UX Consumer & Sensory Scientist II

Danone•Louisville, CO

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

Danone is seeking a UX (User Experience) Consumer & Sensory Scientist II to help drive consumer and sensory strategy for its Shakes, Kids and Yogurt (SKY) portfolio. The role is part of the UX team within Research & Innovation, which combines technical rigor with consumer empathy to develop products and translate consumer and sensory insights into guidance for innovation, renovation and portfolio decisions. The position is based in Louisville, Colorado, and follows a hybrid work arrangement. Employees may work from home on a schedule agreed with their supervisor but are expected to report to their assigned office at least three days per week. The scientist designs research plans, leads product testing and project workstreams, interprets research findings, and makes recommendations to inform product and business decisions. The role partners with Research & Innovation and business teams, influences cross-functional peers, and communicates results to audiences including technical teams, brand partners and leadership. Well-scoped projects are led autonomously, with input from the UX Director sought for complex studies, strategic initiatives and high-risk decisions.

Requirements

Four or more years of experience in a related industry.
Strong working knowledge of quantitative and qualitative consumer research, sensory methods, experimental design and statistics, with the judgment to match methods to business decisions.
Experience designing learning plans, managing external research suppliers, analyzing results and turning evidence into actionable business recommendations.
Ability to lead multiple projects independently in a fast-paced, matrixed environment while maintaining organization, follow-through and research quality.
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional partners, facilitate product conversations and communicate difficult or ambiguous results clearly.
Strong written, verbal and presentation skills.
Proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Food Science, Sensory Science, Psychology, Market Research, Statistics or a closely related field; a master's degree is preferred.
Experience in dairy, cultured products, beverages, protein shakes, and/or research with children or families.
Experience with statistical or consumer research software.

Responsibilities

Design integrated learning plans that connect business questions, consumer needs and product decisions across shakes, kids and yogurt.
Select and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative consumer research, sensory evaluation and behavioral-centered methods.
Lead product testing, including central location tests, consumer co-design, discrimination testing, descriptive or trained-panel research, and cross-functional tastings.
Lead the UX workstream on cross-functional project teams, from scoping and study design through analysis, recommendations and decision support.
Translate consumer, sensory and statistical data into implications for product design, claims, packaging, pipeline choices and go/no-go decisions.
Provide clear recommendations when results are mixed or business trade-offs are required, connecting research evidence, business impact and the proposed path forward.
Lead research plans for well-scoped projects with autonomy and seek UX Director input on complex studies, strategic initiatives and high-risk decisions.
Contribute to improved UX ways of working, knowledge management and consistent application of best practices across SKY and the broader UX community.
Partner with Research & Innovation and business teams to embed consumer and sensory evidence in decisions.
Engage and influence cross-functional peers on learning plans, testing choices and recommendations while balancing business urgency, research quality and decision risk.
Communicate findings through concise, compelling stories tailored to technical teams, brand partners and leadership.