Sensory Manager (Research & Innovation / R&D)

Danone•Louisville, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Danone North America is seeking an experienced, impact-driven individual to join our Research & Innovation organization as Manager, Sensory Design & Future Capability. This role plays a critical part in driving consumer centricity by translating insights into clear, actionable product experiences. You will lead advanced category learning, define scalable sensory design guidance, and embed foresight into innovation strategies—helping teams make better decisions today while building capabilities for the future. This role requires strong strategic thinking, technical depth, and the ability to influence across functions and levels.

Requirements

Master's degree required (PhD preferred) in Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Food Science, Market Research, Psychology, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in consumer research and/or sensory science within CPG or an adjacent industry.
Demonstrated experience leading preference mapping, drivers of liking, and advanced consumer insight work.
Proven ability to operate at both strategic and executional levels with increasing scope and influence.
Deep expertise across quantitative modeling, qualitative insight, and sensory evaluation methodologies.
Strong capability in data mining, synthesis, and translation of large, complex datasets into strategic guidance.
Excellent storytelling and communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
Creative yet rigorous thinker who balances scientific depth with practical business impact.
Demonstrated leadership mindset with the ambition and capability to grow into broader enterprise leadership.

Nice To Haves

PhD preferred

Responsibilities

Lead advanced category learning to identify drivers of liking, preference structures, and consumer decision journeys
Lead competitive understanding from sensory lens
Translate complex data into clear, compelling guidance for strategic decision-making
Create and standardize sensory and experience design playbook used across innovation and renovation pipelines in key categories
Leverage large internal data sets to uncover new insights, patterns, and strategic implications
Champion data-driven, consumer-centered ways of working
Pioneer / Adopt new capabilities like AI in day-to-day work
Partner with global team in piloting new capabilities in North America.
Act as a trusted thought partner to R&I, SIA and Marketing and global UX teams
Influence without authority to align stakeholders around shared consumer and product truths