R&D Consumer Experience Specialist

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands 

Hybrid  

About the position

We are strengthening our consumer insight expertise to ensure our innovations truly meet consumer needs. As an R&D Consumer Experience Specialist, you will play a key role in delivering relevant and actionable insights that drive innovation and product success across our global portfolio.

You will design consumer learning plans, lead complex sensory and consumer research programmes across multiple categories, independently designing and delivering studies that inform product development, renovation, and portfolio decisions. By combining methodological expertise, advanced analytics, and consumer understanding, you will translate data into clear recommendations that shape innovation strategies and business decisions.

This is a hands-on role requiring strong technical expertise, critical thinking, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams across R&D, Marketing, Innovation, and external partners. You will also support the development of consumer insight capabilities, working alongside external partners.

You will:

• Act as the consumer science ambassador, embedding the consumer voice throughout the product lifecycle and influencing category and product strategy.

• Design and lead consumer and sensory research programmes, applying the most appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies to answer business and R&D questions.

• Lead sensory and consumer testing to evaluate product concepts, prototypes, packaging and competitor products.

• Integrate consumer, sensory, culinary, and competitive insights into clear, actionable recommendations that drive product improvement and strengthen competitive positioning.

• Apply advanced analytical techniques to understand consumer drivers and identify opportunities for product optimisation.

• Translate complex findings into compelling stories and business recommendations for senior stakeholders.

• Partner with external agencies and research providers to ensure high-quality execution, methodological rigour, and continuous improvement.

• Leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance insight generation and research efficiency.

So what does it take to be successful in this role?  

You have at least 3 years of relevant experience designing and managing sensory and consumer research programmes within FMCG or a related industry. You bring strong expertise in sensory science, consumer research current and innovative methodologies, combined with advanced analytical and statistical capabilities that enable you to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations. You have a proven ability to integrate consumer, sensory, analytical, and competitive insights to support product and portfolio decisions, while ensuring research quality through robust methodologies, governance, and documentation practices. You are an effective collaborator and influencer, able to build strong relationships across R&D, Marketing, and Innovation teams, You hold a Master's degree in Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Food Science, or a related discipline, with additional training in statistics, data science, research methodology, or Design Thinking considered an advantage. You are familiar with digital insight platforms, AI-enabled research tools, and relevant regulatory and labelling frameworks.

What’s next?

If this position sounds interesting, please hit the apply button now! The deadline to apply is the 19th of June.