Product Testing Company Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow. 
At Nestle USA, we're all working towards the same goal - to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity - and responsibility - to be there for every moment in our consumers' lives.

Joining Nestle means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

The Senior Specialist Product Insights is responsible for leading, organizing and maintaining quality product testing practices and serving as the connector and integrator between research vendors, R&D, consumer insight managers and business teams. Success in this role includes identifying and making actionable recommendations to drive consumer preference vs. competitors, ultimately driving market share gains. 

Primary Responsibilities: 
Leadership & Consulting
Serve as the product testing expert by providing thought partnership to brand management and R&D.
Focus on influencing business partners' decisions and aligning the research agenda to them, then tailor communications of research findings to support upcoming decisions. Proactively communicate product testing results with R&D and Business partners.
Identify efficient testing practices that meet the needs of the business while optimizing the spend.
Work with business partners to identify unknowns around which to engineer insightful meta-analyses.
Use transparent, strategy aligned criteria to assess the value of projects to the business.
Collaborate with sensory and technical team on product testing and leverage learning to inform product formulas.
Proactively communicate product testing results with R&D and Business partners.
Redefine medium-value requests and eliminate or outsource low-value requests; challenge the need for learning as appropriate vs having courage to decide and go.

Develop Product Understanding
Communicate and embed learning to minimize testing redundancies and optimize product opportunities
Leverage opportunities within product testing to meet Good Taste (product superiority) requirements within the goals of testing.
Develop a holistic view of the products by understanding product use, product experience and sensory profile.

Manage Product Testing Logistics
Learn and apply all Product Testing rules when it comes to Product Procurement (e.g. same factory code to be used for Consumer Testing and Sensory Evaluation).
Oversee Product Shipping to make sure the right product arrive at the right testing sites at the right time.

Budget and Vendor Management
Manage projects within budget
Provide suppliers with access to all information needed to ensure intimacy with NUSA
Use strategic assets to build non-monetary, reciprocally valuable relationship with suppliers, motivating above-and beyond support and true partnership

Requirements & Education: 
Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Statistics, Marketing, Economics, Psychology, Sociology or related field required; Relevant Master's degree preferred
Minimum of 3+ years of consumer research experience with budget responsibility in a consumer packaged goods company. 
Working knowledge of expert sensory evaluation
Experience in Product testing via IHUT or CLT
Strong drive for results with a passion for the consumer
Experience leading projects with ownership of suppliers, research, test logistics and schedule
Strong sense of curiosity and desire to seek opportunities to self-educate on new methodologies and techniques, and general research and business news.

C&B

The approximate pay range for this position is $103,500 - $130,000.. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location.
Nestle offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position.  Learn more at About Us | Nestle Careers (nestlejobs.com) 

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestle. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestle seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you'll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestle home.
 

The Nestle Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. 

Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.

Job Requisition: 411952