Senior manager - Sensory & Consumer Insights

Diageo; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo India Bangalore seeks a Senior Manager in Sensory Science to lead sensory strategy and governance across innovation, renovation, quality and commercialization. You will recruit and manage expert panels, translate sensory insights into product direction, and collaborate with R&D, Quality and Marketing teams.

You will also drive digital sensory platforms, analytics dashboards and AI-enabled insights to support faster, data-driven decisions across the portfolio of iconic brands.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Sensory Science, Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Consumer Science, Statistics or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Define sensory strategy, protocols, standards and governance across projects.
• Recruit, train and manage expert sensory panels; ensure panel performance and accreditation.
• Translate sensory and consumer insights into product design direction for aroma, taste and mouthfeel.
• Drive digital sensory platforms, dashboards, automated reporting and AI-enabled insights.

Skills

Descriptive Analysis

Discrimination testing

Flavor science

Panel management

Data analysis

Education

Master's or PhD in Sensory Science

Tools

XLSTAT

JMP

R

SPSS

Job description

Job Description

About us: With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations. Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other. Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

About the Function

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world. With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships. It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About the role

Senior Manager, Sensory Science Diageo India Bangalore Research & Development

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sensory strategy and governance: Define sensory strategy, protocols, standards and governance across innovation, renovation, quality and commercialization. Sensory study design: Design fit-for-purpose sensory studies for product development, benchmarking, quality, claims and consumer understanding.
• Panel leadership: Recruit, train, calibrate and manage expert sensory panels; establish panel performance monitoring and accreditation. Innovation support: Translate sensory and consumer insights into product design direction for aroma, taste, mouthfeel, balance, aftertaste and overall experience. Consumer and flavour intelligence: Integrate consumer insights, market trends, launched products, food-service inspirations and expert inputs into innovation pipelines. Quality and manufacturing support: Support sensory quality governance, first batch approvals, specifications, investigations and corrective actions across units. Claims substantiation: Design evidence to support sensory claims such as smoothness, refreshment, taste superiority, flavour notes and differentiation.
• Digital and analytics: Drive use of digital sensory platforms, dashboards, automated reporting and AI-enabled insight tools.

SENSORY EXPERTISE REQUIRED

• Descriptive Analysis / QDA, consensus profiling and product benchmarking.
• Discrimination testing: Triangle, Duo-Trio, Tetrad, Paired Comparison, A-not-A and similarity testing. JAR, Penalty Analysis, CATA/RATA, preference mapping and drivers of liking. Threshold studies: detection, recognition and JND; sensory shelf-life and product matching. Panel performance assessment, repeatability, reproducibility, agreement analysis and training design. Strong understanding of flavour chemistry, ingredient functionality, aroma-taste interactions and mouthfeel.

STATISTICAL AND DIGITAL CAPABILITY

• Strong working knowledge of ANOVA, Mixed Models, PCA, PLS, Cluster Analysis, DOE, Penalty Analysis and Preference Mapping. Ability to convert complex sensory and consumer data into clear business recommendations. Hands-on experience with tools such as XLSTAT, JMP, R, SPSS, Compusense, RedJade, EyeQuestion or equivalent platforms. Comfort with data visualization, dashboards, automated analysis and AI-enabled insights tools.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Education: Master's or PhD in Sensory Science, Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Consumer Science, Statistics or related discipline.
• Experience: 6-8 years in Sensory Science, Product Development, Flavour Science or related R&D roles.
• Industry background: Beverages, alcohol, spirits, RTDs, flavours, food, FMCG or consumer products preferred.
• Panel experience: Proven experience in building, managing and governing expert sensory panels in innovation and quality contexts.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Strategic and consumer-centric mindset with strong scientific rigour. Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders across R&D, Marketing, Quality, Supply, Regulatory and external partners. Strong communication, storytelling and ability to simplify data for leadership decisions. High ownership, accountability, result orientation and comfort working through ambiguity. Coaching mindset with the ability to build capability across R&D, Quality and manufacturing teams. Curiosity for flavours, consumers, culture, product trends and emerging technologies.

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL INTERFACES

• Internal: R&D, Product Development, Innovation, Marketing, Quality, Supply, Regulatory, Legal, Procurement, Commercial and manufacturing units.
• External: Flavour houses, sensory and consumer research agencies, fermentation experts, ingredient suppliers, universities, start-ups, mixologists and brand ambassadors.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Sensory insights influencing key innovation, renovation and quality decisions.
• Consumer-preferred and differentiated products delivered to market.
• Strong sensory panel capability and governance across R&D and manufacturing units.
• Faster, more confident product development and commercialization decisions.
• Robust sensory evidence for claims and product communication.
• Improved sensory consistency across manufacturing sites.
• Successful adoption of digital sensory systems, dashboards and analytics.

Working with us Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best.

You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win.

Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best This could be your opportunity. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Worker Type :Regular Primary Location:Bangalore Technical Centre Additional Locations : Job Posting Start Date : 2026-10-23

With more than 200 brands sold in over 180 countries, we are home to a diverse portfolio of drinks enjoyed around the world. Every day, our talented colleagues bring creativity, expertise and passion to the brands people know and love. From established favourites to exciting new launches, the brands we build are shaped by culture, connected to local communities and made for life’s moments. By understanding our consumers and building strong, trusted relationships with our customers, we help our brands remain relevant, distinctive, and accessible. Our founders, including Arthur Guinness, John Walker and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose ambition and ingenuity helped shape the drinks industry. Today, that pioneering spirit lives on through our people.

Join us and you’ll work alongside talented colleagues from around the world, bringing together different perspectives, experiences and specialist skills. Together, you’ll challenge convention, explore new possibilities and help shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. You’ll be empowered to learn, grow, thrive, and make a lasting impact.

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