Senior Scientist

High5; Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

High5 is seeking a Senior Scientist for CX Product Insights to lead consumer experience learning plans and research across assigned brands. You will proactively define information needs and design fit-for-purpose studies to guide product and packaging decisions from ideation through launch readiness.

You will synthesize learning into decision-ready recommendations and work with R&D, Marketing, Insights, and external partners to convert findings into practical product and packaging outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience translating consumer learning into actionable direction for product/packaging decisions.
• Proficiency in study design, instrument development, synthesis, and storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Provide CX leadership for assigned portfolio/projects.
• Lead CX learning plan execution aligning research with high-value business decisions.
• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research on product and package experience.
• Identify actionable recommendations and synthesize findings across data sources.
• Translate consumer needs into clear product and packaging experience targets.

Skills

Consumer research

Qualitative & quantitative

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Analytical problem solving

Independent and collaborative work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

The Senior Scientist for CX Product Insights leads consumer experience learning plans and product research for an assigned set of brands/platforms within the Client. You'll proactively define key information needs and design fit-for-purpose research approaches with appropriate methodological rigor to answer critical business and technical questions, guiding product and packaging development from ideation through launch readiness. You synthesize learning into decision-ready recommendations and clear experience requirements that enable winning renovation and innovation, while demonstrating best-in-class CX tools, methods, and ways of working across the business. You'll partner closely with R&D (Product & Process Development, Packaging, Sensory), Marketing/Brand, Insights, Culinary, and external suppliers to ensure consumer learning is converted into practical product, packaging, and technical decisions.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Provide consumer experience (CX) leadership for the assigned portfolio/projects.
• Lead day-to-day CX learning plan execution, aligning research to the highest-value business and technical decisions at each milestone (prototyping, qualification, launch readiness).
• Ensure projects enter and exit key development stages with clear, validated CX direction and appropriate documentation.
• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research focused on product and package experience.
• Identify actionable recommendations from CX research for assigned categories/brands, synthesizing findings across phases and relevant data sources.
• Translate consumer needs and Jobs-to-Be-Done into clear product and packaging experience targets, design criteria, and requirements that teams can apply in development and qualification.
• Deliver decision-ready recommendations ("so what / now what") that clarify risks, tradeoffs, and next steps, and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Manage external research suppliers: scoping, proposals, timelines, budgets, quality expectations, fieldwork oversight, and deliverable quality.
• Lead multiple projects with effective prioritization, operating discipline, documentation, and stakeholder communication.
• Ensure compliance with data integrity and privacy requirements.

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree preferred in Engineering, Food Science, Physical Science, Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Industrial Design, or Marketing with a strong consumer research focus. Marketing Research professional certification also relevant.
• Minimum of 4+ years (BS) or 3+ years (MS) in consumer/product research or consumer experience roles supporting product development and commercialization, CPG strongly preferred , food & beverage ideal.
• Demonstrated ability to translate consumer learning into actionable direction that informs product and package decisions.
• Qualitative and quantitative research capability: study design, instrument development, synthesis, and storytelling.
• Comfort with common research, survey/testing, and analysis platforms.
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management in a matrixed environment.
• Project management strength: prioritization, navigating ambiguity, attention to detail, and on-time delivery.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Analytical problem-solving with high detail orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• May provide informal mentorship or guidance to junior team members.