Senior Director Technical Consumer Research

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Job Description Summary:

Position Overview:

Scope & Impact

Lead Technical Consumer Research (TCR) function for the LATAM Region & Global categories, in working with the x-functional teams in the Region, to include Global Development & Innovation (GDI), supporting the development of regional BIG BETS, local key initiatives and business continuity, together with global category initiatives.

Build and lead, end to end, global consumer research learning plans, of appropriate consumer and sensory approaches and methodologies, grounded in sound data, to enable effective business decisions. Partner with local and global marketing & Human Insights (HI) to co-lead the competitive benchmarking program to ensure our product portfolio for LATAM and Globally are winning in market.

Lead and manage a team of TCR experts, support and develop to enable flexibility of talent across Regional and Global TCR.

The TCR organization is required to deliver 1) Reliable consumer centric learning plans of sound sensory and consumer methodology, 2) Statistical analysis, modelling and digitization of data, 3) Data centric recommendations to the business and brand teams on paths forward for advancing the consumer acceptability of our portfolio. This position reports into the Global TCR lead in the GDI organization and networked to the OU and Category, Marketing and HI teams.

Function Related Activities/Key Responsibilities:

TCR Leadership:

• Lead the design and execution of the work across the network for TCR.

• Provide inspirational thought leadership and SME excellence and community leadership for all aspects of research being conducted.

• Leverage routines to ensure early engagement and inclusion of other functions in Marketing and TISC.

• Ensure organizational and business alignment in the design, execution and analysis of TCR testing protocols.

People Leadership:

• Build, lead and develop a highly engaged and networked TCR community.

• Manage resources effectively, including leading the allocation and prioritization of activities, budget requirements, performance management and assessing development needs.

Stakeholder Management:

• Build relationships and networks with key stakeholders across the organization.

• Facilitate the identification of timelines, dashboards and briefs for each initiative to keep leadership updated on progress and potential red flags.

• Ensure effective and efficient information flow between TCR and regional category owners.

• External connection with consumer testing providers to ensure quality of testing and analysis.

Technical Leadership:

• As a key member of the Region R&D, develop and implement quarterly and yearly plans and ensure successful achievement of them.

• Play a key role as a leadership member to ensure the Technical Community is providing optimal thought leadership regarding TCR to support more effective developments.

• Partner in the ownership of key technical talent progress and their development.

Education Requirements:

• BSc or MSc (min) in Sensory Science or related discipline

Related Work Experience:

• Technical Mastery of TCR methodologies.

• Experience managing sensory laboratory.

• Experience leading or developing product innovation for a key category (including interactions with marketing as a key stakeholder) in FMCG

• 15+ years of Consumer testing experience in FMCG, with experience in leading, managing and developing teams.

• Language, fluent in Spanish.

Functional Skills:

Mastery Of:

• Sensory and consumer testing methodology.

• Statistical data analysis, Modelling, Digitization of big data.

• Story-telling, concise business recommendations from data and insights.

• Product Portfolio management to help focus on areas of greatest opportunity.

• Experience interacting with, influencing and providing guidance to business partners and cross functional peers.

• Connector – ability to connect across the organization lines, regardless of reporting relationships. Proven track record of leading teams and projects, particularly in situations lacking the back-up of direct. line management authority.

• Stakeholder management, with ability to drive strategic agreements with internal partners.

Broad Expertise In:

• Experience working with external suppliers to extend internal capabilities.

• Experience leading a product team.

• Understanding of statistical analysis.

Communication Focus

• This role communicates internally with the R&D network, Global Category Marketing, OU teams, and Global TI&SC teams. External communication with agencies, suppliers and trade associations.

• Communication and engagement with multiple key stakeholders to gain agreement on the short- and long-term pipeline testing strategies for LATAM.

• The role requires advanced influence, negotiation skills to ensure clear articulation and alignment with stakeholders at most senior levels internally and externally.

Skills:

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.