Consumer Research Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Manager of Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR)Global Packagingreports to the Senior Director, Corp and leads Global Packaging by delivering front-end, consumer-centric technical insights that drive a prioritized global packaging innovation pipeline and enable right-first-time, high-impact outcomes. This role uniquely integrates consumer research leadership with deep technical packagingexpertiseto inform design, material, and format decisions grounded in both engineering feasibility and consumer desirability across TCCC beverage categories.

Organizationally, the TCDR function sits within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, ensuring strong integration of consumer insights into broader innovation and strategic decision-making processes.

Serving as a critical business partner, this role leads packaging-focused, end-to-end consumer-centric innovation learning agendas across global beverage categories. It collaborates closely with Marketing, Human Insights, Global Development & Innovation,Research to Experimentationand Packaging Research & Engineering to embed consumer insights into packaging engineering design, material innovation, new format developmentand OUpackaging and product Innovations.

The role ensures that packagingresearchfromexploration,ideation throughtocommercializationareoptimizedthrough rigorous consumerdevelopment andvalidationoftechnical excellence, delivering future-forward, right-first-time solutions that drive superior consumer experiences and sustainable business growth.

Global PackagingRelated Activities / Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end consumer-centric packaging research and learning agendas, translating insights into actionable design, usability, and technical requirements that guide global innovation pipelines.

• Integrate consumer insights with packaging engineering design tooptimizeideasfromexplorationthrough commercialization for performance, feasibility, and consumer acceptance.

• Provide leadership in innovationof materials,new formats,design,aligning consumer desirability with processing, and manufacturing capabilities.

• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Human Insights, Packaging R&D/RTE, Sustainability, and Innovation teams to embed consumer-driven insights into technical packaging decisions.

• Identifyand scale next-generation packaging technologies and formats through collaboration with external partners and internalnetworkedteams.

• Drive right-first-time, high-impact packaging innovation by de-risking decisions through integrated consumer validation, technical rigor, and clear linkage to business growth and sustainability goals.

Function Related Activities / Key Responsibilities

• Managing end-to-end delivery of research projects and initiatives. Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, alignment, and adherence toestablishedgovernance, while supporting the adoption of best practices across markets and categories.

• Act as a strategic partner to the business by contributing to theInnovation, Renovation and Productivitypipeline,collaborate with cross-functional teams (SRA, HI, Marketing, GDI,RtE,ITS,PackagingResearch & Engineering, OU Packaging,Strategy) to incorporate a consumer-first mindset and support insight-led decision-making.

• Lead key innovation research initiatives, partnering with stakeholders to deliver high-quality, consumer-centric research. Ensure strong execution of TCDR projects with a "right-first time" approach and contribute to driving measurable business outcomes.

• Translate business questions into actionable sensory and consumer research plans. Develop and execute end-to-end research learning plans usingappropriate methodologiesand digital tools to generate insights that inform business decisions.

• Apply functionalexpertiseacross TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, consumer research, and data analysis,leveragingadvanced methodologies (e.g., AI/ML, statistical modeling) whereappropriate toenhance research impact.

• Design and execute robust research studies using sound statistical and analytical approaches. Analyze and synthesize data into clear insights and actionable recommendations to support business decision-making.

• Deliver data-driven recommendations by integrating consumer insights with business and competitive context.Identifypotential risks, support solution development, and communicate findings clearly through structured, insight-led storytelling.

• Contribute to theTCDRGlobal community by supporting research-on-research initiatives and sharing learnings to help strengthen functional capabilitieswith an emphasis on Packaging.

• Stay externally aware of emerging research methodologies and tools, partnering with capability teams to pilot and implement relevant approaches within projects.

• Support continuous improvement of TCDR practices by adopting new tools, approaches, and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Maintain strong working knowledge ofPackaging, Sparking & StillsBeverage Categories, including sensoryand consumerevaluation fundamentals,trends,and competitive landscape.

Data Analytics & Synthesis

• Proficientstatistical analysisofsensory& consumerresearch,to includeinterpretation of research data, and application ofappropriate methods,adoptingappropriate riskmanagement.

• Proficient useofstatistical software(SPSS, SAS, JMP)andtools for analysis/modelling(Python, R, SQL, PLS Regression,ANOVA, factorial analysis,LLM,ML) and visualization (Power BI),withknowledgeofAzurePlatformfor global data business use case analysis.

• Apply advanced analytics and statistical modeling to solve complex business problems.

• Translate data into clear, actionable insights that support business decision-making.

• Develop and adopt innovative, data-driven solutions to drive competitiveadvantage.

• Demonstrate hands-on experience applying analytics to real-world business challenges with measurable impact.

• Stay current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with internal and external resources.

