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About the Role

The Director, Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) leads consumer research for Japan and South Korea Operating Unit and Global Categories. This role delivers consumer-centric insights to drive innovation across Product, Packaging, and Equipment, ensuring high-impact outcomes. The TCDR function is part of the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, integrating consumer insights into strategic decision-making. This position partners with Marketing, Human Insights, Global Development & Innovation teams to shape research strategies that enhance consumer experiences and drive business growth.

Responsibilities

Lead TCDR for JSK OU, Global Categories, and the Global Community.
Act as a strategic business partner, influencing the innovation pipeline and shaping cross-functional alignment with a consumer-first mindset.
Identify global and local category needs to develop and implement research plans for actionable sensory and consumer insights, providing technical guidance.
Design and lead enterprise-wide consumer research focused on human-centric design for product, packaging, and equipment, applying sensory science expertise.
Leverage digital, technology, AI/ML, and modeling for agile consumer research plans and champion innovative methodologies.
Collaborate with internal and external experts, including consumer researchers, insight specialists, agency partners, and AI technology data partners.
Demonstrate deep functional expertise across TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, human behavioral science, consumer research, and advanced statistical and data science methodologies.
Utilize rigorous statistical methodologies and advanced analytical techniques to design studies, analyze data, and interpret results.
Deploy standardized TCDR Global Capabilities and frameworks, ensuring best-in-class functional expertise within the OU.
Lead and champion best practices, research methodologies, and develop creative solutions to complex challenges.
Perform advanced statistical analysis for sensory & consumer research, including interpretation of research data outcomes.
Proficiently use statistical software and tools such as JMP, SPSS, SAS, Python, R, SQL, Power BI, and Azure ML.
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 competitive advantage.
Identify and assess technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and implement proactive measures.
Partner with cross-functional teams considering stakeholder needs to influence decisions for beneficial business outcomes.
Influence individuals in less technical roles to act and invest in capabilities with compelling business cases.
Build cross-functional relationships and networks to drive consumer-centric solution development.
Translate strategic visions into actionable plans using knowledge of current business processes.
Communicate with clarity and precision using data-driven storytelling to drive change and negotiate with stakeholders.
Deliver insightful reports and trend dashboards to examine consumer behavior, turning data into practical insights.
Function as a key business partner by effectively managing internal and external relationships.
Recommend more effective ways of working to execute and drive value.
Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature and inspire self and the team with external resources.

Requirements

Bachelor Science Degree or PhD, BSc /MSc / PhD from an accredited University in Food or Sensory Science, Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, or related field.
Technical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics and AI, Data Science, User Experience, including science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches.
12+ years of experience within FMCG Beverage/Food Industry.
Proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer research, delivering consumer-centric results working in a matrix FMCG organization.
Proven expertise leading large-scale global and regional consumer research programs.
Expertise of Consumer Centric Innovation Frameworks, Approaches and Future Planning.
Expertise in TCDR sensory & consumer science methodologies & statistics.
Social & behavior science applied expertise, applicable for beverage industry of consumer insights.
Understanding of Demand Space & Need States frameworks, Psychographic consumers, Synthetic personas.
Digital, technology-driven, and modelling approach knowledge and application with experience of large-scale sensory and consumer data.
Algorithm application for unstructured data, in building an agile approach for knowledge mining.
Applied Statistic, Data Processing, NLP, ChatGPT, Dall-E, Gen AI etc.
Visualizations and creative Storytelling, expert in Power BI.
Beverage Category knowledge and understand, with a trained palette for sensory evaluation thereof.
Human-Centered Design: Lead holistic research plans to address key questions for a specific project.
Sensory Science & Consumer Science with a sound understanding of the underlying statistics.
Social, behavioral human science.
Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitative research.
Foundations of technical risk management.
User experience.
Technical Communication: Simplify complex information in a concise format that is appropriate for the audience.
Analyze and communicate research in a fit for purpose format.
Technical Communication and Storytelling with data.
Data Engineering, database development & understanding.
Ability to apply technical knowledge to build credibility with both technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent statistics and data analysis skills.
Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles, demonstrating an eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively.
Understand and work in data management tools (Azure) and proficiency in visualization (Power BI or other).
Business Partnerships: Work with multiple functions to execute project work (R&D, Marketing, HI, etc.).
Serves as a trusted advisor, offering insights into relevant markets, business strategies, and operating environments.
Leads strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders by providing valuable market analysis and strategic guidance.
Capable of mentoring and coaching team members and peers.
Strong collaborator, enthusiastic, creative, and curious, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
Growth Mindset: Demonstrates Curiosity. Welcomes failure as a learning opportunity.
Smart Risk: Makes bold decisions/recommendations.
Externally Focused: Understands the upstream and downstream implications of his/her work.
Performance Driven & Accountable: Has high performance standards. Outperforms her/his peers.
Fast/Agile: Removes barriers to move faster. Experiments and adapts. Thrives under pressure and fast pace.
Empowered: Brings solutions instead of problems. Challenges the status quo. Has the courage to take an unpopular stance.
Act Like an Owner: Deliver results, creating value for our brands, our System, our customers and key stakeholders.
Collaborate with the System, Customers and Key Stakeholders.
Develops Self and Others: Develop self and support others' development to achieve their full potential.
Drive Innovation: Generate new or unique solutions and embrace new ideas that help sustain our business.

Skills

Chemistry
Communication
Continual Improvement Process
Data Compilation
Environmental Science
Food Sciences
Food Technology
Green Solutions
Laboratory Testing
Microbiological Test
Product Development
Sensory Testing
Applied Statistics
AI
Data Science
User Experience
NLP
ChatGPT
Dall-E
Gen AI
Power BI
Data Engineering
Machine Learning

Location

Japan
Tokyo

Work Type

Individual Contributor
Full-time

Experience Level

Director
12+ years of experience

Education Level

Bachelor Science Degree or PhD
BSc /MSc / PhD

Benefits

Career growth and development
Access to educational platforms
Coaching, mentoring and feedback
Diverse and inclusive culture
International Experience
Become part of international projects
Work along multicultural teams

About the Company

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference.
We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves.
We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve.
We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years.