Senior Scientist - Consumer Technical Insights

Background & Purpose of the Job

The Senior Scientist, Consumer Technical Insights (CTI) works collaboratively across functions and product groups to support all aspects of product development to help ensure product safety, robustly supported claims, with a comprehensive and accurate product data management system.

In addition, they are responsible for generating technical insights inputting to the development process for products; conducts consumer research to support the product development work and work closely with brand and sales to develop technical communication to tell the R&D story.  This role will work across all product categories in North America.

Who You Are & What You'll Do

Technical Project Lead & Knowledge Management

• Lead the qualification process for new product development, working cross functionally to ensure that all the technical elements of the product are delivered together and meet the product action standards. 

• Support product development teams through R&D timeline management and deliverables.

• Serve as main point of contact for CTI project deliverables and liase with appropriate team members to ensure timely and accurate execution

• Lead documentation management for the projects including, but not limited to reviewing raw material documentation and evaluating against regulatory, safety, and company authenticity standards.

• Design and lead trainings for cross functional partners including new brands, customers, sales teams, and new employees.

• Serve as functional expert in one subject area including, but not limited to, consumer science, competitive intelligence, raw material review, or knowledge-based selling.

• Responsible for ensuring that network of capabilities of 3rd party testing labs deliver to requirements of quality, efficiency and cost.

• Evaluate future testing lab capabilities to meet Seventh Generation business requirements

Consumer Insights and Testing

• Design and execute consumer tests (internal or external) as per agreed designs to support projects including subject recruitment, sample management, data collection, high level data analysis, result summary creation, and documentation management spanning a variety of scientific disciplines.

• Liaise with external partners and expert to design, deliver, interpret and communicate on consumer trends required to support the product development process

• Research, design, and implement product demos to further Knowledge Based Selling.

• Research and analyze consumer trends and to bring forward technical trends to help create the yearly R&D agenda.

• Lead product qualification in key product categories to ensure product attributes are validated before project finalization.

• Serve as the functional and technical expert in assigned product categories and attend all applicable new product development activities.

• Liaise across global markets to share data, technical insights, and consumer trends.

Consumer Safety

• Serve as main point of contact on applicable product categories for third party testing including but not limited to coordination with labs and reporting to experts to support product qualification and labeling.

• Work closely with formulation chemists, packaging engineers, and regulatory affairs on various projects.

• Review labels and ensure all appropriate regulatory and safety standards are implemented.

Claims Development & Support

• Collaborate with Legal team to determine a technically and legally valid support plan for product claims.

• Design consumer, technical, and analytical studies and manage the execution of testing to support product claims.

• Serve as the subject matter expert with Project Management and Brand Management to execute the claims support plan in coordination with other product development activities.

• Create numerous claims support standards for use across various Unilever brands and train cross functional leaders on the use of said standards.

• Lead claims development meetings and document conversations, decisions, and actions with cross functional leaders.

• Liaise with leaders from around the world to ensure the global portfolio of claims are relevant, technical supported, and legally vetted in all marketplaces.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s Degree in Scientific discipline eg. toxicology, microbiology, Biological Science, Physical Science

• Related experience (6+ years) in R&D in consumer product goods industry (ideally across different R&D functions). Previous experience in consumer test design is a benefit

• Strong communication skills; proven record of working well in cross functional teams

• Good analytical skills and being able to write well written reports

• Experience in managing logistically complex projects and large volumes of data.

• Able to coordinate the needs of multiple functional areas simultaneously.

• Able to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints.

• Self-motivated with an enhanced ability to work independently.

• Desire to work in a small, entrepreneurial environment and for a socially responsible business.

• Strong computer skills, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

• Proficiency with Product Vision, electronic notebook would be a plus.

• Willingness to continually embrace personal and professional development.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $83,200 to $124,700. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.