Consumer Science and Product Intelligence NA OU Lead

GSK • Warren, NJ

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Consumer Science and Product Intelligence (CSPI) Operating Unit Lead - Principal Scientist is a strategic and operational leader responsible for putting the consumer first across the Operating Unit (OU). As a member of the OU leadership team and the global CSPI leadership team, the role ensures innovations and portfolio products are developed, delivered, and reviewed to win with consumers at purchase and throughout the usage experience, delivering meaningful and noticeable superiority across OU categories.

The role leads consumer and product intelligence for the OU, supplying evidence to guide product, portfolio, claims, communication, and renovation decisions. It connects global category strategies with locally relevant execution and brings local insights to influence global innovation. The role integrates consumer research, product performance, complaints, reviews, market and commercial signals, and competitor benchmarking into practical recommendations and R&D insights.

The position partners with OU, Category, Innovation, Commercial, R&D, and Medical & Scientific Affairs stakeholders to focus resources on high-impact growth opportunities, support consumer-relevant claims and communications, and connect consumer needs with product solutions. It also ensures consumer testing is compliant and fit for purpose, and manages CSPI workload and resources to maximize impact on consumer choice, usage, repeat purchase, and business outcomes.

Requirements

• BSc degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject.
• At least 8 years of industry experience in an FMCG/CPG business in an appropriate or associated function.
• Broad experience across consumer science, product research, sensory/product experience, claims evidence, and product intelligence.
• Ability to select fit-for-purpose approaches based on the business decision being made.
• Ability to connect consumer science and product intelligence to clear business outcomes and growth.
• Ability to shape product, portfolio, claims, and communication decisions using evidence and sound judgment.
• Commercial judgment and ability to translate insights into improved consumer and business outcomes.
• Product intelligence and data fluency, including the ability to integrate multiple data sources into actionable insights.
• Expertise in developing and embedding novel methodologies that deliver business impact.
• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, including the ability to challenge, guide, and influence senior cross-functional stakeholders using evidence, judgment, and clear communication.
• Strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to lead change and deliver with excellence.

Responsibilities

• Apply consumer science, product research, and sensory methods appropriate to each project's decision, risk, and value.
• Deliver consumer and product evidence to identify superiority, guide product design, support claims and product stories, and demonstrate superiority versus competition.
• Design, develop, and apply leading-edge, fit-for-purpose testing methods, including AI- and digitally enabled research tools and platforms.
• Conduct post-launch reviews and use product complaints and other insights to improve OU products.
• Track emerging OU product trends through social listening, market signals, and product intelligence to guide pipeline and portfolio decisions.
• Integrate consumer research, product performance, complaints, reviews, market and commercial signals, and competitor benchmarking into unified product intelligence and R&D insights.
• Build understanding of factors driving trial, usage, repeat purchase, and priority product formats in the OU.
• Partner with Category CSPI leads to identify consumer jobs to be done, usage occasions, and unmet needs that inform product design.
• Partner with Category CSPI to build a clear view of the OU product landscape across categories.
• Lead OU product benchmarking to identify where company products are superior, at parity, or exposed versus competitors.
• Translate benchmarking into recommendations on where to renovate, defend, premiumize, simplify, or avoid over-investment.
• Identify product and experience gaps that could improve consumer choice, usage, repeat purchase, and business outcomes.
• Champion a “Consumer First, Always” approach across the OU and work with R&D from early insight and prototype development through claims support, launch, and post-launch reviews.
• Translate global category strategies into locally relevant OU execution and use local insights to influence global innovation decisions.
• Bring actionable local consumer and product insights to Category teams and wider R&D, including ethnography and usage-and-attitudes research, partnering with CBIA where appropriate.
• Apply product stories, ideal product models, and product narratives through the stage-gate process to drive faster, better innovation.
• Ensure OU consumer testing is compliant, fit for purpose, and aligned with agreed work processes.
• Partner with OU, Category, Innovation, Commercial, and R&D stakeholders to focus CSPI resources on high-impact growth opportunities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Medical & Scientific Affairs, to develop consumer-relevant claims, demonstrations, visualizations, and communications.
• Partner with CSPI Category and OU Innovation leads to scale innovation by connecting consumer needs with product solutions.
• Provide data for OU prioritization decisions and manage CSPI OU workload and resources where they can have the greatest impact on consumer choice, usage, and repeat purchase.
• Lead through cross-functional teams, influence senior stakeholders, and turn complex priorities and evidence into practical recommendations.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive benefits program
• Generous 401(k) plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Time off programs
• Six months of paid parental leave
• Healthcare programs, with the company paying the majority of medical coverage for employees and their families
• Opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on key business performance
• Other incentive and recognition programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior