Senior Principal Scientist – Consumer Science (Beverages)

PepsiCo•Town of Mount Pleasant, NY

5d•$123,500 - $206,750

About The Position

The Senior Principal Scientist – Consumer Science (Beverages) is a senior technical leader responsible for driving consumer-centric strategy and product superiority for carbonated beverages. This role shapes innovation, renovation, and in-market performance by embedding deep consumer and sensory understanding into every stage of beverage development. Operating at the intersection of sensory science, consumer insights, and product design, this role ensures PepsiCo delivers superior taste and holistic experiences that win against competitors in global beverage markets.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree (minimum) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. Sensory science, Food Science, Psychology) with a strong theoretical background in test design, research methodologies & statistical analysis techniques
10+ Years in CPG R&D
Proven expertise in Sensory and Consumer Product Research, enabling sensory informed product design decisions.
Deep subject matter expertise and experience in quantitative sensory and consumer research methods for new and existing products. Beverage knowledge is preferred.
Proven ability to design, analyze and interpret Sensory and Consumer findings into implications and actionable results that refine product, packaging, and brand strategies.
Proven ability to think strategically to drive identification of opportunity spaces the organization can leverage to pursue meaningful consumer solutions.
Proven ability to influence cross functional decision making to ensure human centricity remains at the heart of project decisions.
Horizon scanning and ability to implement in house cutting edge sensory science methods
Clear understanding/appreciation of the broader business environment and application of technical and commercial knowledge.
This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

Beverage knowledge is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a recognized expert in beverage consumer science and sensory science. Shaping decisions, capabilities, and outcomes across the broader organization
Partner-advocate for career development of others via mentoring with the intention of capability building through technical and personal growth. Contribute toward making and maintaining PepsiCo as the employer of choice as measured in OHS scores.
Influential business partner and consensus builder: Provide actionable insights and interpretation to guide current and new R&D projects. Make clear, concise, business-centric recommendation to partners in Product Development and Marketing. Consider and include other points of view to drive a consumer-centric, data-driven consensus opinion representing R&D. Ensure recommendations fit within in-market business complexities and competitive positioning, which differ significantly from brand to brand.
Skilled communicator to executive leadership and project teams: Communicate implications and importance of research in manner and in terms appropriate to audience based on level (up through Sr. VPs). Create concise summarized content and present results with clear recommendations up to senior / executive leaders
Learning plan owner / Research strategist: Independently design and conduct actionable research as documented in robust integrated learning plans with alignment among key senior stakeholders (L10-LG3) across various business functions (R&D, Consumer Insights, Marketing). Ensure consistency in execution and reporting for efficiency and to maximize learnings for business decisions.
External relationship management: Build relationships and negotiate with research suppliers to conduct necessary research in accordance with our requirements. Provide feedback to vendors about ongoing relationship.
Budget management / facilitation: Since consumer research is a large contributor to PD spend, help PD and Finance plan and manage budget, and confirm invoicing of research in accordance with period-by-period budget management process
Digitization enabler: Ensure all Consumer Science requests and reports are shared through LabVantage. Guide newcomers to the appropriate channels to ensure the use of our digital tools.
ONE PepsiCo culture supporter: Nurture culture of excellence, collaboration, engagement, and capability building by maintaining open lines of communication within global Consumer Science team. Make sure his team and partners operate as one PepsiCo