Senior Scientist, R&D - Consumer Experience

Kraft Heinz; Glenview (IL); Hybrid; USD 89,800 - 112,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Health benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Kraft Heinz seeks a Senior Scientist for CX Product Insights to lead consumer experience learning plans and product research across assigned brands/platforms in the North American Zone. You will translate consumer insights into practical product and packaging decisions from ideation to launch readiness, partnering with R&D, Marketing, Insights, and external suppliers.

The role requires a strong background in both qualitative and quantitative research, excellent storytelling, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in Engineering, Food Science, Physical Science, Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Industrial Design, or Marketing with a strong consumer research focus.
• 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.
• Ability to translate consumer learning into actionable direction for product and packaging decisions.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research including study design and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Provide consumer experience (CX) leadership for the assigned portfolio/projects.
• Lead day-to-day CX learning plan execution and align research with key business decisions.
• Ensure projects have clear CX direction and documentation through development stages.
• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research focused on product and package experience.
• Identify actionable recommendations from CX research and synthesize findings across data sources.
• Translate consumer needs into clear product and packaging targets and requirements.
• Deliver decision-ready recommendations with risks, tradeoffs, and next steps.
• Manage external research suppliers: scoping, proposals, timelines, budgets, fieldwork oversight.
• Lead multiple projects with prioritization, documentation, and stakeholder communication.
• Ensure compliance with data integrity and privacy requirements.

Skills

CX leadership

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Study design

Synthesis & storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Survey platforms

Job description

Job Purpose

The Senior Scientist for CX Product Insights leads consumer experience learning plans and product research for an assigned set of brands/platforms within the Kraft Heinz North American Zone. 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

• Bachelor’s 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.

Work Environment & Schedule

We believe the office is a critical driver of innovation, connection, and development, but also realize providing flexibility to our employees is critical. To create a more agile and modern workplace, this position will be able to work virtually for up to two days each week and will be expected to work in-person at the assigned work location at least three days per workweek.

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range

$89,800.00 - $112,200.00

Bonus

This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

Benefits

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing

We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Glenview R&D Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.