Global Head of Sensory and Consumer Product Research (SPCR) Taste
Kerry Group plc, WorkFromHome
About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced candidate to join us as a Global Head of Sensory and Consumer Insight. Using all our internal expertise and external partnerships to ensure the Kerry Consumer & Sensory insight is a differentiating partner to the business in driving profitable growth.
The successful candidate will be a key part of the Kerry Consumer & Sensory Insight transformation and will be pivotal in solidifying the technologies and practices to push this project forward. Leading a direct team and together with regional SPCR and Marketing leaders you will get a true understanding of our consumers, products, sensory capabilities and contribute to deliver our mission of being the leader in Taste.
Whilst our preference is for this role to be based from our Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas, Ireland There is also a possibility for the role to be based from Beloit, Wisconsin or Clark, New Jersey.
Key responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a global consumer and sensory insight strategy aligned with business objectives.
- Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a global team of consumer and sensory insight professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. In additional, matrix management of Regional sensory leads
- Structure: Review regional structures, align, and implement the best structure for each region, including location and resource planning. Recommend and implement appropriate model to drive commercial success.
- Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams, including RDA, Marketing, and Product teams, to integrate sensory & consumer insights into Innovation, decision-making, strategy, and competitive positioning
- Innovation and Development: Guide teams in exploring new product opportunities, new models, new technologies and optimizing sensory experiences for consumers. including proof of concept.
- Customers: Key CSI point of contact for Global Key accounts. Involvement in major customer projects, including recommendation of methodology and resource.
- Methodology: Maintain Globally Standardised methodology and introduce new methodology in relation to consumer and sensory insights. A key focus will be AI enabling the sensory and insight function.
- Training: Standardise training across RDA teams
- Panels: Establish external sensory panels, if deemed necessary
Qualifications and skills
- Minimum undergraduate Science Degree
- Extensive experience in leading sensory teams within a Flavour / Taste company or Food/Beverage CPG
- Global View and ability to matrix lead a geographically dispersed team
- Strong business acumen with the ability to work within a matrix and achieve objectives by influence
- Links to universities and other external bodies of expertise in sensory science