Consumer Research Specialist (Food & Beverage)

Symrise AG; Teterboro (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Symrise AG, a global supplier of flavors, fragrances, food and cosmetic ingredients, seeks a Consumer Research Specialist in the United States. You will design and execute consumer research projects, collaborating with Marketing, Innovation, and Customer Experience to deliver actionable insights.

You will use traditional methods and AI tools, draft briefs and questionnaires, manage external vendors, and turn data into compelling reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Psychology, Sociology, Food Science, or related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in a consumer research, insights, or marketing analytics role (food & beverage or CPG preferred).
• Strong understanding of consumer research methodologies - both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience working with third-party research vendors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must currently live in one of the contiguous US states; travel domestically at least quarterly (to NJ).

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and execution of qualitative and quantitative research projects (consumer usage & attitude studies, concept tests, customer research).
• Draft research briefs and develop questionnaires, discussion guides, and survey instruments.
• Manage relationships with external research suppliers: from briefings to fieldwork monitoring and deliverable review.
• Analyze data and turn findings into clear, compelling insight reports and visual storytelling decks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure insights are embedded into product and innovation strategy.
• Support the integration of generative AI tools to streamline research reporting.
• Stay current with evolving research tools and best practices in consumer research.
• Potential to support customer presentations or co-creation sessions, showcasing consumer insights as a strategic advantage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Consumer research methodologies

Analytical mindset

Communication skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Data visualization tools

Generative AI tools

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree (Marketing/Psychology/Sociology/related)

Tools

Tableau

Canva

Miro

Job description

Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances, flavors, food, nutrition, and cosmetic ingredients. Its clients include manufacturers of perfumes, cosmetics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and producers of nutritional supplements and pet food.

Its sales of € 4.9 billion in the 2024 fiscal year make Symrise a leading global provider. Headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, the Group is represented by more than 100 locations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the United States and Latin America.

Symrise works with its clients to develop new ideas and market-ready concepts for products that form an integral part of everyday life. Economic success and corporate responsibility are inextricably linked as part of this process.

Your role

Position Summary

As a Consumer Research Specialist, you will support the development and execution of consumer research projects that help our internal teams-and our customers-understand the evolving tastes, attitudes, and behaviors of consumers across food and beverage categories. Reporting to the Senior Consumer Research Manager, you will work collaboratively with Marketing, Innovation, and Customer Experience teams to deliver actionable insights that drive product innovation and client engagement.

You will have the opportunity to build your expertise in both traditional research and new tools like AI, while crafting compelling insight stories that connect with business objectives.

• Assist in the design and execution of qualitative and quantitative research projects (consumer usage & attitude studies, concept tests, customer research).
• Draft research briefs and develop questionnaires, discussion guides, and survey instruments.
• Manage relationships (Interact) with external research suppliers: from briefings to fieldwork monitoring and deliverable review.
• Analyze data and turn findings into clear, compelling insight reports and visual storytelling decks for internal and external audiences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, sensory, food & beverage, and health) to ensure insights are embedded into product and innovation strategy.
• Support the integration of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to streamline research reporting, draft prompts for trend exploration, and identify emerging consumer narratives.
• Stay current with evolving research tools and best practices in consumer research.
• Potential to support customer presentations or co-creation sessions, showcasing consumer insights as a strategic advantage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Psychology, Sociology, Food Science, or related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in a consumer research, insights, or marketing analytics role (food & beverage or CPG is strongly preferred and will be prioritized).
• Strong understanding of consumer research methodologies - both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience working with third-party research vendors.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and extract meaningful insights.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Canva, Miro a plus).
• Familiarity with and usage of generative AI tools for research and content generation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail in numbers, formatting, and presentation flow.
• Visual thinking and design awareness.
• Proactive, dependable, and organized.
• Curious, collaborative, and eager to grow in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
• Must currently live in one of the contiguous states in the U.S. (no relocation or sponsorship available)
• Must be able to travel domestically at least once per quarter (primarily to NJ).

Become part of our open and transparent culture. It will give you the opportunity to flourish and to develop inspiring experiences that contribute to the health and well-being of consumers in 160 countries around the world. Putting our employees in focus fuels our strong company growth above market rates and makes us an excellent place to develop your career.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Pay Transparency Disclosure: The expected annual salary range for this position is USD $60000.00 - USD $80000.00. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and company performance.