Your Opportunity as a Products Research-Senior Scientist, Pet Research & Development Team

The R&D Senior Scientist in Products Research is responsible for understanding consumers’ needs and translating them into technical requirements and consumer models to drive business impact. The incumbent will leverage technical thinking skills to bring together consumer needs and product possibilities into winning innovation. This position will have Products Research responsibility for projects or related programs within Upstream Innovation and Base Business, including defining and executing the consumer methods used for insight understanding, product development, and qualification of projects.

The R&D Senior Scientist in Products Research will independently plan and execute product consumer understanding for R&D teams. The incumbent will build relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers and coach others in their area of expertise. A key focus will be to continue advancing our capability to translate consumer-based needs into design actionability.

The scope of this role covers Pet food, snacks, and other adjacencies and includes multiple brands within the JM Smucker Pet portfolio.

Location: Orrville, OH Corporate Offices

Working Environment: Estimated 30% Onsite/In Person Expectations, 60% Hybrid Flexibility, 10% Anticipated Travel

In this role you will:

Lead both qualitative and quantitative consumer research to understand consumers’ needs and inform product development. This involves study design, fielding, data analysis, translation into technical requirements (design criteria, specifications, consumer models, etc.), and internal sharing of results
Advance capability to translate consumer-based needs into design actionability through working with the Product Development, Process Development, and Analytical teams
Lead category product learning for fundamental R&D product understanding
Define and influence the Products Research methods and activities used for consumer understanding, product development, and qualification of projects
Initiate and lead Products Research methods and activities that guide current and future product innovation and technology platforms
Accountable for all Products Research deliverables in Technical Readiness reviews for projects that they are involved
Integrate internal and external innovation capabilities to deliver key initiatives and drive Products Research capability
Leverage Products Research understanding and knowledge to train peers within the R&D organization
Actively collaborate and leverage relationships across functional teams to achieve established shared goals or objectives
Works independently, guided by functional processes and seeks input or guidance on complex matters
Identify and implement Pet R&D work process improvements
As appropriate, lead cross-discipline project teams
Become subject matter experts (SMEs) on the consumers and products related to their specific project

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Science or Engineering
At least 8 years of experience in the Consumer Products Industry with project leadership
Experience and formal training in Product Research, including both quantitative and qualitative research
Must have strong experience in Products Research within the Consumer Product Industry and track record of leveraging this experience to develop, qualify, and launch innovation
Products Research experience in both Upstream/Front End and Product Development/Qualification/Launch
Demonstrated practitioner of large quantitative category learning and modeling
Strong experience analyzing complex data, preferably using statistical software such as JMP or SPSS
Experience designing and placing research for demonstration of product benefit or support
Strong collaboration skills and experience partnering with other functions to deliver results
Ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders across functions
Ability to thrive in a fast-pace environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously
Must be passionate and driven, yet flexible and willing to embrace changing business priorities and ambiguity

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

Pet Food/Snack R&D experience, experience in manufacturing or advanced technical degree

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