2 years with Master's degree) in Sensory and consumer research experience across a range of research techniques.
• Experience planning and executing sensory and/or consumer research
• Fundamental understanding of applied statistical analysis, including design of experiments and multivariate analysis techniques.

Key Competencies:

• Exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• Fluent in English
• Ability to manage resources and leverage existing data to effectively lead multiple projects.
• Depth of knowledge in sensory science.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences ranging from highly scientific/technical to non-technical personnel and customers.
• Knowledge of Food Chemistry/Biochemistry/Statistics desired.
• Demonstrated track record of supporting the delivery of winning product innovations through providing sensory input that addresses customers' needs.
• Ability to recognize, disseminate, and reconcile information into insights that advance McCain's ability to make better business decisions.
• Self-motivated, adapts easily to change.
• Experience in managing external relationships with vendors desired.
• Scientific curiosity.
• Engaging individual that encourages the team's experimentation mindset.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: ​Sensory Innovation CA-US-LATAM ​
Location(s): CA - Canada : New Brunswick : Florenceville-Bristol

Company: McCain Foods (Canada)