Technical Risk Management

• Skilled in identifying and assessing technical risks(Type I Error (alpha) and Type II Error (beta),collaboratewith the Global TCDR Capabilities team, tounderstand andmitigate these risks, implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity, andincreasingconfidence in final business decisions.

BuildPackagingknowledge to support Present-Forward and Future-back Innovation pipeline and OU LRP business planning:

• Contribute toGlobal Packagingresearch planning by generating sensory, and consumer insights that inform innovation, portfolio optimization, and growth opportunities.

• Conduct competitive benchmarking acrossPackagingand Product, toidentifydrivers of consumer preference, emerging trends, and whitespace opportunities.

• Execute front-end exploration research toidentifykey drivers of consumer choice and translate findings into actionable sensory and consumer insights that strengthen early-stagePackaginginnovation.

Technical Communication & Data Storytelling

• Translate business needs into actionable plans using established processes and best practices.

• Communicate insights clearly using data-driven storytelling to inform decisions and engageboth technical and non-technicalstakeholders.

• Develop reports and dashboards to analyze consumer behavior and translate data into practical, actionable insights.

• Apply structured storytelling frameworks and tools to communicate technical product insights effectively across teams.

Influencing& StakeholderManagement

• Build andmaintaineffective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners (e.g., suppliers, academia) to support innovation and businessobjectives.

• Collaborate across a complex organization, usingeffective communicationand stakeholder management skills to support alignment and delivery of business outcomes.

• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, and Human Insights to deliver consumer-centric insights and support category growth.

• Support theGlobal Packagingagenda by working with GDIandRtEleadership and contributingto Global and Regional priorities across Packaging, andProduct.

• Mentor and train colleagues on new methodologies and skills to continuously improve the competence of theteam.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Educational Requirement: Batchelor Science Degree orMastersDegree, BSc /MScfrom an accredited University inFood or Sensory Science, Engineering,BehavioralPsychology, or related field, andtechnical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics and AI, Data Science,User Experience,to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches.

• Work Related Experience: 8+ years of experience withinFMCGBeverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer research,delivering consumer centric results working in a matrix FMCG organization including R&D, Marketing and Human Insight,translated into successful business impact.Expertisein Packaging(material science, design)and FMCG Packaging research isrequiredfor the success of this role.

Desired Skills and Competencies

• Technical: As the manager of TCDR to require an understandingofTCDR Sensory & Consumer Science methodologies and applied Statistics & AI experience andPackagingknowledge.

• Strong understanding of consumer-centric innovation frameworks and their application to support current and future business needs(e.g.,Packaging SuperiorityFrameworks).
• Expertisein Packaging (material science, design) and FMCG Packaging research,including sensory evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscapeand superiority benchmarking.
• Solid experience in sensory and consumer research methodologies,to includeAIassisted,with the ability to apply statistical approaches to generate insights.
• Applied knowledge of social and behavioral science principles to inform consumer understanding in the beverage category.
• Familiarity with demand spaces,needstates, and psychographic approaches, with the ability to partner effectively with Human Insights teams.
• Experience using digital tools and data-led approaches to analyze sensory and consumer data and support business decisions.
• Working knowledge of advanced analytics(e.g., unstructured data analysis, AI/ML, NLP, GenAI tools) and their application in research.
• Ability to create clear data visualizations and apply structured storytelling;proficiencyin tools such as Power BI.

Human-Centered Design:Lead holistic research plans to address key questions forspecific business researchprojects.

• Sensory Science & Consumer Science,Qualitative andquantitative research, AIassisted.
• Social, behavioral human science
• Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitativeresearch.
• Foundations of technical risk management
• User experience
• Brand knowledge to include Product and Package (Brand Playbooks, Demand Spaces)

Technical Communication

• Develop clear, insight-led storytelling and business recommendations from data.
• Apply technical knowledge to support credibility and contribute to informed decision-making.
• Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, tailoring messages to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent communication skills.Demonstrate effective influencing skills to support alignment and outcomes.
• Creative and curious.Utilize digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance communication&efficiency.

Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data

• Excellent statistics and data analysis skills.

• Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles,demonstratingan eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively.
• Understand and work in data management tools (Azure) andproficiencyin visualization (Power BIor other)

Business Partnerships

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Marketing, Human Insights, etc.) to execute project work and deliver business priorities.

• Provide relevant market and businesscontextto support informed decision-making.

• Build andmaintainstrong working relationships with internal and external partners to support business performance.

• Engage and align stakeholders across functions to achieve sharedobjectives.

• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address business challenges.

• Drive effective execution through strong planning, organization, and prioritization.

• Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge and supporting capability development.

Process Improvement

• Recommend more effective ways of working to execute and drive value.

• Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self...