Senior Scientist – Claims/Consumer Technical Insights

Key Skills

Java Programming, Python Programming, SQL

Job Description

We are seeking a passionate, curious, detail-oriented Senior Scientist to join our North America Antiperspirants/Deodorants teamto lead claims development and consumer insights for this category in the lead market of the US, based in Trumbull, CT. 

Deodorants is one of the most dynamic businesses within the Unilever Beauty and Personal Care portfolio, having the enviable position of being #1 in most of the key markets around the globe. More than 4 out of every 10 deodorant products sold carry the Unilever logo on the back. Most people know Unilever by our powerhouse brands such as Dove, Dove Men + Care, Degree, Axe, Suave and the latest additions of Love Beauty Planet and Schmidt’s Natural deodorant. The Deodorant category continues to be a growth engine for Unilever globally, and therefore needs a highly competent and innovative R&D team to support product improvement in market, as well as transformational innovation.

This Claims/CTI (Consumer Technical Insights)role is an integral position within R&D, sitting at the interface between product design and marketing.? Their purpose is to guide our brand and category design partners to create products that deliver to the consumer needs, with product experiences that delight consumers and cue desired benefits.? We develop communications that are purposeful, extremely compelling, and supportable.?

Who you are and What you will do:

Thisintegral team member is expected to lead the claims and consumer insights workstreams, focusing on new technology development and innovation project support for local US business. In this core R&D function, you will help define and deliver key consumer insights, robust sensory and consumer testing, and substantiation/defense of big impact, and consumer relevant product claims.? You will work in a multi-disciplinary R&D design team and be the critical link between the Global R&D, Legal, Regulatory, Marketing, and Consumer Market Insight (CMI) groups. You will be required to build and maintain a strong working relationship with legal and regulatory, as they will be your key counterparts in ensuring claims substantiation for strong, compelling claims across they key brands.

• Be Passionate about the Consumer – understand and predict (changing) consumer behaviorand value drivers, (local) insight generation, and actively scout trends and monitor competitor activities for new opportunities.
• Partner closely with brand marketing, Consumer & Market Insight (CMI) and the development team to define and develop the consumer testing program.
• Develop robust strategies to support product claims, and competitive challenges; prepare claim support dossier detailing strategy and support.
• Manage execution of relevant consumer, sensory or claims testing; interpret results, identify key insights, and cascade same.
• Lead cross functional discussions on claim development, review, and modification, helping to recraft as appropriate.
• Create or co-create KBS (knowledge-based selling) demos and other activation tools.
• Participate in the AP/DeoStrategic understanding plan/program and/or Digital R&D initiatives to accelerate on trend, cost efficient innovation.
• Apply new methods, advanced sensory methods, and/or novel statistical approaches to draw out relevant insights and data trends.?
• You will become familiarized with the Regulatory needs of OTCproduct development, testing and registration for North America.

What you need to succeed

• BS required in Psychology, Sensory Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Marketing/Market Research, or related scientific discipline. Mastersdegree is a plus.
• 6+ years relevant R&D experience in a consumer research, claims review, or similar function.
• Expertise with USA OTC products/regulatory environments and/or microbiology methods a plus
• Ability to understand technical literature, sensory, consumer, and clinical test data and integrate as supporting claim evidence or in support of formula recommendations.
• Independently manage projects and time, with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrate strong reasoning and communication skills.
• Have Basic Statistical knowledge, with modelling/advanced stats expertise an advantage.