Scientist, Operations Labs, Technical Consumer Data Research

The Coca-Cola Company; Brussel; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Coca-Cola Company is seeking a TCDR Scientist in the EMEA region to lead internal sensory operations and drive business-critical projects across the EMEA Operating Unit. This lab-based role focuses on delivering high-quality sensory and consumer data to support product development, packaging, and equipment initiatives aligned with productivity, renovation, and innovation priorities.

As an individual contributor, you will design and manage sensory research, ensuring rigorous study

Qualifications

• Education in Food or Sensory Science or related field with practical research experience.
• 4+ years in FMCG Beverage/Food with sensory and consumer data work.
• Ability to translate data into business recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal sensory lab operations and manage panels, contractors, and staff.
• Design, execute and analyze sensory and consumer studies for OU objectives.
• Prepare technical conclusions and present to technical/non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with R&D, Marketing and Human Insights teams on projects.

Skills

Sensory science

Consumer science

Statistics

Data storytelling

AI/ML awareness

Data visualization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food or Sensory Science or related field

MSc or PhD preferred

Tools

SPSS

SAS

JMP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

The Scientist role in Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) reports to the EMEA Senior Director, TCDR, and is primarily a lab-based position responsible for leading internal sensory operations and leading business-critical projects across the EMEA Operating Unit. The role plays a key part in delivering high-quality sensory and consumer data to enable product, packaging, and equipment development aligned with productivity, renovation, and innovation priorities.

As an individual contributor, the TCDR Scientist designs, manages, and executes sensory and consumer research within internal sensory lab environments and external partner, ensuring rigorous study preparation, execution, and analysis. The role supports cross-functional business projects by generating reliable data, actionable insights, and clear recommendations tailored to Operating Unit needs.

Working closely with the broader TCDR team and business partners, the Scientist contributes to local innovation initiatives by applying human-centric design principles and integrating consumer understanding into development processes. This includes building product and category knowledge, uncovering consumer preferences, and translating insights into guidance that strengthens the innovation pipeline and ensures market-relevant, consumer-preferred solutions.

Organizationally, TCDR sits within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy function, enabling strong integration of sensory and consumer insights into strategic decision-making and reinforcing the role’s impact on delivering competitive, market-leading offerings.

Functional Related Activities / Key Responsibilities

• Manage and lead all internal Sensory laboratory operations to include laboratory, and personnel such as panels, contractors, technicians, interns, as appropriate.
• Maintain laboratory to highest standard and lead required annual audits successfully.
• Conduct and manage laboratory-based experiments, ensuring accurate data collection, adherence to protocols, and timely delivery of high-quality results to support research and business objectives for the OU requirements.
• Design, execute and conduct sensory & consumer research studies to meet specific project objectives gaining valuable sensory insights and providing guidance to the development team and Business partner. Manage all phases of the study including experimental design, test execution, statistical analyses and reporting of the results, aligned with OU TCDR leader.
• Provide recommendations on business solutions based on strong technical consumer research.
• Conduct competitor benchmarking and Product/Packaging/Equipment evaluation to understand the competitive landscape in support of OU categories and brands.
• Understand and define fundamental consumer/sensory requirements of your categories and inject the knowledge into solution development.
• Be curious, proactively leverage external knowledge (supplier, symposium, literature review) to identify & prove alternative beneficial future forward methods (AI assisted), aligned with TCDR global category leader.
• Work as a close partner with the R&D categories team, Marketing and Human Insight team.
• Work with minimal guidance and in close collaboration with project leaders.

Data Analytics & Synthesis

• Perform analysis and interpret test results; form conclusions on studies conducted. Prepare and present technical conclusion.
• Knowledge and intermediate level usage of Statistical software (SPSS, SAS, JMP, etc.), Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Project, Word.
• Harness evolving technologies and data analytics to develop tools and solutions that bolster competitive advantage and deliver market-leading results.
• Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature from external resources.

Technical Risk Management

• Skilled in identifying and assessing technical risks, mitigate risks, and implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity.

Business Understanding & System Knowledge

• System Thinking, ability to listen to and influence those in less technical roles to act and invest in capabilities with compelling business cases.

Technical Communication & Data Storytelling

• Translate strategic visions into actionable plans, using knowledge of current business processes and best practices.
• Prepare and present technical conclusions to technical and non-technical audiences.

Influencing & Stakeholder Management

• Function as a key business partner by effectively managing and nurturing internal and external relationships, including collaboration with research suppliers, academic institutions, and cross-functional project teams, to support research initiatives.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Educational Requirement: Batchelor Science Degree BSc or MSc/ PhD from an accredited University in Food or Sensory Science, Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, or related field, and technical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics, to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches.
• Work Related Experience: 4+ years of experience within FMCG Beverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer research and data, working in a FMCG organization with PD, Marketing and Human Insight, ability to translate data results into business recommendations. Operational Sensory laboratory experience in preferred.

Desired Skills And Competencies

Human-Centered Design:

• Sensory Science & Consumer Science
• Social & behavior science
• Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitative research.
• Foundations of technical risk management
• User experience

Technical Communication:

• Analyze and communicate research in a fit for purpose format.
• Technical Communication and Storytelling with data
• Data Engineering, database development & understanding

Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data.

• 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 and proficiency in visualization (Power BI or other)

Business Partnerships:

• Serves as a trusted advisor, offering insights into relevant markets, business strategies, and operating environments to support informed decision-making across the organization and among individual team members.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders by providing valuable market analysis and strategic guidance to enhance business operations and drive organizational success.